Hello, my name's Murray, living in Canberra, I have a small collection (single digit) of broadcast valve receivers. I've recently begun a restoration project on a Philips Radioplayer model 2252 which used to belong to my Grandfather. It's had some modifications done to it in its early years and I'm wishing to restore it (as much as reasonable) to original condition. I'm presently puzzling with what's best to do about the volume control. The circuit diagram indicates a potentiometer with a tap which has been replaced with a conventional pot, the circuit which used to go to the tap is now connected to the wiper with a reduced value of capacitance. I've no experience of these tapped pots. Is there a preferred / recommended replacement solution for tapped pots anyone's aware of (I don't imagine they're still available)? Or is this it? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Regards
Murray
PS found Maven's pot thread - will give it a go.

G'day Murray,

Welcome to the forums. I was just about to go chasing that thread for you as I remembered a recent discussion on it. Philips put these in a few of their sets and it does trap restorers.

Good luck with it.

Hi there
I am a retired radio & television engineer from a little village in Devon England, I collect and restore old radios, I have a lot in my collection some restored some waiting, I do not know if many of the old UK manufacturers had factories or exported to Australia, sadly now all gone, it would be quite interesting to know. I can in the future post photos of radios if anyone is interested, but at the moment my broadband is rubbish.
John

There are some British and European radios here though Australia's industry was highly protected to keep it strong so we didn't receive many imports from anywhere between the early 1930s up to the mid 1970s. British brands that are popular with collectors here include Ekco, Pye, Bush and BGE.

Welcome to the forum, gents.

I can in the future post photos of radios if anyone is interested

Please do. You can email them to the Admin.

G'day Jebster.

I have a few British radios in my collection. My favourites are a 1950's bakelite Bush VHF61 with VHF and a timber table Ferranti 255 also with VHF.

I am presently restoring a post war bakelite Ultra T401. Someone years ago had replaced the PEN45DD output valve with an Australian noval 9 pin 6BV7. Whilst these valves are similar electrically, the PEN45DD has a 4 volt heater. I'm not sure how well a 6BV7 would work on 4 volts. I managed to find a good used PEN45DD on ebay from England & a British octal socket amongst of box of bits.

Most British radios, including the ones I own, were brought over here by the hundreds courtesy of £10 poms. As Brad mentioned earlier the tariff wall prevented most foreign made radios for export from entering Australia, but there were exceptions.

Items like Collaro, Garrard & BSR record changers were very common in Australian made radiograms right up to the very end of radio manufacturing here. The only locally made record changer I can think of is the Velvet Action (Stromberg Carlson) which were mainly used in Stromberg Carlson products.

The two main British players in the Australian valve radio industry was HMV & STC. Both had large factories in Sydney, using local labour and materials - although STC sometimes used imported Brimar valves in their products. Originally Pye in Australia (based in Melbourne) was a joint venture between Pye Cambridge & Electronics Industries Limited (Astor).

With regard to the STC and HMV (EMI) factories, there are photos of these in this thread, one of the most informative discussions on the site. Other factories are also pictured and there is a summary towards the end indicating what these and other manufacturers are doing today.

Hi Jebster,

I have a couple of Quad AM2 tuners .... excellent quality ..... they include an RF front-end amp.

Cheers,
Ian

Hi Murray. You are in Canberra - you might want to know that the HRSA ACT branch are having a meeting / auction this Saturday at the O'Connor scout hall you would be most welcome. and there prices are very reasonable.

Saturday 7 March 2015 - ACT & region meeting - Meet at O'Connor Scout Hall venue. Set-up, inspection and yarn from 11. Auction around 12:30pm.

Hi Tallar. Thanks for the notice, I'll try and make it along.

Hey I just got a email from the ACT HRSA president and he says that there are 5 very nice restored radios up for auction this weekend.1 AIRZONE 560 . 2 PILOT 293b. 3 KRIESLER BEEHIVE. 4 Hotpoint 55ME and a HMV model 547.