Hacker RP73 Rebuild - 1972
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
- Hacker radios were not sold in Australia so how this one ended up in my hands is unknown but it featured in the recent radio club auction haul video. This is a Hacker from the UK. It presents a few problems requiring some innovative thinking, I hope I am up to the task, transistor radios are not my forte.
Note: I incorrectly said this was from 1962, it is from 1972. I got 1962 in my head even knowing it was 1972... old age 🙄
Buy me a coffee ☕:
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Link to my ABC Radio podcast:
www.abc.net.au...
Radio Cruncher Videos: / radiocruncher
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www.distrelec....
My Digital Signal Generator:
The Signal Generator is a project kit from a local electronics magazine called Silicon Chip, there is a sister publication in the UK called Practical Electronics, it was featured in the April 2018 edition but mine has a oscilloscope function as well which I don't use. There may be a later edition in PE with that feature.
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Aircraft Engineer - now that explains a lot! I started as a child playing around my home town seeing old radios and other electronic waste just dumped on what we called "bomb sites". It took Bristol (UK) a long time to recover fully from WWII, we had areas that were just rubble for decades after, long into my chuildhood. I just salvaged the bits and the rest is history. What you have there in that Hacker is a bit of British history, a reminder of when we had an industry, people had jobs and we used to manufacture rather than just import everything!
Hi Lloyd, if the war was good for anything, it's not, but for a child to play in the rubble it would be wonderful and you learned a trade. It a world economy now, most developed countries are in the same boat unfortunately. Thanks Lloyd 🙂
Its the same here in Australia now as well, sadly. we have no more car industry here at all, all vehicles are now imports. same with whitegoods, and all other electrical items. such a shame as we made some of the highest quality products you could buy, once upon a time. 😥
You've got the Raspberry Pi factories and some semiconductor stuff now. Hopefully they manage to keep that stuff going.
@@catey62It comes down to the parents to open the doors of curiosity to their child.
I’ve taught my son from day one to go and try for himself on everything. I opened every possible door to inspire his imagination…
… and it worked! we work in tandem and take care of everything that we touch, not likely to ever have to walk into a garage to get something fixed or build.
I was trained in Canada in the mid-'60s. In my first year of electronics, I learned tube tech and built an all-American five, superhet. I remember my final exam only had one question " draw a five-tube superheterodyne receiver and explain the function of each stage"😜 After that it was all transistor theory. It's nice to walk down memory lane with your restorations, good job Dave.
I guess tubes were out be then but they would show up from time to time so give you the basic theory. I was trained as an aircraft engineer and we had to learn fabric repairs for control surfaces, I never saw a fabric control surface needing repair in my life 🤣 Good job you had AA5s down pat for your exam 👍🙂 Thanks Mark.
In Canada for my ham radio license in 1976 I had to draw a schematic of a transmitter.
I drew one with a 12BY7 crystal oscillator and a 807 power amplifier.
The examiner was surprised, he never saw one like that but I passed.
David, thank you for sharing your excellent knowledge and wonderful sense of humor. Shalom!
Thank you Otto, my pleasure. Shalom 🙂
Awesome as always! Congrats on the ABC interview. Back in the day families got their entertainment from the radio but they also got their news. Many of those vintage sets you work on no doubt brought news of the ebb and flow of WWII to people whose futures depended on the outcome.
Thank you Linus P. It is never lost on me the history behind these radios, that is part of the attraction for me 😊
Excellent work! That radio harkens back to a day when things were made, not imported.
It does, thanks Papi Does It 🙂
✨You make all the radios better. Aaaaaaaaaaand… … I watch you do it! Thanks for the journeys.✨
Thank you BadChizzle 🙂
Great video as per usual and nice work on the cabinet. The repair on the car radio switch and the fix was brilliant, you certainly think out side of the box !. 10 out of 10 Dave. As usual i will look forward to the next installment.
Hi Stephen, thank you. I like working on things like the broken switch, a bit of a challenge I guess but sometimes I make it worse 😄
Thank you David for yet another restoration therapy session! I can only admire your attention to detail and of course the finished results. One comment concerning the audio output capacitor, which I believe was originally 640uF. If the replacement value is too low, you will begin to lose some bass response. For example, the original value would have had a low-frequency (-3dB point) at around 50Hz. Using 470uF, gives 68Hz. In the interests of maintaining the best original sound, I would recommend fitting 1000uF (32Hz) or 2x 330uF in parallel (48Hz). With a loudspeaker of that size, it may not be all that noticeable, but if you try a 100uF, you will hear clearly the loss of bass. Good luck with your projects!
Steve in UK
Hello Steve. Yes that's a good point regarding the capacitor, I should have put in the two 330uF caps. Thanks Steve 👍🙂
Looks brand new !
Dad used phosphor bronze trimmer adjusting tools as I recall - just a thin flat strip with slightly rounded ends on a plastic handle ... they might help with your 'core problems' !.
Thanks Mr B, I have a few options now, I won't be using the ceramics again 😄
Hi, not sure if anyone else has commented on this, but the car aerial socket was to get around two issues affecting motorists in the UK. The more obvious was that purpose built/installed car radios were still a luxury item and expensive. Secondly a radio licence was needed for these. Using a portable radio got round the licensing needs. I am not sure how common that "dodge" was as my parents and grandparents both had cars and vans without a radio until the end of the 70s and my dad and grandad both liked to listen to the football...
Hi And W, I am familiar with the radio licence laws of the UK but other may not. I should have outlined it in the video I guess. Thanks for the information 👍🙂
That's funny, I was waiting to see what was automatic (automobile). That's a generational thing with me I guess. Sometimes it pays to think a little longer while looking at things. Thanks for the video.
Yeah, me too Dave, it's odd name to use. You may be right come to think of it, 'AUTO' then probably didn't mean what it does today, good point. My pleasure Dave, thank you 🙂
Please put up that interview Dave ,all of us in the Northern Hemisphere as well as those in the South would love to hear it.
Hi Roundy Mooney. The podcast of the interview is in the description below the video or here:
ua-cam.com/users/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmg4YU5IZmx5ZFBGSko4MDMzbXB5ekxEckdWQXxBQ3Jtc0ttdk5sZzhwVXF3SzJHZHppMnRlRk92WUl5NzJQQkRHa25fWEx0dWFVUXZQVHltaThVN21Wai1WeDNSYk5pc2hMT3NEc0kxVmxPQk1EZEtWMzQyVmczRU8yVWlmS1VGRloyNWhZRWhsSXNJM0ZrSGhDcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fsydney%2Fprograms%2Fevenings%2Fvintage-and-valve-radios-not-just-things-of-the-past.%2F101544138&v=hOllXw4sxiw
@@DavidTipton101 Brilliant-listening as we speak-she did the audio quality a slight disservice though! :D
@@Roundymooney Yes, it didn't sound much like an old radio 😄
Great restoration on that Hacker David. I am about to start on my first Hacker soon and hopefully employ a few of your tips. Sadly MW is very quiet in the UK. Keep up the good work and your great Radio Adventures!
Is the loudness something to do with OfGem (?) messing around with standards ?
Thank you Martin. Good luck with your Hacker 👍😊
Thanks David! I haven't been able to comment for a while and have dragging behind but almost there now... Nice interview and well deserved attention. Like many others I also was fascinated of radios as a little kid, especially of that old Phillps from the 40:s at my grandparents farm, I still have it and its in the queue... Back then I saved money all year to the main event, the yearly yunksale at the sportsclub, I toke the tractor and drove to the sale and bought so many I could and its started then I was about 8 or 9......Countrylife back then.
Thank you Leif, I hope you had a trailer attached to the tractor to fit all the radios. Your Grandparents Philips would be nice to restore 🙂
@@DavidTipton101 I just had a loading tray fitted to the 3 point hitch on the tractor, it wasn't so many radio's and I had less money.... I wan't som practice before I hit that radio, I really like the look from the 40:s and it was more wood here, I understand you had more bakelite down there.
The tray would do the job as long as the radios didn't bounce out 😄 Smaller mantle radios tended to be Bakelite but table radios and consoles had wooden cabinets, I think European radios tended to be bigger than ours so wood was probably used more for them.
Thank you David I did find that link a ( little ! ) but it says this option is not available because the seller has already added a discount. So I have sent the full amount, Carl says he will refund the excess postage. Thanks for your help
Robert😀
Good, thanks Robert.
I love the Star-Trekkian duranium slip. 😁 Nice one, Dave!
Haha... thanks Ola 😄
Great job. That little set turned out great please. And that interview was fun I love listening to it.
Hi Ripley, thank you, glad you enjoyed the interview... my 15 minutes of fame 🙂
Its nice to have my first cup of coffee and watch another Radio Adventure.
Hope you and your have a Happy Christmas, don't forget the spoil the grandchildren.
Hi Mack, thank you. You can bet the grandkids will be well looked after and then we send them home for the parents to sort out. Happy Christmas 🎄🙂
Great restoration video. Your attention to detail never ceases. To amaze me. Finally back home from the hospital emergency then ICU. Diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and sepsis of the blood. Home now but under a nurses care. But mending slowly. Thanks for the video
Thank you LL. I hope everything goes well with your medical issues, take care 👍🙂
We used to be able to buy chrome paint made by an outfit called plasticoat or something like that. I recall buying a can in the 80's to paint the side covers on a 1963 Honda Dream 300 that I traded a pistol for. Came out great, looked every bit chrome plated and lasted quite some time. Oh I got home from hospital 2 days ago now, the removal of my cancerous kidney went well for the most part, it was stuck to the diaphragm and when they came apart it ripped a small hole in the diaphragm leaving me a bit hungry for O2 for a bit, but today all feels well and I stopped the O2. Sore as hell but the doc says they got it all, and I need not worry about it coming back. Seems my other kidney is working great so it appears I may bet to hang around and watch my grandkids and great grandkids grow. That is what it's all about I guess.
Hi Jerry. I have some Chrome Paint here but though silver would look better. When I saw your name I wondered how you went with your op. Good to hear it went well, great result. Enjoy your Grandchildren 👍🙂
@@DavidTipton101 As luck would have it, I am now a great grandfather, My great grandson was born a year ago and is a little hellion now that he is running free. I sure do miss my wonderful wife, after 51 years and 4 days of wedded bliss when she was taken by cancer she left a huge hole in my life that the little ones start to refill. Also a new year gift I guess you could call it, I lost my mother on new years day at 4:20 am She was a month shy of her 98th birthday, so lived a long life and always had a wonderful smile on her face. I will miss her as well I am all alone now in my family, save my offspring and theirs .Both my sisters died a few years back, they were 10 months apart in birth, 5 months apart in death. They were both 73 when cancer took them, I will be 73 in May and have been cancer free since they removed my right Kidney which, according to the doctor was the largest kidney he had ever seen and was taking up over half my abdominal cavity, when they pulled it out, it ripped a hole in my diaphragm so I needed O2 for a month or so while that healed, but come last Christmas I was 1 year cancer free I need to be retested every 6 moths till I make the 5 year mark where they believe the cancer will have been gone I guess. Life goes on, my daughter moved in to help care for my wife when her cancer put her down on bed rest, she has stayed on to cook for the old man and clean up the house mow the lawn and such. But I ramble on, Watched this video again, I always seem to learn a bit more each time I re-watch one of your videos, I do appreciate them a lot, sort of like having coffee with an old friend. Those female announcers on your radio sound so lovely, there was an Australian operator on the Switchboard of Saigon Overseas Switch, my buddies and I who worked our Switchboard at Crane Switch in Dong Ba Thin Vietnam used to set up net calls with operators, we would ring her up and she would give us a small taste of civilization in an otherwise nasty place to survive. Hearing the accent of those lovely ladies takes me back to those days. Strange how such things work
I'm sorry for your loss Jerry, it's the way it works as we age unfortunately. It's funny how hearing a voice will bring back memories or comfort of bygone days.
Great job on that Hacker Dave! I've watched Graham and George Christophie do many of these, and I swear those Hackers produce some of the most clear and rich sound of any radios ever. It looks and sounds really great!
Thank you Gregg, The hackers work and sound very good, I think they were considered a level above other radios 🙂
It's the Geranium transistors in the output.
Nice job Dave, great that you got a shout out on a news station :) For vinyl I have used auto cockpit cleaner before it is really shiny at first but dulls down after a day or so and gives good results
Hello Simon, I have some of that, I'll give it a try, thanks. Yeah, my 15 minutes of fame 🤣
Hello David, I was sorry to hear you’d been “under the knife,” and I do hope all is going well with you. You don’t strike me as a “light duties” kind of fella, so I am sure it has been not such an easy time. I hope it’s all back to normal for you soonest!
“HACKER!!! Slowly I turned ... step by step ... inch by inch...,"
A story from my adolescence. We were pretty “not well off” but I was a quite gifted young pianist, and my parents bought me a pretty high-end Hacker turntable, amp, and speakers, so I could listen to classical LPs. I believe (around about 1972) it cost about 125 UK pounds . . . a small fortune in those days.
It arrived, and we set it up, put on a record . . . . and NOTHING! SILENCE.
After several minutes of frustration, my father found a button on the amp that “finally” activated the speakers. The only trouble being, the volume (when it had not been producing sound) had been left in the FULL ON position. And, proceeded to overload and “blow” one speaker, or at least make it so that it (forever after) was prone to crackling and cutting out.
So, from the first second of producing sound, my Hacker audio system was “defective.” And we could not really do anything about it as we’d clearly overloaded the speakers via our own ignorance.
So the name “Hacker” will always have the same effect as “Niagara Falls” . . . or “Bagel Street” for me!
Still loving your videos. Good Holiday Wishes! --Mike, in Texas.
Hi Mike, this video was made a few months ago so I have fully recovered thank you. What a sad story of your Hacker experience, I can picture the Stooges now and Curly "Nyaa, aah, aahh, ahhh!" Thanks Mike, happy holiday 🎄🙂
Another great video, Dave. I like the way this radio (or family of radios) was laid out and assembled.
The Hackers were a cut above in the UK. Pretty easy to work on. Thanks Jeff 👍🙂
Very nice rebuild Dave. Loved how the wood case came out. I like this style of radio.
Thank you Dave. It's a handsome radio 🙂
Hi from France🇫🇷. I still have this sort of radio set, a Philips 22RL 333 from 1973 in mint condition. Unfortunately from France (Paris) obviously we haven’t anymore MW stations in our country 😵 and for LW we can only receive BBC and RTL in French up to January 2023 when Junglinster (L) will be cut off 🤬 France Inter (Allouis, F) is off since 2016, Europe 1 (Felsberg, D) since 2019 and RMC (Roumoules, F) since 2020. It’s a pity ! A lot of people complained. Thanks a lot again for your video 👏
What a shame Phil2Sceaux, AM is shutting down slowly. We still have it here thank goodness. Thank you 🙂
Actually you have at least one MW station left in France. Bretagne 5 is still broadcasting from Saint Guéno, Le Mené on 1593 kHz at 5 kW erp. I can receive it here in the south west of England at a distance of 250 km, a bit noisy during the day, strong but interference prone at night. The transmitter mast appears to be an omnidirectional single vertical radiator so a pretty impressive performance for 5kw power. I live right on the coast and the reception path is nearly all over the sea so this obviously helps. I expect if you live south and east of a line from Nantes - Laval - Caen, you won't be able to receive it.
@@NJT1000 thank you for this information ! I’ll try to catch it tonight in Paris and will tell you👌👍
Hello David!
Just finished watching this video, & enjoyed it very much, as always!
When you went to de-solder the "Push Button Assembly" from that unit, I couldn't help but chuckle, & think to myself, that if I ever get started in this hobby, it will probably take quite a bit of time, before I get nerve enough to de-solder an assembly such as that, to begin with!
Then secondly, hope to resolder it, & get it back together correctly, & then have it functioning again, as it should! LOL!!!
I learned how to solder from my Grandfather, back in the early 1980's, & then learned the art of soldering even more precisely, as part of a Basic Electricity course which I took, back in 2009.
Thus, I know how to Solder & De-Solder quite well, but for me to de-solder a section of a unit like that??
Aww Man!! I'm sure it will take a good bit of time, & experience to build up my confidence, before I EVEN ATTEMPT something like that!! LOL!!! 😊
I sure would like to hear that radio interview of yours, which you played a portion of! Is it available online, or here on UA-cam anywhere??
In catching one portion of what you told the interviewer on there, about your becoming interested in repairing radios at a fairly young age, it took me back to memories of when I was about 4 years old.
I can still recall, how back at that young age, I used to love to remove a few of my Grandfather's Pocket Transistor Radios from their leather cases, & then attempt to unfasten the back covers from them! 😊
I recall over time, becming able to actually remove their back covers, & then just sitting and staring at their Circuit Boards, full of all of their various parts!! 😊
In fact, my parents have a picture of me, (taken when I was only about 3 yrs. old), & in that photo, I was sitting on the floor in my Grandparents' Living Room, in Pennsylvania.
I had one of my Grandfather's small Transistor Radios on the floor beside me, & I'd gotten the leather cover of it unsnapped, & was trying to pull the radio free from it!! LOL!!! 😊
Well, I must close for now, & put my phone on it's charger for a bit, but may post more again later.
Take Care & Best Wishes Always!
Ron
Hello Ron, I have no fear when pulling things apart, it's putting it back together where I come unstuck 😄 The interview podcast is in the description below the video, click on 'show more". I was like you as I said in the interview, I used to stare at the back of the radio and wonder how it all worked, I thought the upside-down cans were for show 😊 Thanks Ron.
@@DavidTipton101
Hi David!
You are quite welcome for everything!
I will surely go back & find and click on your link, and watch, (or listen to), that Podcast!
So you once thought those upside down cans were just "for show" eh?
LOL!!!
I can't recall if I ever thought that or not, but I do recall how I just thought that all those parts looked interesting, & were I guess, QUITE FASCINATING to me!! 😊
Looks like though I didn't quite specify in my previous reply, that just like you, I'd probably have no problem with de-soldering & removing an assembly like the one you removed & repaired here, but putting it back together, is most likely where I would experience anxiety, and get hung up as well!! LOL!! 🙂
I was watching another Radio Restorer/Repairman on here, just day before yesterday, & on his video, he restored an old Zenith Chairside Radio, (Chairside is not the right word, I don't believe; but cannot think of the correct one, at the moment).
I started out thinking how that model, might be a fun one to try to restore, if I were ever to find one like it, but when he finally revealed the underside of that radio's chassis - WHOA!!!
I mean, I've watched several different fellows on here, repair & restore many various Zenith Tube/Valve Radios, and I know by now, that the undersides of most Zenith radios, do tend to be, shall I say: "heavily populated."
But this chassis was rather small in size, so I at first thought that its underside wouldn't be too bad.
BOY WAS I WRONG!! The Caps, Resistors, & Coils, were layered so thickly, & there was so much wiring to go along with it, that it about made me go cross-eyed, just looking at it all!! LOL!!!
That one had a push button assembly on it as well, but luckily, it needed only a bit of cleaning, and I believe, a bit of lubrication after that.
I recall thinking to myself, that if that assembly HAD needed removing, it would've surely been a nightmare to do properly, amidst all those components, & wiring!! LOL!!! 😊
Take Care & Bye for now, my friend!
Ron
@@Ron-vq3zl I think I was amazed that it worked with components that I didn't recognise, the tubes and rows of cans that couldn't possibly be of any use in a radio... I still don't get it 😄 Desoldering is a no brainer, I have a radio chassis I dismantled to remove the rust and repaint, it is in at least a dozen pieces and I'll get it back together but it will ba a struggle. I saw Paul Carlson do a chairside radio some time back, I don't remember if it was packed underneath or not, some radios are almost impossible to work on.
Thanks Ron, take care 👍🙂
I was a gun smith for many years, one of my earlier lives. At any rate, when there were dents in gunstocks, instead of. filler, I would use a steam iron and damp rag to bring the wood grain back up to level, this works wonders especially in walnut but also with the cheaper gunstocks as well.
Thanks Jerry, I am aware of that method and have used it a number of times but with limited success. Maybe because generally the wood I'm dealing with is not solid and is usually veneered ply. I will keep it on mind for next time 👍🙂
Lol, I love your 'radio interview'...very funny. as always, another wonderful rebuild / restoration from your talented hands and mind. look forward to seeing your next project David. 🙂
Thank you catey62, the radio interview came out of the blue 🙂
So amazing. These devices used to be everywhere around, when i grew up.
They did Mr. Gigi, happily there are still some around to enjoy 🙂
@@DavidTipton101 Without realizing, they become more and more rare.
Hi Dave I had one of these in the 70s great sound as usual well done on the restore.
Nice radios Peter. Thank you 🙂
Yet another superb resto job David.
What a perfectionist.
Brilliant work.
Thank you Stephen 🙂
Wow, David! Looks like your channel is really growing fast.
The Comments are turning into a veritable "Pile Up."
Keep up the good work/fun. Yours is one of my favorite channels.
73
Hi Rick, thank you, I am still getting subs, I thought it would have died out by now for the narrow audience this subject attracts. It takes me three days to part time answer the comments 😄
Another great restoration Dave and a brave excursion from valves, well done. I really admire the care and attention, alongside your skills, that bring a tired classic back to life. I recently got a Roberts Radio that was my Dad's and now have it working. It is rather nice to use his old radio whilst we still have analogue services.
Thank you Dave. Roberts radios are a similar design, It's nice you can still use your Dad's old Roberts 🙂
Very nice video David. I love an episode like this with a bit more modern radio. Have a nice weekend!
Thank you Paul-Ivo B. 🙂
David that was a test of your knowledge with this radio. Good to see your feeling lot better, and when you changed the Frequency and I heard the CW it was Amberley BML .Great video mate.
It was Dennis, I'm fine now thanks. Amberley, I didn't listen to the code, thanks Dennis 👍🙂
Another masterful job David. Your skill and craftmanship never ceases to delight me.
Thank you lakrfan 49 😊
Very useful, I have the same model that needs a bit of upgrading. Beautiful job.
Good luck with yours Ian 👍🙂
I would have liked to hear more of that interview. Nice work.
Hello Wayne, there is a link to the podcast in the description below the video 🙂
An hour of great viewing Dave! A very nice and thorough job as always. I particularly liked the case restoration from the nice timber ends to the new rear grille! 👍👍
Hi Chris, thanks mate. The case and grill look the part and it looks great in my display 👍🙂
Hi Dave and Seasons Greetings from the UK. Great to see you bringing this little Hacker back to life. Maybe you can find a Harrier for the VHF? Looking forward to your next restoration.
Hello Geoff, The FM version would be nice, I'll keep an eye out. Thanks Geoff and merry Christmas to you 🎄🙂
Hi David....You certainly went the extra mile on that radio! How the heck did you do that grille? just amazing.....good fix on your screwups too!...😁 ...I wouldn't make Mrs. Tipton mad, not with that rolling pin 😮Holy Mackerel 😮 I listened to the whole interview with Sarah Macdonald. You done good! I think Sarah really liked you...💘......ssssshhhhhhhh, dont tell the Mrs.! 🤫 haha
Hello Buzz. yeah, the grill looks pretty good and I recovered from the screw ups too 🤣 I keep well away from the rolling pin, that thing hurts! Do you think I have a chance with Sarah? it might be worth a try but... yeah... the rolling pin 😢 thanks Buzz 😄
Nice little radio. Didn't need much electrically to bring it back. As usual, amazing job on the cabinet finish.
Took a little while for the penny to drop that Auto represents Automobile. :)
Thanks Brendan. Yes Auto was a strange name but it would have not meant then what it means today, it had me confused 😵🙂
Another great job David! You are so talented! I had to laugh out loud when you played the radio of you being interviewed and you said "Borrringgg" 🤣🤣🤣 But anywho, coffee on me!
Haha... it was borrringgg 🤣 Thanks John 👍🙂
Also, when you are doing the modelling for the 3D prints, you can use the "pattern" tools to easily create the "egg crate" shape you were talking about with the grill. You only need to make one egg crate box, and then you can use the patterning tools to quickly reproduce the shape in the columns rows (you can do XY at the same time)
Ok, thanks Brian, I'll look into it 👍🙂
Interesting thoughts on acetone and fan motor. I used too much thermal paste while reinstalling a cpu so had the bright idea of cleaning up the excess with contact cleaner spray. I then sucked away the mess with a vacuum cleaner. Boom! Massive explosion as the vacuum cleaner blew itself apart.
Haha, I've done that too Hummer Dude, I got some dirt in an underground gas pipe at home so thought I could suck it out with the vacuum cleaner, it didn't go boom but the rpm increased quite a bit for a second 🚀😄
Beautiful - in function & appearance !
Thank you Skip 🙂
Great attention to detail and inventive solutions to tricky problems. Great to see you are now a multi media star. You may be able to source geraniums from your local nursery.🤯👹😱
Thank you Bob. I'm also available for parties and bar mitzvahs as well as radio. Crikey Bob... a guy makes one mistake... 🤣
Hi David ! Great job like always ! I like Your videos and learn a lot of them ! Specially the woodwork. The best tools for aligning are the tools from "Bernstein" we used it in the factory where I worked 50 years ago, but still I have some and they still fine. You can get them in internet, they are a little more expensive, but You will never break a core ! (Bernstein alignmenttools) And by the way, the elko C37 (640µF) is not only the blockingcap for DC to the speaker, it is the "powersupply" for TR5 (AC188). At the positive halfwave of the signal the current flows over TR4 and this elko to the speaker and charge this elko, on the negative halfwave now TR4 is closed and the current flows from the speaker over C37 and TR5 to minus, so C37 works like a little battery. So it should not be too small ! I know You know very much about radios, but You told that You not so experienced on transistorradios, so this is the reason I wrote this. Forgive me If You know it anyway !
Greetings from Austria
Heinz
Hi Heinz, thank you. I have just purchased a set of Bernstein trimmer tools on your recommendation, I'll see how it goes. Thank you for your explanation of C37, I looked at the circuit and and can see what you are saying. As a matter of interest I substituted the 470uF with the 1000uF and could not hear any difference so I refitted the 470. I will put in two 330uF caps to make 630uF. Thanks Heinz 😀
Hi Dave. Hello from a bitterly cold England, currently - 5 ish degrees C! Brilliant video and congratulations on the cosmetic stuff. Final word on the 680uF output capacitor: just to get the technical stuff right (since you said that you aren't great with transistor circuits though you seem to be doing fine) it's not actually a DC blocking capacitor per se, it really does output current. It charges up during the positive cycle of the output wave, then discharges through the speaker during the negative cycle. In theory, the higher the value the better, but since this is a battery set it can't be too high. The value you used is probably fine for that speaker but 1000uF would be fine too, and possibly sound better. Just semantics I know.
Thank you David. Someone else explained the purpose of the capacitor and you have added more info. I looked at the circuit and can see it's purpose now, maybe one day I will better understand these transistor circuits with help from folks like you. I will replace the 470 with 2 x 330s or the 1000. The radio looks pretty impressive and sounds great, I was lucky to find one in Australia. 5C is a tad chilly 😳 Thanks David
Excellent video as usual, nice job!
You did well to drill that hole for the nail...
Thanks Lockdown Electronics. Drilling a hole... all in a day's work 🤣
Nice one David! I had a Hacker Helmsman which had short wave too, it was quite useful for topband! But that died a death, I think it was one of the AF 117 transistors I liked the podcast too!
Those AF transistors will get you every time 😨 Thank you Michael, the podcast was fun 🙂
This radio is MUCH later than '64. The dial is a testament to this. Radio 1 didn't exist, and Radio 2 / 4 were still called the Light Programme / Home service respectively until 1967.
Radio museum says 1961-1962. The tech seems to fit the time period but I know little about the origin of British radios. Someone may be able to add to this 🤔
Another triumph. That looks and works like new. I was amazed that you were able to source an IF transformer. You even went to the trouble of disguising it in the old transformer can! Beautifully done.
Thanks Ian. I bought the IF transformer at the local electronics shop which was very helpful. I try to keep the radios as close to original as possible a bit of a challenge when fitting new parts 🙂
David Tioton. Belated Merry Christmas and happy Boxing Day for Pittsburgh, where the temperature is a balmy 12°F, -12°C. Loved your Christmas message Wishing you and Karen the best of the holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Hi Jim, I'm a bit late replying. Thank you, I hope you enjoyed the festive season and all the best for 2023 🙂
super job dave
Thank you Andy 🙂
Sounds and looks great David, I recently bought a Hacker valve record player that needed a small amount of attention, plan was was to sell it but it’s just such a nice sounding machine, now a Hacker radio would be nice as well..
Thank you James. I have seen photos of Hacker record players, undoubtedly a cut above most. There seems to be plenty of radios out there, I have two Hackers and I'm in Oz 😀
Its So Therapeutic Watching you Bringing old to New ...Pure Magic Thanks David..
Thank you Sean 👍🙂
I'm surprised you didn't nickel plate those handle ends. Great job on the radio. I always love to watch your videos. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I didn't think to do that Phil, I would have painted it anyway because I couldn't get the ends out of the handle without damaging it. It looks good painted. Thanks Phil, Merry Christmas to you and yours 🎄🙂
David sen bu işi biliyorsun senin onarımlarını izlemek büyük bir zevk teşekkürler
Teşekkürler Mutlu 😊
It looks great! Just the thing for your Mk2 Cortina or something similar. Nice to hear that you have been appreciated on air too. Well deserved. 🎄✨
It would look good in a Cortina, you have just made me realise how old the radio (and me) is. Thanks Pauline 😀
@@DavidTipton101 Oops, sorry 😄
@@PaulinesPastimes 👍😄
Great video David. After the first 15 mins I thought it was all done but seems like I was very wrong. Those cores are really brittle and ideally you want a straight tipped trimmer not tapered. Great job on the grille as well. Definitely looks the part as do the newly finished sides. Cracking job in all. Cheers Graham
Hello Graham, I thought so too, it all went so well. Yes I agree, the tapered tips are the problem but I was very quick to realise that and only snapped about 5 slugs before coming to that conclusion 🙄 Thanks Graham 😊
Could you dress the tapered-blade surfaces flat with a diamond-hone?
Also, I’ve been considering getting these ceramic screwdrivers; do you guys think I should just stay away or do they have a use.
Just a thought: Do you think they made these screwdrivers purposely-tapered to prevent their breakage?
Thanks! 😊
@@SpinStar1956 you can shape them with a diamond stone as I broke the tip on one of mine and had to use a diamond stone to reshape it. They are definitely worth getting as the are non conductive so wont affect your measurements. I would only use them if the core is loose though as they would break a stuck core
@@SpinStar1956 You may be able to reshape then, it would be hard work. The ceramic trimmers are fine for most radios, it's these ones with the small square slot that is giving trouble. I have purchased a better trimmer for doing them now but the ceramics are OK for a lot of jobs particularly modern electronics and cheap enough too.
@@DavidTipton101 Ok, I was hoping they’d be a ‘panacea’ to replace the plastic ones that are precious but getting torn up. I may still get a set and just pay close attention to the way they fit. Thanks for all the advice guys!
With prior knowledge learned from working on other radios I think you did a great job fixing all the typical problems this
portable battery operated radio has. You made it look pretty easy to repair David.
Hi Steve, thank you 🙂
Who said there’s nothing interesting on the radio? Good interview 😊 and a great job in the Hacker. Stay well.
Haha... thanks Manuel. Take care yourself 😉🙂
Hi Dave, really enjoyed this one. I liked the switch fix. I did something similar to my 30 year old heat gun. You’ve got to at least try before throwing it away. Glad I did. It works better than it ever did. Maybe I’ll get another 30 years out of it. Well, maybe someone else will. :)
Thanks jggmobile. It's to have a go at fixing something before throwing it away, you never know 🙂
Like new again. Fab job. Nice to see you tinkering with electronics I am familiar with for a change though I hope your light duties end soon and you are able to get back to tweaking the biting beasts again. Was going to point out the value of the output capacitor as regards to frequency response but another commenter just beat me to it (ha ha). All the best mate, your videos are a great start to my day. 8x6 over and out.
Hello Stephen, thank you. I'm back in full swing now thanks, the video was from a few months ago. Yes the capacitor size was the wrong choice, it sounds good though, I'll fit the two 330uF caps as I intended in the first place 🙂
Thanks David very informative, Merry Christmas 🎅
Thank you Martin, merry Christmas 🎄🙂
Very impressive all around David!
Thanks William 😀
Thanks!
Thank you John 😀
Great work as per usual! Thanks.
Thank you Neil 🙂
Wow, so you’re now a multi-media radio star! It must’ve been fun doing the interview. I was a bit disappointed that the interviewer seemed to be suggesting that old radios sounded crappy. But what do you expect, I guess.
Nice job on the Hacker! I hope you don’t catch Cruncher’s Disease and start lusting after transistor sets! Somehow I doubt it.
Anyhow, thanks for yet another great video!
Hi Don, yes, I'm on the lookout for a manager now 😄 I think they were going for AM sound which is ironic as it is also broadcast in AM. Not much chance of catching Cruncherites I don't mind a few but I prefer the brute force of valve sets 💪 Thanks Don, cheers! 🙂
Nice video David you are starting to get the hang of transistor radios 🤣
The radio theory is the same but transistor theory is different, I need more transistor failures to get the hang of it. Thanks Richard 🙂
Great video! Many, many years ago I had a radio similar. Brought back good memories. Good to see you!!!
That's nice to hear batman387, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you 🙂
Good recovery from the broken slug, no such thing anymore as walk-in, buy-some-transformers shops in the UK. Auto may be automobile and the phono socket may be for phonograph / gramophone (period-correct guesswork, ho, ho) There used to be a 'release agent' for car dashboards which may work on the 'vinyl'. Geranium and elk and acetone in your wife's best saucepans, not something you normally hear or see in a radio restoration video.
Hello Ralph, thank you. I know all the electronics shops are online now in the UK. We are very lucky, I have three within 20 minutes of me. I have had several suggestions on treating the vinyl. I was having a bit of tongue trouble on that day 😄
Hi David I think that hole in the back is for another antenna one that has telescoping up and down I think that is what it's for! Very nice restoration!
OK, thanks Jammerk40 😊
I loved the subtitle's translation of 'Catherine of Aragon' to 'Captain America'.
😄
Beautiful as always! One thing that works pretty well on these textured vinyl and textured paper is black shoe polish.
Thank you Brett, yes that would be good, thanks 👍🙂
Excellent work. I wish you were based in Manchester. I have a few Bush radios to restore.
Hi Tony, thank you. We stayed there a few nights in 2015 (ish) my Grandfather came from Tipton a bit south from you 🙂
Excellent work with the rear grille, a lot of Hacker sets have this missing, as they were originally held on with flimsy plastic pins, certainly looks good, by the way, the set is from 1972....
Thank you markpirateuk. Yes I got 1962 in my head and couldn't get it out. I have removed any reference to the incorrect date 🙂
Loved it.
Thank you Colin 🙂
Hi Dave hope youre doing good, ummm
Nice to see what you can do with a tea bag.
Cheers and happy holidays
Hi Franklin, I'm good thanks. Yes, there's not much you can't do with a teabag 🍵🙂
David, about the breaking of the cores by (ceramic) screwdrivers: if you take out a core and look at the slot, you could notice that the inner corners are all rounded. It looks more like a bath tub. Your screwdriver is not, it has sharp edges that easily cut into these roundings inside the slot, and by that break into the ceramics.
What worked for me is to imitate the roundings onto a piece of brass (the right thickness I found in a contact from a wall socket) so it fits perfect into the slot. And that piece of brass (8mm long) I glued into the end of a chopstick to keep the metal part as small as possible.
Hello Erik. That's a good point, I agree the shape of the ceramic trimmer tool is the problem and that sounds like a great solution. Thanks Erik, I'll start filing some brass 👍🙂
@@DavidTipton101 👍 (This also stands for these stubborn Philips slugs)
Thanks
Thank you so much Mike 👍😀
Thank you Dave for another great video...your workmanship is always superb...and thanks for the link to your radio interview...👍👏
Thank you James, my pleasure 🙂
Wow ! That's one great radio, never seen one with such a big battery complement. It's the second time i notice you mentioning transistors are not your forte, but man it doesn't show. Love what you did with everything, but the work on the front grill is super impressive, not a dent visible. Great work as always. I also wanted to mention i've been watching you for over 2 years now and waiting eagerly for your next video and enjoying it as soon as it comes out, has become part of my routine. So much so that i often thought about learning how to fix old tube radios myself, but i was always too chicken shit to attempt it, electricity especially at those nasty voltages found in such radios scare me, not afraid to admit it. But i recently had an offer i couldn't pass; My best friend is giving me a 1937 RCA-Victor model 87-K, 7 tube superhet console. I've seen only one of them completely restored and the beauty of its Art Deco design is just too beautiful to let it go to waste. So while i was waiting for the opportunity to go pick it up at the mini warehouse it has been stored at for decades, i did some research on the web and found another one for 40$. I bought it and brought it home thinking i could use it as a donor unit for the other one if needed. But to make a long story short now that i have both units at home, it might just be the other way around and my friend's console will most likely become the donor unit, since its transformer is completely fried, having been replaced with a much smaller under powered one. I'll let the holiday season pass before i start doing actual work on it, but so far i've cleaned both chassis as best as i could (one being more corroded than the other), built a dim bulb tester and had the tubes checked (only the 5W4 rect was usable). In the meantime i'm reading and watching lots and lots of videos. Already schematics and wiring diagrams are starting to look less like a bowl of spaghetti every day...
Thank's again for always sharing so generously David, be well and merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hi Raymond, I'm on a learning curve with transistors, I get how to all works but I lack experience to troubleshoot them. Thank you for your support over two years. I am truly excited to hear about your 87-K, I looked it up and it looks a very nice radio, it would look good polished up and the marble effect escutcheon is unusual. I wish you all the best of luck with your project, if you are mindful of the high voltages and remove power before handling the chassis (I don't move the chassis with the power on) and try to only use one hand when powered you will be OK 🙂
@@DavidTipton101 Yeah no kidding, transistors are tiny and seem fragile to work with, plus you can't see through them like good ol Vacuum tubes... The 87-K is indeed quite stylish especially after a good restoration in my opinion, we agree on that. The attention to veneer placement and colour variations make the wood a lot more ''lively''. The only guy who truly restored one of them (that i could find on the web) is Glenn Grubb, in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada. Too far for me to go and visit him, but i contacted him via e-mail and he seems willing to give me a hand when the time comes. As for safety, rest assure i am quite aware of the hot chassis issue and working with only one hand, i intend to follow this to the letter. So far i'm having trouble trying to figure out how to replace the electrolytics since i can't find any polarity indicators on the old paper caps, also there's virtually no colour left on the wires, heck many of them have disintegrated shielding. Guess i'll have to figure that out before changing even one. But my first priority is putting an 3 prong polarized power cord before anything else. I'll be honest i'd feel so much more confident if you were next to me when i start working on this 85 years old contraption (or Face time/zoom). Just kidding, but a guy can dream right ?
Have a great day Dave.
@@raymondmenard5444 That's good that you have someone to offer advice for the cabinet finish. The 87-K isn't a hot chassis so you have no worries there. The wiring colour is always faded, if the wire is rubber it will need to be replaced. Replacing electrolytics if you can't tell which end is positive use the circuit diagram, the negative always goes to the low impedance side, so ground if it's grounded in the chassis otherwise the circuit should guide you to the low side. I think there are two models of the same set one from Canada and one New York. I remember Jim from Jim's Radio Shop on UA-cam did a Canadian one, be careful what you learn from Jim, he's a nice guy but... I'll leave it at that. It would be nice to have some help by your side 🙂 Good luck Raymond.
@@DavidTipton101 Yes indeed for the cabinet refinishing, but i guess i wasn't clear, Glenn has also redone the electronics and got his set working quite nicely again, although his unit is missing the multi band assembly, one of my 2 sets still has it so i'm quite happy with that. Also about the hot chassis, i do know it isn't the case since it's a transformer radio, but i was under the impression it was still ''Hazardous'' to touch the chassis while making contact with certain components/leads, hence why working with only one hand in the set is so important. (just goes to show you how much i still have to learn right ?)
Ok thank's for the electrolytics info, i'll do my best to figure it out. One of the sets has had ''Creative re-wiring'' let's call it that, but the other one seems to be quite original everywhere as far as i can tell aside from a few caps being replaced around circa 1950 from the info i could gather about the Sangamo caps used as replacements.
But one of the electrolytics can (C-31) has been toppled over at some point, shredding its plastic threads on the stud and breaking the wire inside the connector. Said can was connected underneath the chassis with a nut, but also has a ring terminal going to T1 transformer (black-Brown) namely. I suppose it would be an easy re connect job if i were to put the same kind of electrolytics (having some made by Hayseed-Hamfest for instance), but if i choose to go the modern cap route, i wouldn't know what to do with the ring terminal.
Same problem with Elect C-32 which has no ring terminal anymore and was re connected directly to some wires, which i have trouble tracing to origin in the chassis since all wires look the same there all brown now ! But i'm not asking you dear Dave to solve these problems for me, i have taken up too much of your time as it is, i want you to get back to the next project you have undoubtably in store for us. I'll make sure to go check Jim's Radio shop's channel. If he has ANY info about the 87-K to share it'll be helpful in some way or another.
To be clear and honest i've given me a year to learn and to completely restore this old radio. It's a personal challenge i have given myself and being patient but stubborn i won't rest until it's done to my satisfaction...
Have a great day and thank you again 🙂
@@raymondmenard5444 You can send me some photos of C31 and anything you are unsure of to me at vintageradioaus (at) gmail.com
I might be able to help 🙂
David you are such a Hacker ! I know its hard for us old folk to wrap our heads around transistors, but you are coming along with the new technology. Give it a few more years and you will be working with SMD's. Well done. 73 Joe
Haha... thanks Joe, I doubt I will get into SMDs in a hurry, I love valve gear, at least you can see it working 😄
Hi Dave,
I trust you are feeling okay, and you and your family will have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
If ever there were a particular transistor radio that buggered me about, it was, among a few other brand models, the Hacker Autocrat range. Hacker Herald, Hunter, Mayflower etc. presented me with very few problems. It was the Autocrat range that presented various problems, most of them similar to what you encountered. I guess that particular model did not like me LOL, yet the service centre where I worked had Hacker dealership (among other brands) so spare parts were never a problem.
I also remember those IF transformers, especially the very flimsy iron dust slugs. From around 1960/61 virtually all British manufactured transistor radios incorporated them, and they continued to do so more or less until the demise of British radio manufacturing - so be aware of them - those slugs break at the drop of a hat! We too replaced them with Toko IF transformer kits for 462kHz - could be tuned for 455kHz to 470kHz. Those days optional small printed circuit adaptor boards were available. Toko transformers were soldered onto those small printed boards, then they were soldered onto the radio circuit board - if there was sufficient room LOL.
It certainly is interesting stuff my friend. Best regards from Phil.
Hello Phil, we are good here, I hope it's the same at your end, all the best for Christmas and the new year. Good to hear it wasn't only me breaking those slugs, I have ordered some new trimming tools to hopefully avoid that in the future. That's a good idea mounting them on a PC board, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Phil 🎄🙂
Woman's voice "Welcome to David Tipton. He has his own UA-cam channel ...."
David: "Thank you, sir ...."
I laughed out loud 😆
You are such a talented man, Dave
Well done on this transistor radio 👍👏😊🇳🇱
Thank you Nard. What! I said Sarah didn't I? Oh crap, now I will have to go back and check 🤦♂️
Dont know if you have anything planned for Christmas ,but a Vid of either your (working) radio collection or an overview of project/scrapyard parts would be interesting at some time
Hello High Path. I will do that one day but too busy at the moment, it might be interesting to some 👍🙂
Depending on what slicer you use, you could try the 'ironing' option. This passes the hot end over the top of the print after the final layer and smooths it out. Alternatively print on a sheet of glass with the face of the print downwards. And if you use a Philips head screwdriver bit to punch the rivet down it splits it into four neat pedals.
Thanks for the tips Andy. I haven't seen an ironing selection on my two slicing software. I'll see if there is something similar 🤔
I had a radio with Geranium outputs once, the brand was Cracker. It looked a lot like this one. It has a sweet, flowery tone. For some reason it didn't want to pickup the cricket stations very well.
Haha... thanks Gordon 😄
Greetz David (keep upp the good work ) greetz from holland
Greetings from Australia Cornelis and thank you 🦘🙂
Great job Dave. Chrome is a no go but Nickel plating is well within the scope of the DIYer. Might be worth a crack on a future resto. Probably wouldn't have worked for this one anyway since you couldn't get the handle ends out.
Hi RecordCouncil, as you said I couldn't get the ends out of the handle I got one out about 10mm and decided I would damage it if I went any further. I did some nickel plating in a video a year or two back, painting was easier and it looks good 🙂
Another great video Dave congratulations from Aotearoa :~)
Thank you Phil in beautiful Aotearoa🙂
David - another really enjoyable repair/restoration. It seems to have been ages since your last effort. I may have well said this before but I do love the way you prattle on while you are working... I still have not worked out if you do this for the sake of your many fans to follow along or if you are just one of those people who talk to themselves. Anyway a great job and a really nice finished product. Hope all is well for you and your family. Wishing you a very safe and enjoyable Christmas.
Hello Kenneth, I put up a new video every three weeks, it's a leisurely pace and allows me to see if my wife is still here from time to time. I do talk to myself, my wife is always complaining about it, I tell her it's that only way I can get an intelligent conversation 😉 Thank you Kenneth, Merry Christmas and all the best for 2023 🎄🙂
Wow! I counted 17 transistors on that schematic. Great job on the radio, and I think that elk stain looks great.
Hi Kevin, yes there were 12 in the IC alone. Thank you Kevin, I think the elk was a good choice, it's expensive though, elk are really hard to catch 😉😄
@@DavidTipton101 It helps to use Geranium transistors for bait.
Great job, Dave, that's a fine little transistor job you've brought back to life! I really like the new rear grille - going to have to put a 3D printer on my next year's Santa list. Congrats on the radio interview. I had one of those for a book I wrote 8 years ago on my grandfather's WWI adventures. Never heard how it went so it probably never left the cutting room floor. Re: vinyl, you might try a bit of Armour All on those bits. Works great on car interiors so I don't see why it wouldn't work on radios too.
Thank you Sincerely Yours. My interview was done live so they couldn't back out of it 😄 I guess they would tell you if yours was broadcast. I considered Armour All but wasn't sure about the shine it leaves, I have some wipes there, maybe I'll give them a try 🙂
Another awesome Video Dave!!!!
Thank you again Chris 😀
Hacker is a great brand. My fist record player as a young one was a Hacker. Quality kit 👌..Another great download Dave. Best wishes Terry uk 🇬🇧 ❤ 👍.
Hi Terry, Hacker made good stuff no doubt. Thanks Terry, take care 🙂
Como siempre excelente trabajo mi amigo.
Gracias Eduardo 😊