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 My 1956. Little General Build.
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 Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 3:19:21 PM on 5 November 2021.
Brins's Gravatar
 Location: Geelong, VIC
 Member since 12 July 2018
 Member #: 2266
 Postcount: 35

This is the little treasure I built in 1956, it was my first superhet build.

In later years, I retro fitted a 6GW8 in lieu of the original 6BV7.

and the 6BH5 was replaced with a 6N8 at the same time.

I changed to a 6N8 because I had plenty of stock of this valve.

I was asked here about the detector issue, and I thought I had used a diode in place of the diode in the 6BV7

but in fact I used the diode incorporated in the 6N8.

A few other issues I’ve had over the years are the Rola speaker transformer failed (which they always do)
It was originally mounted on the chassis but now is mounted on the Speaker Bracket.

The original Ducon Switch Pot. failed and I had to replace that.

The original Ferguson Power Transformer developed shorted turns and went up in smoke not long

after I built the Little General.

So all in all it was an exciting time.

Little General Valve Radio
Little General Valve Radio

regards Rob


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 7:05:41 AM on 6 November 2021.
Brins's Gravatar
 Location: Geelong, VIC
 Member since 12 July 2018
 Member #: 2266
 Postcount: 35

Oh how times have changed, I got very proficient using the standard "Scope Soldering" iron.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 10:06:04 PM on 8 November 2021.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7290

Photos uploaded.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 6:46:41 AM on 9 November 2021.
Fred Lever's Gravatar
 Location: Toongabbie, NSW
 Member since 19 November 2015
 Member #: 1828
 Postcount: 1245

Hi Brins, nice job!

Was the coil set from "Aegis"?
Love the tuning gang on stilts!

I was another one using a standard scope iron for everything, still miss it when I work on valve radios.
If you wanted more heat like a chassis joint you just held the ring on longer!

Fred.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 9:36:35 AM on 9 November 2021.
Brins's Gravatar
 Location: Geelong, VIC
 Member since 12 July 2018
 Member #: 2266
 Postcount: 35

Thankyou Fred for your interest......

Fred, Q+Brand........ I can remember Q+ being Branded on the coils and mainly yellow and black boxes,

and I think Aegis were in a mainly Red Box.

Q+ were predominantly available in Geelong during the 50's..

one other thing. about Q+ is they made a Crystal set in a small yellow box with ferrite core tuning, I

know this because I had one, eventually I threw it out when I progressed to the "2 valve Little Jim"

Yes the Scope was very, very good for heavy duty work..still use it occasionally.....you had to be

careful the barrel didn't burn the plastic insulation.

For large solder joints on the valve radios ideal.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 11:55:21 AM on 9 November 2021.
Johnny's avatar
 Location: Hobart, TAS
 Member since 31 July 2016
 Member #: 1959
 Postcount: 543

I still use a super scope in my daily radio repairs.
Of course I have several other irons as well.
But the scope in the right hands can solder delicate things, and your household gutters if you wish.
Would assume anyone repairing vintage radios would have to have one.
JJ


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 12:45:04 PM on 9 November 2021.
Brins's Gravatar
 Location: Geelong, VIC
 Member since 12 July 2018
 Member #: 2266
 Postcount: 35

As you see I used Philips Resistors on the 6GW8 upgrade ,and used available diodes on the 6N8 for Detector and AVC.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 4:39:08 PM on 9 November 2021.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6678

I had a Mini Scope in my teenage years.

Scope irons and parts still available from Wiltronics: https://www.wiltronics.com.au/product-category/scope-soldering-irons-spares-parts/


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 9 · Written at 9:37:01 AM on 10 November 2021.
Brins's Gravatar
 Location: Geelong, VIC
 Member since 12 July 2018
 Member #: 2266
 Postcount: 35

Final word, this would be a great project to build, it was modern in as much as the valves used in that era.

Its not complicated ,getting the coil set would be the challenge.

I mentioned previously using a wreck Philips 148 coil set to build a Radio with an A/M section with a pair of 6GW8 outputs.

I'll post some photos of this at some point

thankyou Guys


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 10 · Written at 12:03:10 PM on 10 November 2021.
BringBackTheValve's Gravatar
 Location: Linton, VIC
 Member since 30 December 2016
 Member #: 2028
 Postcount: 466

Brins,

Glad to see those wax caps, they look great, authentic and excellent historical value. And I bet they are still OK!

My favourite radio is a 1948 SC. Original caps, valves and even the dial lamps are originals. Still working well and outperforms anything
sold today, especially when tuning into DX stations. (2CA--what happened, anyone---?)


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 11 · Written at 1:04:28 PM on 10 November 2021.
Tallar Carl's avatar
 Location: Latham, ACT
 Member since 21 February 2015
 Member #: 1705
 Postcount: 2149

Bring back the valve! 2CA is still with us and going strong tgft . Its the only station I listen to but it is sort of low power compared to others in the area.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 12 · Written at 8:08:24 PM on 10 November 2021.
BringBackTheValve's Gravatar
 Location: Linton, VIC
 Member since 30 December 2016
 Member #: 2028
 Postcount: 466

Thanks Tallar,

I'm glad it's still going. Love the music they play, reminds me of my growing years. I better check the long wire again, came down during our recent storms when the "tree mast" crashed.


 
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