Wireless of the Week

24/05/2025

Sorry to hear of the sad news of the passing of John Lait. Although I didn't know him personally, he had been a regular reader and contributor to this page for several years, and for that I will miss him, as I'm sure many others will. RIP John - and many thanks for your interest. Best wishes, Chris

18/05/2025

Hi Everyone. As promised, my latest repair story. We have here a Roberts model R500 from 1963, which is a vintage portable transistor radio covering the Long, Medium, and Shortwave bands, all of which are occupied by Amplitude Modulation (AM) radio signals. This is a set which I repaired for a local guy and is now entertaining it’s owner once again for the first time in approx. 30 years. Reception on LW and MW is achieved using the sets internal ferrite rod aerial, and for these broadcasts, the radio will need to be orientated to achieve the best reception. For Short-wave a retractable telescopic aerial is used.

Also provided, if needed, are sockets for an external aerial, and connection to a tape-recorder

When the set arrived on my bench, it was infact working on Short-wave, however LW and MW were completely deaf – that is unless I attached an external aerial, however this yielded some mad results – stations appearing in totally the wrong places, SW stations coming through on MW, MW stations coming through on LW, in other words a total mess! Signficant repairs to this the LW and MW tuning were needed and included:
Fit new capacitors in the RF stages:
1) 390pf,
2) 300pf,
3) 0.01uf
4) 0.022uf
Repairing a broken connection to the tuning transformer for LW and MW, to restore reception on these bands – the PCB track was damaged, so I bridged the gap with a piece of wire. (It's difficult to see on the photos, but on the close-up you might just be able to pick out the wiring behind the ferrite rod. You will also see where I had to tape-up some of the aerial wires after my soldering iron accidentally caught the insulation - school-boy error I know, but no voltage is present here, so I can do this with out any concerns for safety or performance) In addition, I fitting a replacement tuning core to the MW/LW RF transformer, as the original was cracked and crumbling – I sourced a replacement from a ‘scrap set’ I have here – although this has helped return reception to the Medium wave band (and intermittently to the Long-wave band) it is not exactly the same as the original, hence it has not been possible to get the calibration exactly right – so for instance Radio Caroline on 463m, comes in closer to 440m, where as BBC Radio Five Live on 433m, comes in closer to approx.. 410m, etc etc….
Unfortunately one thing I was unable to do was to get LW working reliably – it basically plays when it feels like it. However, BBC Radio 4 on 1515m is the only station that can reliably be received in this country, and this is currently set to fall silent on June 30th, 2025 – only weeks away at time of writing. After this the LW button will be all but obsolete anyway, so following discussion with the owner it was decided not to pursue this any further.
In addition I also Supplied and fitted two PP9 battery converter clips – these give a choice of converting to either a 9 volts PP3 battery, or, they come with an attachable AA block, which can be used to fit the radio with two blocks of six AA batteries if preferred.
For good measure, I also carried out minor adjustment of Intermediate Frequency circuits to improve performance on all wave bands;
Although no expert on cabinet repairs, I gave the case and buttons a brief clean with a Wet-wipe so as to freshen them up a bit. The k***s, I removed and washed them in fairy liquid water, using an old toothbrush. I have also freshened up the brass-work with Brasso.

I believe these radio’s were supplied in a range of different colours, (wooden cases, coated in Rexene) as shown in the photos and video, this is the red version.

Hope this has been of interest,

Speak again soon,

Regards

Chris

14/05/2025

Hi one and all - just a heads-up that this coming weekend (probably Sunday)I will be posting the repair story for a Roberts R500 transistor radio, that I recently repaired for somebody else. Also, I still have a Pye 806 radio from the 1930's available for sale if any of you are interested? See previous post. Many thanks, Chris

16/03/2025

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are keeping well. As promised a few days ago, my latest repair story. A bit of a special one here, this is a radio-gram, which I have repaired for the Ipswich Windrush Society. More on that a bit later, but we have here a vintage valve radiogram, which features coverage of the Long, Medium, Short and FM/VHF Wavebands, as well of course as a record-player and cock-tail cabinet to boot! (In the 1950’s and 60’s, FM was more commonly referred to as ‘VHF’ which is how it is marked on the Blaupunkt Arkansas, hence that is how I will mostly refer to it from now on.) Reception on AM (Long Wave, Medium-wave) is achieved by an internal ferrite rod aerial, Shortwave uses an external aerial or wire.
Reception on VHF is achieved with a wire aerial which plugs neatly into the back.
Valves used in this set are ECC85 (VHF Frequency changer) ECH81 (AM Frequency changer, and VHF Intermediate Frequency Amplifier) EF89 (Intermediate Frequency Amplifier) EABC80 (Audio Amplifier and VHF Discriminator) EL84 (Audio Output) and ECL86 (Audio Output – Gram mode only.)
Unusually, when used on Radio mode, only the EL84 valve is used in the Audio-output stage. When used on PU/records mode, the ECL86 is brought in as well, the result being that the two valves work together in ‘push-pull’ mode, increasing the power and range of the audio output. Anyone else heard of this – a radio-gram with Push-pull output, that’s only actually push-pull when records are being played?

Tape-recorder and extension speaker sockets are also offered; however, I did not try these as I do not have anything that can fit them.

Repairs carried out to the radio side of this set included:

Adding a 160ma fuse into the HT line for increased safety;
Replacing all capacitors that handle more than 100 volts (except for a few that have very obscure values that I have not been able to source)
Fixing (hopefully!) an intermittent connection that was sometimes causing the tuning indicator to go dark, also fitting a new tuning Indicator
Adding an additional 200 Kohm resistor into the circuit of the target anode of the tuning indicator, reducing the voltage on this from 250 volts down to approx. 92 volts. - This is a trick someone at a vintage radio and TV museum in West Dulwich told me about 10 years ago - as tuning indicator valves are quite expensive to replace these days, a trick to lengthen their life is to reduce the voltage on the target anode – in most cases you can cut this down by quite a considerable amount, and only have a very slight effect on its performance. Strictly speaking, it may be very slightly dimmer than before, but more often than not the difference will be negligible, and it should pay dividends in the long-run.
A through re-tune of the Internal VHF circuits, to improve FM/VHF reception – this was particularly challenging, not least because of the much higher frequencies used at VHF level, compared to that of the AM frequencies. The VHF frequencies are in fact so sensitive, that even the lead-out on one of the capacitor’s being cut to the wrong length can be enough to throw the tuning off. When I first looked at this set, the VHF band was particularly deaf, wouldn’t even pick up ‘Heart’ on 97.1, which is on a transmitter only five miles away! Replacing the high-voltage capacitors in the FM unit, along with careful re-adjustment of the internal tuning coils, and correcting a mis-connection gradually brought this back to life, with reception of ‘Heart’, Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 now being possible. (Remember this set only covers 87.5 – 100.0 Megacycles.)
See video for a demonstration of the radio-chassis functioning on my workbench! The accompanying photos also show it in various states of repair/restoration, as well as back in Situ. in The Windrush Room of Reflection.
Unfortunately, servicing the FM unit on this means having to remove the dial-drive cord, in order to gain access. Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with vintage radio servicing will know that the less is said about that, the better!
Fitting a new EL84 audio-output valve to improve audio performance;
Minor adjustment of Intermediate Frequency circuits to improve performance on both FM and AM.
See video for a quick demo of the radio-chassis coming back to life on my workbench at the beginning of the year.
The record deck was already working to an extent, the turntable was turning at the correct speed, however the automatic needle mechanism was not functioning correctly. I resolved this, by cleaning old, congealed oil from the physical mechanisms associated with this, and giving them a fresh dousing in 3-in-1 oil.

Following this, it was also necessary to ‘fine-tune’ the needle arm. This is a fine art in itself – with adjustment screws to alter the position, weight and height of the arm, these really do have to be set very accurately, as little as 1/8 of a turn error could be enough to stop it rejecting itself at the end of a record, or for it to miss the rest arm when switching off.

The difference with this particular set, however is that it is not actually mine. At the beginning of the article, I mentioned the Ipswich Windrush Society, and that is who this Blaupunkt Arkansas Radio-gram actually belongs to. The Ipswich Windrush Society is a local Charity, which aims to tell the story of those early families to arrive here in Ipswich via the Empire Windrush Scheme from 1948-71 and the challenges they faced – the attitudes of mid-20th century Britain, the sadness of discrimination, the difficulties in adjusting to a different culture, climate and way of life. But above all, it does a fantastic job of show-casing the human race, including everything that makes us different – and even more importantly, everything that makes us the same.
The Ipswich Windrush Society has a Room of Reflection, in the Sailmakers shopping Center, which show-cases the kind of items that a typical Windrush Family may have had in their own living room from the 1950’s through to the 1980’s. In many ways a typical British living room of the period, albeit with a bit of a Caribbean twist. It is in here that the Blaupunkt Arkansas Radio-gram can now be seen and enjoyed and a fully working exhibit for public display.
It has been a true honour for me to be able to donate the repair of this to this local charity and the wonderful work they are doing.
The good news dear friends and followers is that you can see for yourselves. If you happen to be in the Ipswich area (UK) the Room of Reflection is in the Sailmakers shopping Center – towards the back on the upper-floor, and is free admission. (Although donations are always appreciated!) You can find out more here: https://www.ipswichwindrushsociety.org/reflection-room See photos for the complete radio-gram on display in the Room of Reflection.

Until next time,

Best wishes,

Chris Brisland

12/03/2025

Hi Everyone, hope you are all keeping well. A heads-up that this coming weekend, I will be posting on here about a special Radio-gram restoration that I have recently carried out for the Ipswich Windrush Society. Hope this is of interest regards, Chris

26/01/2025

Ok So off topic, but will hopefully interest a few of you. In a couple of days time, the analogue landline gets cut where I live. To mark the occasion, a last ring of some vintage telephones! Shown here are: Ericsson Cradle telephone, 1920's, Belgique bell telephone, 1940's, GPO 746, circa 1961 (formally used in the Spalls shop on Foxhall Rd, Ipswich) Telephone 332, circa 1937, GEC Candlestick, circa 1929, and Telephone 232, circa 1935. In the second video is an Erricsson Cradle telephone, circa 1915. Regards, Chris

01/01/2025

On a brighter note - happy new year one and all. You may be interested to know, that BBC Radio 4 has a special day of programs celebrating the shipping forecast today - sounds good on authentic Longwave on a vintage wireless, such as the 1937 Pye QPAC shown here. Happy new year and happy listening! (Check schedules for details.) Regards Chris

31/12/2024

Hi Everyone - Like many I have been saddened to hear this afternoon of the death of Radio legend Johnnie Walker. Many of you will know that he was on air at midnight on August 14th 1967 when he announced that Radio Caroline would continue despite new legislation designed to silence pirate radio. It is estimated that a total of 22million people heard his broadcast that night, possibly one of the largest radio audiences ever. Personally, I met him at Pirate BBC Essex in Harwich in 2007 and can say that he was just as personable and enthusiastic in real life as he is on the radio. I can remember shaking hands with him on the tender out to the LV18 lightship where they were broadcasting from, and handing him a note and request to read out on his show that evening - annoyingly a technical fault put Pirate BBC Essex off the air for a few minutes just as he was going through the notes - but hey ho. I can also remember showing him the vintage Dansette Model 111 Transistor radio I had brought with me that day, and he took a great interest in it as a memory from the pirate radio days, and even asked me which was the best BBC Essex frequency to use in that area - I took great delight in telling him it was 411m, 729 K/c's. A great memory and a sad loss of a radio legend. More about Johnnie Walkers life can be read here. Sorry to have to bring such sad news on New Years Eve of all days, warm wishes, Chris

Pioneering presenter was best known for hosting Sounds of the 70s and the Radio 2 Rock Show

23/12/2024

A very Merry Christmas one and all. A hearty reminder that tomorrow at 3pm UK time, BBC Radio 4 will once again play host to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from Kings College Chapel, in Cambridge. (It will also be on BBC World Service at the same time.) With the exception of the year 1930, BBC Radio has broadcast this service at the same time every consecutive year since 1928, making it a main-stay of Christmas Radio. Since it looks likely that the Longwave transmitter (198 K/c's, 1515m) will be retired in June next year this really could be the last time to sit back and enjoy the service 'old school' on a genuine vintage wireless set. Don't forget also that Radio 4 is also on 92-95 VHF/FM in most places and that Radio 3 will the following day broadcast an extended version of the service on 90-93 VHF/FM at 1pm UK time. However you listen, and where-ever you listen, seasons greetings, and enjoy! Best wishes, Chris

15/12/2024

Hi Folks - just found out about some additional Radio London Tribute programs, these will be on Shortwave and online. Dates, times and Frequencies are here, hope some of you manage to catch them on your vintage radio's! Chris

Pirate Radio London Big L RSL on air

15/12/2024

Hi Everyone, hope this finds you all well. News of a radio event coming up - sadly it will not be recieveble on a vintage radio as it's online only (unless you have your own 'work around' of course, but we won't mention that! 😉😆) - but from December 20th, through to December 23rd, Radio Mi-amigo in Harwich will be streaming live from the LV18 ship in Harwich, with some special shows to mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of Radio London (Big L) A number of 60's themed shows will go out, including an appearance or two from none-other than Keith Skues, who's BBC shows this page was connected to for many years. Full details, a schedule and web-stream can be found right here. Happy listening, and happy birthday Radio London! Best wishes, Chris

Categories LV18 Mi Amigo Special shows The Pirates Radio London 60th Anniversary Post author By Radio Officer Post date 16th November 2024 No Comments on Radio London 60th Anniversary Radio Mi Amigo is proud to announce that we will be marking the 60th anniversary of Radio London’s first transmiss...