Astor Model DL - 1940 - Troubleshooting Weak Volume

Edit: I now know the radio was from 1940 not 1947 as I thought. Sorry for the misinformation.
While visiting Sydney recently, my friend rang me and said he had an old Astor radio he had worked on but couldn't get it to work properly. I picked it up and brought it back to Queensland. This has been heavily worked on by a number of people, that rings alarm bells! That alone makes it the worst kind of radio to work on. I will have a go but don't hold out much luck.
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[@Daniel_cheems]

Dave never gives up until the result is satisfactory. Well done Dave. Another great repair.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Daniel 🙂

[@ShannonFerguson]

Your patience with these radios is phenomenal. Great work!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Shane 🙂

[@waynethompson8416]

Dave! Great to see another video from you! This is really an interesting little radio...and interesting issues. When you mentioned the drifting issue I immediately thought about the fact that resistors in certain parts of the circuit need to be either a Silver Mica, or an NPO type or it can cause that kind of drift with temperature. I have never experienced or heard anyone else mention having an issue with the tuning capacitor changing with temperature, but as you so aptly showed, it can be a real issue. The owner is going to be very happy indeed! I hope that you and the family are doing well and that you are experiencing increasing blessings every day. Stay Healthy, Stay Happy, Stay Handy, and Stay Humorous!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Wayne, thank you. I can't explain why the tuning drifted. After I cleaned the tuning capacitor it almost got rid of it. I though it had but it was still slightly evident after further testing. We are good thanks Wayne 👍🙂

[@radio-ged4626]

It's always more challenging when somebody else has introduced a problem into a radio. Having the second IF transformer out of phase is probably one of the more head-scratching scenarios (for me at any rate) so well spotted. The tuning cap drifting with heat was quite a puzzler too. I always enjoy the sets with non-standard problems it's so much more interesting than re-capping etc. The dust cap on the speaker flapping about like an exhaust cap on a lorry made me laugh. I though the cone was going to fall off. Another great fix and another well produced video.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi @radio-ged4626, thank you. Haha, you made me laugh saying the dust cover looked like an exhaust flap 😄

[@DIlic-iz9tx]

_I drink my morning coffee and watch you work. It was always that someone worked and the other worked._ 😊 _Big greetings from my Croatia._

[@DavidTipton101]

Greetings Dominico 😀

[@user-nd3lx1zg9t]

Dave, time spent with you is never wasted.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Tim 🙂

[@kilcar]

Brilliant. The fact you had to fault find others work is amazing.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Patrick 😀

[@timothygrupp]

Always a double challenge when approaching a technical piece and human handiwork. As usual, your success made for great viewing. Thanks Dave!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Timothy 👍🙂

[@horatiohornblower868]

Quite technical stuff but nevertheless very captivating! Thx Dave!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you @horatiohornblower868 🙂

[@superhet7281]

Great job, Dave! I’d watch you fix old radios eight days a week! ;-)

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Super Het 🙂

[@steelcity321pb6]

Hi Dave, In a few of my past videos you might have heard me say I have no problem with past repairs to radios provided the work was done correctly and competently. It is so annoying correcting someone else’s ‘work’ before correcting the original fault: it can be more annoying correcting someone else’s ‘work’ only. I know! On countless occasions I’ve been there. In this instance you had my sympathy. Nonetheless you did an excellent correction, and repair job: a pleasure to see you at work on this radio. A big thank you, regards Phil.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Phil. I can imagine in your service life you would have sets come in and the owner would say it just stopped working and when you open it up the set has been tampered with. I admit this caught me unawares, I wasn't expecting what I found and it took me a little while to catch on. I hope I'm a bit sharper next time 😄 Thanks Phil, take care 🙂

[@stevescheberle277]

Thank you, Dave. This reminds me of Willy Wonka, "... Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it..." Nice bit of troubleshooting there! 🙂

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... it does! Thanks Steve 😀

[@martyh9309]

Another excellent result all due to your patience, technical proficiency and dogged persistence!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Marty 👍😀

[@juanmiguelcarballo3200]

Un Cordial Saludo desde Cuba Maestro...!👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Un Cordial Saludo para ti Juan👍

[@allenshirley1077]

Excellent analyzing and explaining Dave! Some not easily found problems you made look easy! Best to you and yours.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Allen 🙂

[@stephenbarlin2314]

Admire your determination to achieve perfection.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Stephen 🙂

[@bigmotter001]

The master detective has been successful once again! Nice deduction on the transformer wiring David! Thanks for posting and take care!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi John, thank you. Take care 👍🙂

[@ninaevans4501]

We're currently sitting up late here in the U.K. at 11.30pm (GMT) going through all your vids. Noddy is perched on my lap and keeps kissing the mobile phone screen, while Nina and I are slowly getting through a bottle of Port. It's great having a bonzer mate from downunder. Keep up the fantastic vids, and your special brand of humour 😃😃😃 Warmest Regards from Pom to Oz. Wayne & Nina ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Wayne and Nina... and Noddy. I need a bottle of port to get through my videos too 😄 Thanks, I hope you had a nice evening relaxing. Take care 👍🙂

[@DrOSLA]

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the valuable knowledge I have gained from your videos. thank you so much.

[@DavidTipton101]

My pleasure @DrOSLA, thank you 🙂

[@philllynch3265]

Hi Dave. I always enjoy the surprise when your videos pop up. As the saying goes, a little bit of knowledge is dangerous, referring to the previous repairer LOL. Take care , Hi to Karen.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Phill. Thanks, the current owner didn't do the IF transformer, it was before him. I will pass on to Karen 🙂

[@dogribmoon]

I hope the owner appreciates your efforts. Thanks for sharing

[@DavidTipton101]

He did, thanks @dogribmoon 👍🙂

[@sheldonlatimer6688]

You do a great job of figuring out what's wrong and plan a course of action

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Sheldon 🙂

[@danielthomas3057]

Hi Dave; A good friend and her husband on a cruise from Vancouver will be arriving in Sydney, Australia in 2 days to stay for 4. I asked her to say hello to Dave Tipton and g'day mate! Interesting radio, a little twist on the usual circuit technology, good work!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Daniel, I hope your friends have a great time in Sydney. Thanks Daniel 😀

[@ecc84]

There's nowt worse than trying to fix some other buggers balls up 🙂 nice work again Dave.

[@DavidTipton101]

Agreed! Thanks @ecc84 🙂

[@billharris6886]

Good work David! Trying to correct a poorly done restoration can result in quite the detective work and rebuild of parts of the circuitry. Good catch on the swapped primary and secondary of that IF transformer. I didn't realize some of the Aussie radios were also employing the IF resonating capacitor constructed from a sheet of silver painted mica which, being open air, is guaranteed for the silver to evaporate via oxidation and/or get displaced by the high voltages a valve set uses. On those tuning capacitors, I add DeOxIt on the center and end shaft earthing contacts, then re-grease the ball-bearing using gun lube. Anywhere lubrication is needed on the radio I use gun oil or grease, which is optimized to resist drying out. I'm sure the customer will be pleased with the improvements you made.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Bill. It was unusual to see that capacitor in an Aussie radio. I cleaned and sprayed deoxit on the capacitor sliding contacts. I haven't tried gun oil. The owner was very happy with the radio. Thanks Bill 🙂

[@billharris6886]

@@DavidTipton101 Thanks for your response. Silver painted mica sheet capacitors began appearing in IF transformers in US radios in 1947. A connection to the capacitor was made via the transformer lead frame which was pressed against the mica; no actual solder joint. I fixed many (usually replacement of the electrolytic cap, which used a cardboard case) of these radios in the 1970's and never observed IF transformer problems. So, it is amazing to me this crude capacitor design worked as well and long as it did. Thanks Dave for all the work involved with doing the videos. I am certain viewers have learned a lot from your restorations (including myself) and you have as well, as I compare your first few videos versus present day videos. Keep up the good work!

[@DavidTipton101]

I have seen many IF capacitors using that design. They are usually reliable. I had to learn something on the way, my first attempts were pretty dismal😄 Thanks.

[@Ahmed-zu9yv]

Perfect radio repair. Thank you for explaining. Best regards.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Ahmed 🙂

[@markdesjardins3153]

Greetings from Canada. The only thing worse than tracking down someone else's boo-boo is finding one you accidentally introduced yourself lol, been there and done that. Great repair and explanation Dave, I'm always looking forward to your videos.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Mark. I have introduced a number of errors myself and will continue to do so no doubt 🤣

[@stuartirwin3779]

Hi David. You are correct, this model is not a reflex design, but does use a little regeneration to boost performance, as you noted. It's actually a 1940 model. Although the service bulletin is dated 1947 it is not a 1947 model, although it may have been made sporadically during the war, when parts could be procured. It was available in a variety of colours; the brown and black ones Bakelite, the other colours urea formaldehyde. This was a common plastic to use in lighter coloured radios from the mid '30s to the '50s. I recently restored a South Australian "National" which uses the same circuit as the DL, and was quite impressed with it, for such a simple set. Cheers.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Stuart, thank you. It says 1940 on your entry on Radio Museum. The owner says it was purchased new post war by his parents. It also had a date stamp of 1947 on the speaker. I know manufactures released the pre-war models at the end of the war to restart production. The chassis design certainly seemed older than 1947. Thanks for the update Stuart. As you found the set worked surprisingly well 🙂

[@DavidTipton101]

Just an update Stuart, I had the above completely wrong. I contacted the owner again and he confirmed the radio was purchased pre-war, I thought he had said post war As you said, it would have been made in 1940 odd. The date I remember was on the speaker transformer, it was 1960 something. I think I mixed up the date stamp with another radio I am working on. I will update the video title. Thanks Stuart👍🙂

[@seankearney2592]

You are the Sherlock Holmes of Radio Problem Detection Issues...Love it well done Dave.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Watson... er... Sean 😄

[@nigelbrockwell6237]

Good detective work on that I.F coil, that would have taken me weeks to work that out. It was a shame not having a replacement volume control with a switch, but you did the best you could. Sounds good for its age.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Nigel 👍🙂

[@mauricedarmody4424]

Thanks David always a pleasure to watch and learn.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you for your support Maurice 👍😀

[@michaelmiller641]

I enjoyed that David, very interesting . Interesting straight enclosure valves as well! The last gasp of Octal!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Michael. Yes miniature octals 😄

[@jimburns348]

Great radio adventure Dave! 👍😉

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Jim 🙂

[@nzs316]

I just binge watched the last three episodes and this latest. Dave always delivers!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Neil 😀

[@nzs316]

@@DavidTipton101 It never ceases to amaze me that this old tech is going to outlive us, as I’m sipping a coffee out of my 60+ year old percolator. How the old technology was built to last and today it’s built to be thrown away… …my question is, will the next generation have the knowledge base to keep our old tech going? Or will it collect dust on a shelf as a novelty. I take the greatest pleasure out of keeping my 50 and 60 year old outboard motors in running condition. Typically 2-3 pulls at the beginning of the season and they start.

[@chrissmith7655]

Hi Dave , good bit of investigation to sort that one. Many thanks from UK.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Chris 😀

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

Don't know why that white plastic case kept giving me a craving for some white chocolate from Aldi. Nice repair and solving the wandering station problem was genius with a dash of persistence.

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... I'm off to Aldi now 😄 Thanks Ellesmere.

[@kennethgibbons366]

Well done Dave... as always you persist where many others would have probably consigned it to the bin. As one of your other subscribers said working on a radio where some dingbat has changed things adds another dimension to the problem.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Kenneth. Yes, it is difficult when a radio is messed with. It certainly caught me out 🙄🙂

[@LarryDeSilva64]

Wow a great job of troubleshooting Dave. Yes I can see it definitely had a few hands in it. That makes it more difficult but you worked through it and got it to work. Great job and a really interesting video thanks.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Larry. It had a lot of work on it over the years 😄

[@mikejohansson6711]

Crikey! that was a bigger mess then finding Vegemite in you peanut butter! Great job as always, God bless you and keep up the great work!

[@DavidTipton101]

Vegemite and peanut butter, yuck! That would never do 🙂 Thanks Mike 👍

[@conwaynoel3715]

Dave, seems to me that you couldn't go to the corner shop without coming home with a radio !! Magic my friend, keep going to that shop!!!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... it's like that @conwaynoel3715. Thanks 😄

[@johnpettiford4861]

That was very good David. You are a very good radio fixer!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks John 👍🙂

[@ChrisSwenson]

Hello David. Wonderful case of detective work! I am certain the owner will be pleased as a result of your "sleuthing". The owner now has, what I call a really nice 40's radio. I like the ivory like case with the depth infused in the "candle-like" material. It has a little of the battle scars that goes well with this fine unit. You have a very rare magnifying glass to see what many detectives would have missed. I'm looking forward to your next video! Take Care, -Chris

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Chris. The owner is indeed very happy to have his family radio back and working as he remembered it in the 40s. Thanks Chris, take care 🙂

[@georgeallen556]

your a star David . your rambling helps me tremendosly Thank you for another great vid

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... I thought I made perfect sense 😄 thanks George.

[@iantyler4045]

It's always difficult fault finding when someone else has had a go and made a fundamental error. Well spotted though. You would never expect the I.F. can to be reversed. A good thing you has the service info to refer to. I'm sure your friend will be very pleased.

[@DavidTipton101]

Agreed Ian, it's hard enough to find the fault without added built in faults. The owner is very pleased 🙂

[@bharathba4762]

Great restoration job sir, it's very difficult to handle the IFTs, but you did it very easily like a butter flow. 😊❤

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Antique_Guru 🙂

[@craignehring]

Finally I have finished your wonderful video It's been a busy time here. I so enjoy your content, thank you

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Craig 😄🙂

[@ceebee23]

29/1/47 was a Wednesday ... a good job as always David... a tricky one to say the least!!

[@DavidTipton101]

A hump day radio, should have been a good one. It had me fooled for a while 😀

[@ceebee23]

😆😆😆😆@@DavidTipton101

[@billnicholson2470]

Quite the detective you are David. Really enjoyed watching you work thru each issue. Thanks. 73 de KB7ICI..... Bill😌

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Bill 👍🙂

[@ralphj4012]

Very well done (undoing someone else's mistakes). Two screws on the back (2:46), crumbs, things really are back to front down under, ho, ho.

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... I said there are two screws on the back but I will remove the knobs first 😄

[@hestheMaster]

I noticed the audio transformer has a year marked on it of 1963. This radio really has been through the wringer. Of course mostly by piecework or should I say amatuer hacks without a schematic and barely got it working. Now it is your turn to go through it Dave investigating it's problems very methodically. Volume control is marked on the schematic as 25 kOhm and I bet the new one is not a linear pot. So a dirty air variable capacitor can drift the tuning. Never knew that could be an issue but it was on top of a warm transformer. Great investigations and repair work Dave.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Steve. I spoke to the owner this morning and he said the radio had been repaired many times during its life, not surprising really. I would have spent more time on the pot if it didn't have a switch on it. The owner was happy to use the control as it and he was used to using it so I didn't worry too much. I didn't want to replace the control and remove the switch either 🙂

[@Robert-bd4mb]

Hi Dave. We'll done with this Astor. Interesting problems with it. Seem a very unusual design. As an aside I have ordered my first cap kit from Carl. Even with postage is a very good deal. Thanks for that.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Robert. It is quite unusual deign wise but u=it worked a treat. Thanks, Carl's a nice guy 🙂

[@thegrassyknoll7792]

Hi David, im back in the audience, watching ur repairs are quite pleaseant 😊

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Grassy, nice to hear from you. Thanks 😀

[@dianeramakers3368]

Great fix again Dave.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Daine 🙂

[@terryblackman6217]

Well you got there in the end. Nice one David.

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... yes I did Terry 😀

[@ottodydaktyk]

Well done. David! I hadn't seen one of those before, very nice. Kudos!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Otto 😀

[@Antony_Jenner]

Awesome repair David your trouble shooting skills are second to none. Thanks for the video mate!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Antony, my pleasure 😀

[@haythamchannel3553]

Good morning David. I like the color of the radio 😂 white is my favorite

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks @haythamchannel3553 🙂

[@stephenmalone1673]

When I notice a new video of yours it always makes me smile. Thank you, David.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Stephen 🙂🙂🙂

[@brucehutton2089]

Incredible David I am reasonably sure my grandmother had the same radio in her bedroom. Think it was called a Micky Mouse radio. The story was my father was a pilot in WW2 his brother was Robert Hutton he was lost on the HMAS Yarra in 1941 a very interesting story in its own right. My grandmother was devastated after loosing her youngest son Robert only 20 years old she really never got over the lose. Fortunately my father survived the war which is a amazing story. He was stationed in Singapore when the Japanese over ran the British defences. Very few Australian personnel escaped before the Japanese imprisoned most personnel who became POW's. Back to the radio my grandfather bought this radio for my grandmother to try to console her lose. I don't know what happened to the radio but I remember this beuatiful little white radio in her bedroom. Sorry to reminisce but the radio was part of a very interesting but very sad part of my childhood. I really enjoy watching your older videos oh and the ones too.🤗

[@DavidTipton101]

Feel free to reminisce Bruce, stories from this difficult time are always interesting and recreating the past is what my channel is about. Yes, these were called Mickey Mouse radios, this one has Astor Mickey stamped onto the front between the knobs. When Astor sold the original model radio it very slightly resembled the head of Mickey Mouse and they even added a drawing of Mickey Mouse on the back and on some models he was on the dial. Disney took them to court so later models were changed to Astor Mickey. As a side note, Astor could have bought the rights to the Mickey Mouse name and image for what they spent challenging Disney in court. I can only imagine Astor thought the copyright laws didn't reach so far from America to be applicable in Australia🙂

[@brucehutton2089]

@DavidTipton101 Thankyou David very interesting that a Australian company like Astor would try to take on Disney incredible pieceof history. They must have had someone with very deep pockets. Last night I just finished watching your 5 part video on the battery powered Bush radio a massive amount of work well done. Take care Bruce🤗😃

[@Mediawatcher2023]

these radios are making a comeback well in a modern sort of way

[@DavidTipton101]

Thy are, thanks @Mediawatcher2023 🙂

[@edwardhannigan6324]

Nice one David..I don't know how you do it, but fun to watch and learn.Bit of a pest, but I knew you'd figure it out..Great video, and I hope you're keeping well..Ed..uk..😃

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Ed. We are all good down here thanks 🙂

[@bofor3948]

Just wonderful the little surprises other techs? leave behind. Just need to be methodical and mark and/or photograph before removal. Good Spot Dave Another one on its way to extended life.👍👏

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Bofor 🙂

[@lookoutleo]

You've made it like a new radio , the owner will be ecstatic:) would love to visit Sidney, I've visited north Sidney in Canada but that doesn't count :) thanks for sharing

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Leo. Everyone should visit Sydney 🙂

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Thanks for showing the schematic for this quasi-reflex design. It looks to me like the audio frequency path forward from the 1st to the 2nd stage is from grids 3 and 5 of the 6A8 pentagrid converter (serving as a plate for AF purposes) to the screen grid of the 6B8 pentode. And then there is a (positive?) feedback circuit from the voice coil. Not being at all like later, more straightforward (but less cleverly resourceful in tube use) superheterodyne designs, I'm not surprised others failed to fix it -- or that you succeeded. Congratulations. The vintage of this set is still recent enough that I wonder whether in principle it could have used selenium rectifiers, bringing the tube count down to three. (I don't know what the oldest practically seen selenium rectifiers are, but according to Wikipedia they first appeared in the 1930s.)

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi seeking. I am in the car with my wife driving so don't have the circuit or pin out for the 6A8 but the AF signal is on the cathode and ultimately gets to the plate. You may well be correct that it uses grids 3 and 5 as a plate, they have a fair voltage on them I think. It turns out the radio was made in 1940, not 1947. I don't recall seeing selenium rectifiers as such on any valve radios, there may be some on some late modals. I have seen some using diodes 🙂

[@kensherwood4866]

Sweet little set with as you say an unusual cabinet finish. Very compact ideal as a second set. As usual a joy to watch you methodically unravel the mystery of the low volume and some issues relating to past work. Brightened up a dull Friday autumn afternoon here in the UK

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Ken. It work very well and would have been ideal for Mum in the kitchen 🙂

[@colincampbell7027]

Another great video. I am learning a lot from you. One thing tho, you missed that the Rola speaker was date stamped July 1953. If this is a late 40s set that speaker was changed. Just thot I'd offer that.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Colin. I thought it was 1963. I did see it. The set apparently was made in 1940, I got it wrong. I have updated the video information 🙂

[@paulziminskin2ghr282]

Good trouble shooting Dave.. Adding those thumbnail Inductors was a nice touch ;) Stay well Dave will look for your next adventure.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Paul 🙂

[@angelprezcarametro7253]

Apparently in Australia you had something with numbers, most of the radio sets you show and repair /restore (Brilliantly!!!!! I must say) have the dials with letters and words, but no frequencies!!!! (I assume radio sets sold in New Zealand were similar?). For example, although many radio sets manufactured in my country (Chile) before the 70s also had letters (names of radio stations/cities) in their dials, they also included frequencies. Greetings from Chile and thanks for your didactic and wonderful videos. I have learnt a lot thanks to you.

[@DavidTipton101]

Yes, originally the dials were marked in metres then they changed to the alphanumeric station markers. Some dials have the frequency as well, some have them and hide them beneath the bezel when the radio is installed. For medium wave the station markers were enough and easier to remember than frequencies. New Zealand used the same system 🙂

[@alanm2809]

Nice repair David!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Alan 👍😀

[@thornmountain8129]

Excellent work Dave! Much entertainment!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you @thornmountain8129 👍🙂

[@robinvince616]

You did an excellent job as always, Dave. A couple of minor points: You were unnecessarily concerned about the voltage rating of the IF transformer capacitors. Since here they are just in parallel with the windings, both anode and grid ones will have extremely low voltages across them - just the tiny DC voltage drop across their coils. Your trick of trying a temporary trimmer cap is fine, as long as you appreciate that the non-compression types that just rotate for ever, should give you TWO peak points on their travel if they are tuning successfully. If you get only ONE peak, then they're either on their minimum or maximum capacity point, and you have not yet reliably proven a true resonance peak.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Robin. yes, you are right the voltage across the capacitor will be small, good point. Yes, there were two peaks, in this case I was using them for testing and fault finding but, once again, good point 👍🙂

[@eduardoalfaro575]

Excelente trabajo como siempre mi amigo, felicitaciones.

[@DavidTipton101]

Gracias Eduardo 👍🙂

[@navypti]

You're so thorough Dave. Lovely to see. Thanks for the vid. Enjoyed it immensely.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Geoff 🙂

[@gerardcarson2779]

Another great and informative video. Thank you! And I assume that mottling in the cabinet's finsh might be to make it look like marble?

[@DavidTipton101]

I guess so Gerard, it looked a bit grubby but I guess that is what they were going for. Thanks 🙂

[@shanemaddison9407]

Always great to see a new video from you David. Greetings from Perth WA. 🇦🇺

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Shane in Perth. Thank you 🙂

[@skip1835]

as always, thanks David, enjoyed another very interesting video

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Skip 🙂

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Great Friday … sorry … video again. I have also had an experience with a flipped IF transformer before, and it was really tough to find the issue. Well done. By the way, I found the use of that first valve doing double duty quite a neat idea. Those designers were very smart in their design. Have a great weekend.😊

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Manuel, thank you. reflexing was pretty common here, it saved the cost of a valve. They normally feed it back to the grid and the AF and IF go through the same amplification stages. They can be susceptible to howling of course. Have a great weekend yourself Manuel 👍😀

[@michvod]

​@@DavidTipton101 Yes, it was used a lot in the 30s and 40s on cheaper radios. But probably the valve that serves the most functions despite being a single valve is a VCL11 in a DKE38 German people's radio. It was used as an RF amplifier with regeneration, detector and an AF amplifier, and its pentode part was used as an audio output. So essentially a whole radio with just 2 valves (VCL11 + VY2 rectifier)

[@DavidTipton101]

Wow! a busy little valve 🙂

[@nathkrupa3463]

Good job David sir 👏 👍 😊

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Nath 🙂

[@clasicradiolover]

Hi, Dave. Good video as always. That push/pull on/off switch incorporated into the volume control was a touch I would have tried to mod into a radio if it weren't there.but I'm guessing they didn't have the right one and that the correct one is hard to find. I'm glad you are doing well. Good day, Mate.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi @clasicradiolover, thank you. I would prefer a turn on-off switch but a pull out one is fine too. It was a complete mismatch for that radio, pity I didn't have a better one 🙂

[@clasicradiolover]

@DavidTipton101 You could find a on/off switch volume pot combination that worked with that style radio. That would improve it.

[@MCML50]

Hi David, I am jealous of you and the people in the US because you have so meny radio stations still working, her in Sweden they are getting fewer and that is sad. But I do like your work with old radios, you are always so good at that.👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Claes. Yes AM is a dying technology 😟🙂

[@gtgeoff916]

Really enjoyed this one David, unusual and a good result!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Geoff, thank you. Your Hacker donation is providing hours of entertainment while I work. Thanks again 👍🙂

[@gtgeoff916]

@@DavidTipton101 No problem. Glad to hear it Dave!

[@tubeDude48]

Nice catch on that 'pesky' I.F. CAN !! Before you worked on it, it looks like some very shabby work.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks tube-dude 👍😀

[@mikecass8306]

Great repair as usual, thanks Dave 😀

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Mike 🙂

[@vintageradiosfernandoberna6041]

Fantastic job. I learned much. Congratulation - são paulo - brazil

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Fernando 🙂

[@raymondmenard5444]

Wow ! I learned so much yet again from this video Dave, some issues i had never even heard of before. What an incredible job you did on the set and the owner will be supper happy i'm sure, i know i would. Like i said before i already know just how handy you are at repairing everything, but the troubleshooting, the incredible reasoning behind the actual work is always what impresses me the most and that's why i'm your #1 fan 🙂 Be well, stay safe and God blesse.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Raymond, thank you. The owner is very happy to have his radio working again. Wow!... number 1 fan... Thanks Raymond, take care 🙂

[@martinbrooks1562]

A good watch thanks David,

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Martin 🙂

[@tadeuszpiecz4176]

Doceniam ilość włożonej pracy, podziwiam ogrom wiedzy serdecznie pozdrawiam stały widz

[@DavidTipton101]

Dziękuję Tadeuszu. Cała przyjemność po mojej stronie 😀

[@Buzz1151]

By George!, or should I say By David!......you did it again, 👍👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Buzz, thanks 😀

[@dave_yeg8596]

always great uploads, tnx dave.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Dave 🙂

[@Peugeot306]

Good morning again David. Nice, a new video 👌🏻

[@DavidTipton101]

Good morning Paul, thank you 🙂

[@RobertWardJones]

Thankyou for making the video. I really enjoyed it.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Robert 😀

[@simonmarsden66]

Good looking radio

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Simon 🙂

[@lyntonprescott3412]

Great repair of a nice little set David. Love the "snazzy" little signal genny! I'm back on my old Hallicrafters S20. Two tiny gears in the tuning mechanism have stripped and the chance of finding replacementsare nil. However I have located two similar radios in my local area. Hope one of them has a similar tuning mechanism. On a ham note, just constructed a new wire aerial and with the aid of a neighbour erected it on the side of the house. It has outstanding performance.Should have done it years ago! Best wishes to you and all your family. Lynton G4XCQ

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Lynton. The 'signal generator' you saw might be the frequency counter for the generator. I have 3D printed some gears for a friend's transceiver. That seemed to work well, only small gears mind you. Good luck with you hopeful replacements. Haha... we persevere with an inadequate setup and one day upgrade it and wonder why we didn't do it sooner. I'm glad you new aerial works better. Take care Lynton 👍🙂

[@lyntonprescott3412]

@@DavidTipton101 my mistake on the frequency counter (I thought it was a Chinesium example). The two small gears are a spring loaded pair for reducing backlash. Very thin metal and I’m not really sure about size and pitch (maybe 48 DP)? Don’t have any accurate drawings. Their only function is to turn the tuning dial. I can still tune the radio but have no idea of the frequency I’m on. Toyed with idea of fitting a digital frequency readout working from the local oscillator but has to be the type that you can program the offset. More investigation needed!

[@DavidTipton101]

I know the type of gears to which you are referring. That would be a tricky fix. Good luck Lynton.

[@lyntonprescott3412]

David how can I send you a photograph?

[@DavidTipton101]

@@lyntonprescott3412 My email is on my channel home page under 'about'

[@Jammerk40]

Well done I really wished you would have a volume pot to replace it with but oh well! The owner could buy one if he wants to!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks @Jammerk40. In hindsight, I should have spent more time on the volume pot. I could have done something to improve it🙂

[@jrs0007]

Dave - nice repair. I've found that radios repaired by their owners often have wiring errors that can be a challenge to track down, especially without a schematic. It appears that the volume control was replaced. Perhaps using an audio taper pot would help with the volume issue. I'm pleased that cleaning the tuning capacitor solved the drifting problem...I would have suspected the original "domino" capacitor had a temperature coefficient issue, but your freeze mist test proved me wrong. I enjoy watching your videos and learn something new with each issue. Thanks again and all the best to you and your family.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks @jrs0007. It had a log/audio pot fitted but it needed to work in reverse which I think is a type C. The radio still driffed a tiny bit so I didn't cure it completely. All the best to you as well 👍🙂

[@jrs0007]

David, thanks for being so patient and thorough with your repairs. I always learn something new from your videos!

[@haraldlonn898]

Great as usual. I was only thinking of the metal shaft on the volume pot is not isolated. It may not need to be I don't know but can you get a finger on it? A perfect display of how to fix what others broke. thumbs up for a great video. Thanks.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Harald. The shaft is quite safe, there is only a few volts on it if any 👍🙂

[@amaraltimimi4106]

like always so beautifully video

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you @amaraltimimi4106 🙂

[@CharlesBrown-q8q]

Love your efforts.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Charles 🙂

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Great video as always David. I wounder if that's a Catalin "early plastic" case. Take care, Joe

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Joe. The case was made from urea formaldehyde I have been informed 😀

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

😬@@DavidTipton101

[@stephengorin3059]

You are certainly like a dog with a old bone and not let it go until you are finished, same with going to town and tracking down that problem with the IF's and there padders capacitors. As for the drift i think replacing the dial cord was the answer and it is made ( woven ? ) and does not have any "give" in it. the old string would have and causing the drift in the first place. Any way as usual another great job and hopefully a very happy customer I will be looking forward to the next adventure.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Stephen, I don't like to be defeated 😄 I wondered if the dial cord was an issue, it needed changing at any rate. Thanks Stephen 👍🙂