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 Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 6:25:28 PM on 21 January 2025.
Jacksprat's Gravatar
 Location: Melbourne, VIC
 Member since 21 January 2025
 Member #: 2702
 Postcount: 47

Hello,
I was recently handed an AWA Fisk Radiola valve radio to get working for a relative. My degree (many years ago!) was in solid state electronics, with no valve content at all. About 15 years ago I built a copy of a Fender Princeton 5W guitar amplifier from scratch. It works very well, but it is my only experience with valves. Valve radios are still a mystery. I'll post in the Tech forum with details of the radio and some questions shortly.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 8:31:11 PM on 21 January 2025.
Fred Lever's Gravatar
 Location: Toongabbie, NSW
 Member since 19 November 2015
 Member #: 1828
 Postcount: 1334

This site has a lot of 'Fisk Radiola' content, Jack.
Go to the 'search forums' tab and select all with 'fisk radiola' as the search subject.
Lots of people have been there before you!

Cheers, Fred.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 9:14:17 PM on 21 January 2025.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2527

You learnt about FETs?

A valve is a FET in a bottle! Just higher voltages and a heater. And some funny extra grids....


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 10:19:26 PM on 21 January 2025.
Jacksprat's Gravatar
 Location: Melbourne, VIC
 Member since 21 January 2025
 Member #: 2702
 Postcount: 47

Fred,
Thanks, I've had a quick look at the other Fisk Radiola threads. This one is a bit of a mongrel. It was originally a battery powered model (a four valve model 86X or Z I think), but has been modified to run on 240V. It now has 5 valves. I don't have a circuit diagram, because I don't know what upgrade was done to it. A Google search tells me the five valves in my set were used in a Southern Cross Radio Pty Ltd Model CDR5/2 radio. Perhaps it's based on that design? I don't think it's an AWA design any more.

It's a horrible mess inside. Really awful soldering. Rats have eaten some of the wax caps. It was tripping the RCD in the owner's house. I discovered the neutral and earth were swapped in the old bakelite plug. I fitted a new lead and got it to work intermittently. I've cleaned it up and repaired the torn speaker cone. Next job is to replace all electrolytic and wax caps. New caps are on the way from Mouser.

Ian,
Yes I know a little about FETs. It's the grids that confuse the issue!


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 10:38:11 PM on 21 January 2025.
Robbbert's avatar
 Location: Hill Top, NSW
 Member since 18 September 2015
 Member #: 1801
 Postcount: 2116

What valves are in it?


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 10:48:22 PM on 21 January 2025.
Jacksprat's Gravatar
 Location: Melbourne, VIC
 Member since 21 January 2025
 Member #: 2702
 Postcount: 47

6V4
6M5
6BD7
6AN7A
6N8


 
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