On Ebay;

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/STUNNA....

Me thinks this one might be a hybrid!

From the description;

RADIO MAKES BUZZING NOISE WHEN TURNED ON THEN STOPS BUT CANT GET BEYOND THAT SO NEEDS A TINKER

This doesn't surprise me, check out the glow coming from the plates on the rectifier, it looks like it's about to go into meltdown. It probably needs a big tinker.

A beautiful piece of furniture though, pity it's in Perth. I have tentative permission to have one console in the house and something like this would sorely tempt me.

Whoa, looks like the 5Y3 is operating across a short.

Agree it's an attractive cabinet.

From my observation, consoles don't do very well on eBay -- mainly because sellers usually put a starting price that's too high to attract bidders.

I have an AGE Bandmaster (Radiolette R31 clone) that does that to the 80 rectifier. The clue here is that radios shouldn't be fired up in uncontrolled circumstances unless they have been tested and serviced first. The AGE is yet to be refurbished due to a lack of time though I do look forward to using it as a radio to listen to at work one day.

The trick here though is being able to educate people and this isn't easy. My guess is that there are shorted turns on the primary side of the power transformer and the valve heaters are copping more than 5 volts. There could be other causes too.

That set is also a possible Radiolette 31 clone. I shipped out an A.G.E. 855/? Saturday that was very much a 31.

It had been previously "serviced" using as many wrong value parts as were probably on the bench, plus errors and being miles out of alignment.

That set may or may not have rubber wiring, albeit that the cloth rubber type can suffer receeding insulation.

I did spot that in this AGE inside the speaker plug. That is subject to movement and should be checked.

The rectifier looking embarassed is indicative of a short on the B+ rail. If it has wax paper caps, replace every one & electrolytic cap as well (4?) & check resistors. I replaced the AGC one and screen dividers, a cathode resistor & others.

I use 500V electrolytics on 5Y3/ 80 In 31 (4 & 8 mfd on circuit) 4.7 μF & 10 μF albeit two 10μF will not strain freindships.

A low watt 1.8meg can be used to replace the 1.75 meg agc resistor.

Beware of FAX machines & switch mode power supplies these sets have a 175kHz IF and that will sound like a sig gen left on.

Provided the wiring is safe; The transformer can be checked with the valves removed. Set will not generate B+ with the rectifier removed. Don't think it will be the issue unless the 5V wiring is damaged.

Marc