HMV Consort J8 Transistor Radio Repair, Restoration and Replica 276P Battery

[@moshezaharia4666]

Great job! the battery pack is a work of art, very well designed!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Moshe, the battery pack was a bit of fun wasn't it 😀

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Agreed. Just conceiving of doing that deserves kudos. That said, I'd have chosen a Mallory brand exterior, rather than Eveready. Just a cooler looking skin.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

In addition to the compliments on the coffee cardboard battery pack, I think you would be okay paralleling two packs of brand new carbon-zinc (ordinary or heavy-duty) cells from the same batch, if needing the extra juice, and then not replacing any cells until the whole dual pack has become too exhausted to use. Their chemistry will be close enough to work ok. However I'd expect only one pack of modern alkalines should do great, lithiums even better. Electronic device manufacturers still say don't replace less than all the cells or mix cell types in a series connected pack. There could also be an electronic trick -- use a Schottky diode to isolate each pack within the dual pack. Then the two sub-packs will pull down evenly without losing too much juice.

[@greggaieck4119]

You are good at fixing radios

[@daleburrell6273]

@@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648 using the diode prevents one battery pack from discharging into the other one- but the problem with using the diode, is you lose about .5 volt! Another thing you could try is to use RECHARGEABLE batteries- that would eliminate the need to take apart the battery box...and do rechargeable batteries leak when they are exhausted(?)

[@Bertie6965]

I’m fascinated by your videos and I’m not even into radios. I love the fact you say you’re not that good at it, but you so are. It’s got to the point even I’m beginning to learn the names, and what the components do. Great work. From England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Robert, thanks. It's interesting that you say you are picking up component names and functions from the videos. I assumed it would only be electronically savvy folks watching. I'll try and add some extra info into later videos to show what the component is doing, Cheers to England 👋🙂

[@amiga8761]

I have been working in electronics since I was in grade school (1959) and belong to two radio forums. This is the first video that I watched today. I am amaze at the professionalism of both the details and the presentation. Not holding on to the camera added greatly (most other people don't want to do the orchestration you have shown). You explained every action with clarity and made it very easy to understand and even educated Me. I have up to this point not seen anyone show step by construction of the battery box. Thanks for the enlightenment! From the State of Washington, U.S.A. Cheers!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Clifford, thank you. This was a pretty early effort 🙂

[@r3tr0nic]

Bloody amazing care and detail in preserving the nostalgia and originality of this by that custom battery creation. It is refreshing to see some Aussie value and vintage resto action too. Thanks for sharing mate!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Salcon. Happy to do it too 😀

[@boenhiantan8747]

Thank you for the enjoyable episode. The ‘Eveready Battery’ packing adds an icing to the project.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Boen Hian Tan, the battery was just a bit of fun but actually come out pretty good 👍🙂

[@CraneofBoulogne]

It would seem you are quite capable with transistor radios as well as the older valve/tube types. You did not seem to have any noticeable issues in finding where the problem was and then you carefully sorted the failure eliminating any chance of error in the process. Your first diagnosis was obviously correct and that is always good. I am beginning to see you are sand bagging us David, you are a competent radio repair tech.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Jeff, I started out learning about tube radios and am reasonably comfortable with them now but I have trouble following transistor circuits. I will get better with more experience... I hope 😀

[@angelprezcarametro7253]

After watching your videos I can see that Australia developed a very strong electronic industry at some time (I used to think that Australia was just an importer of technology from UK or U.S, sorry for the misconception). I do love the Australian fantastic sets that you have restored in such a dexterous and impeccable manner. I have become an avid watcher of your videos. Greetings from Chile.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hello Angel, thank you. We did have a thriving electronics industry up until the mid 70s when the government lifted protection tariffs on imports. It all fell apart in a very short time 🙄

[@bill1952]

Beautiful Radio, your attention to detail is second to none. Very impressive. Another job very well done.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi BillsOldiesUK, thank you 🙂

[@darrylsmith3924]

Nice job David. I have my fathers one of these. He passed away when I was 8 in 1969. You have inspired me to get it going again.

[@DavidTipton101]

That's nice to hear Darryl, good luck with yours 👍🙂

[@robertviggiano687]

Dave I love your workmanship in your work. You take meticulous to a new level. We are lucky to have you making these videos for us . Thanks BOB N2MDA

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Robert, I am lucky people want to watch them 👍🙂

[@Plons0Nard]

Now watching some of your older video's, David. It was a joy once more ..... I loved the popping of the can 😂 It is amazing what you create ! The battery holder is a gem ! Best regards, Nard

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... that is something I won't do again Plons0Nard, I lost two years when that went off. I was happy with the battery 👍🙂

[@roberthart8933]

Great job on the 276P battery. it looks original. I remember using them in transistor projects. They would last for months even using the radios many hours a day. They were originally made as filament batteries for valve portables. I have to say I gasped when you hit that transistor with the heat gun! Germanium transistors hate heat, and seeing it blow apart was a surprise. I note that later on in one of your videos, you used the anti tin whisker process successfully. But I think the whiskers eventually short out again. Silicon transistors can be used to replace germanium transistors, usually there is enough bias voltage available. Instability could be a problem because of higher gain.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Robert. I think I misread the instructions regarding heating the transistor 😂 The radio I did the shock treatment on is still working so I got a few years out of it but yes, I expect it will fail again 🙂

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

This is so similar to a Russian model of radio 📻 that Shango066 was doing about half a year ago. He restored one ☝️ that had been sitting in the desert for about 45 years. So rusty as far as the chassis. The case looked like it was ran over by a Mack truck. It looked so hopeless 😩, like all the rusted cans and junk tires. Yes, the radio 📻 was a rust bucket, but Shango066 had another identical case for it. He painstakingly fixed the radio’s chassis, and recapped it. I was so surprised 😲 when he powered the radio up. More than just a glimmer of hope. This radio 📻 had a 2nd life. Your radio is very good too. Just be careful not to short the capacitors or resistors out. Even you are giving this radio a second life. The metal fuzz you are taking about is a form of whiskers, which commonly happens inside of vacuum tubes. Shango066 can tell you all about it. Sounds like yours are happening with the tuning gangs. I’d try to suck the metal fuzz out with a vacuum cleaner attachment or a magnet. Running 🏃‍♀️ paper between the tuning gangs also works. Just don’t bend the tuning gang plates. Great 👍 videos. Keep ‘em coming.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks for the tips Jeffrey. I watch Shango but didn't see him do one like mine, I'll have another look 👍🙂

[@mikemoyercell]

watching you make that battery was so satisfying.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Mike 👍😀

[@Carl-lt7ed]

After watching you work your magic on old Radio's and I wanted a SW radio to use for the first time. I bought a old Working Realistic DX-380 AM/FM/LW/MW/Short Wave Receiver to play with in Washington DC USA. My best reception on the SW band is 4835 Ozy Radio English Razorback NSW in Australia so its a small world after all. Keep up the Good work you make it look easy Fixing them.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Carl, that's amazing. I didn't think we had any shortwave stations in Oz. I just looked it up and they are using the old Radio Australia frequency. I will hunt down a radio that goes that high and see if I can pick them up. Thanks for your compliment, cheers 😃

[@Seiskid]

These have a really nice tuner. They can pull in weak stations very well, and were obviously designed to work in remote areas. Made in sydney they were quite expensive when first sold. Operating current (turned down) is a miserly 9ma. That's less than an LED. Turned up it consumes around 15-20ma.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Seiskid, this is the only radio that will work in my house with the built in loopstick antenna and it works well. They were well built and sound good too 😀

[@phillipmullins1643]

Good job as usual from someone who professes to not have a knowledge of transistors. You used your understanding of valves to diagnose the issue. Great job in the battery fabrication. Hello from Texas!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Phillip, I have to get my transistor theory and experience up to scratch if I do any more transistor radios. I guess the theory is similar. Thanks 🙂 Hi to Texas 😀

[@PaulinesPastimes]

I may be stating the obvious but the quality of this radio is top notch and the design is lovely. I am sure it was expensive when new but what a wonderful testament to the manufacturer. When you look inside a radio now they look like rubbish and sound like it with tiny speakers and badly designed cabinets. I found your channel a couple of days ago and I am really enjoying the content. Binge watching! I am trying to learn as much as I can so that I can tackle my grandmothers late '40s HMV timber mantle radio. Not quite there yet but getting there. Cheers.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Pauline, it's a very well made radio good and solid and that is reflected in the sound quality. Thank you for your comment 😀

[@4nk8r]

Love the attention to detail on that battery pack 😊 . Cheer from Canada

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Mr.tinkertrain 👍🙂

[@craignehring]

That is such a sweetheart of a radio. New one for me too, first time seeing this model (I don't get out & about much) Top job on that battery

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Craig, It's a terrific radio that works very well and has great sound too. My Mum carried ours from room to room as she did her housework for may years. Thanks Craig 🙂

[@ndodhy]

Good Job David . I like your patience and accuracy in work. 🌷

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Nauman 😃

[@stephencunliffe3062]

Lovely radio. As per normal David another equisite job by you. Best wishes for 2023 and many more good videos to come great to watch em al . Thankyou.

[@DavidTipton101]

I agree Stephen and thank you. All the best to you in 2023 👍🙂

[@billnicholson2470]

Finding that bad transistor was interesting to say the least. The battery pack was a brilliant engineering feat. Your ingenuity is amazing. I'll bet the aircraft engineering department where you worked was very sad when you retired. It lost a very clever man! 73 de KB7ICI.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Bill. Transistors are not my forte as you can see. I was pretty sad when I retired, there were a lot of talented people in our engineering department and quite a few retired with me, a lot of experience was lost. Thanks again Bill 🙂

[@klausphotobaer5754]

Always amazed by your repair skills 👍🏻

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Klaus 🙂

[@bigmotter001]

Nice work David. Especially the battery holder, Thanks for posting and take care!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks John, take care 👍😀

[@lyntonprescott3412]

I like the exploding transistor! Great work on the battery. I’m the same with transistor radios! I have a Grundig yacht boy which has been confusing me for months!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Lynton, yes, I'm not so good on transistors either, I have to muddle through them too 😄

[@highpath4776]

@@DavidTipton101 I learnt transistors in electronics at school, TTL chips were in Book 5 that I never got to !. I have been having to teach myself valves. I have some electronics books from the mid 1960s and they spend a lot of time teaching how to convert from imperial measurements to SI units then finally get into most of the electronics therory, I still cannot follow capacitance in AC circuits ( as in valences and electron holes - to me the theory and reliable mathmatics models fall down as it appears electrons (and other atomic particles), dont behave as expected in all situations.

[@ukrainehamradio]

Good story... You inspired me to find the receiver as my father have had...

[@DavidTipton101]

I hope you find it Vlad 👍😀

[@jonka1]

David I've repaired lots of "tin whisker" failures by connecting the EBC leads together and flashing a few volts between them and the case. I will often open the connection through the whiskers and it's fixed.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi jonka, yes my first attempt didn't go well although NASA was interested in my launch technology. I did as you describe in another video with a transistor radio and tin whiskers, I used a charged capacitor to zap the whiskers. Thanks jonka1👍🙂

[@jamesatkinson6480]

With the advent of several Japanese brands making transistor radios performing just as well as European, American, and Oceanean (Australia) brands of valve radios, our large electronic manufacturers moved to transistors too. HMV was one of them which made an assortment for general household use, with portability. I can remember they had the stations printed on the dial, and used a number of names for their models. 'Tropicana', 'Consort', (your fine specimen) 'Capri' come to what I remember. They were expensive, but which appliance would last such a time you can still hear a news bulletin or concert on it today? I like your work, and am especially impressed that what many consider as an 'old hat' radio works well again... for a few more decades...

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you James. This HMV is the best receiver radio I have. Almost no radio will work inside my house and this one works very well inside. It sounds superb too 😀

[@HDXFH]

Great job on the battery, bill morris (batterymaker) would be proud

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks @HDXFH. I have spoken to Bill about this battery 🙂

[@StayingInYourOwnLane]

I’m so glad I found this video, I found a radio just like this but with different colours. I picked it up at an auction along with another tape player for $5 and I’m watching your video to learn how to refurbish it and test it. I’m 19 btw and know nothing about how these things work

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Spazz, good luck with your project, I hope you can get it working. Most of the capacitors are available from Jaycar. The transistors are hard to get. I did another video were I rejuvenate a faulty germanium transistor if you need to 🙂

[@StayingInYourOwnLane]

David Tipton cool man thanks for replying to my comment I actually have a question, the components in my radio are all dusty and crappy I was wondering what you would use to safely clean it without damaging any of the circuits.

[@DavidTipton101]

@@StayingInYourOwnLane I just use a stiffish brush and isopropyl alcohol to clean them. Just check it doesn't remove the board markings but it should be ok. You can use hot soapy water on the solder side but don't get any moisture in the little transformer cubes on the top.

[@StayingInYourOwnLane]

David Tipton okay thanks heaps man 🙏🏻

[@hadireg]

loved the eveready vintage design piece!! 😉👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks hadi reg 😀

[@tarstarkusz]

You did an outstanding job on that battery! Radio looks great too! Great work.

[@DavidTipton101]

ha ha... yes, the battery came out great, well worth the effort. It's a really good radio, a tribute to HMV 😃

[@JerryEricsson]

Man does that bring back the memories. In the early 1950's dad farmed the "Home Place" which was the homestead where his father established a farm around 1900. We had no power in the house, nor running water, in fact the old place was a sight, just bare wood, never saw a lick of paint on the outside, but because of the extreme cold that was the winters here in the Dakota's, they nailed tar paper on the outside, then framed it out with lath to keep the wind from ripping it off, since it was not unusual to have winds in excess of 60 MPH regularly in the summer and blizzard winds of over 75 MPH in the winter months. At any rate, dad would put in the crop, then go to work building grain bins for an outfit that contracted to the Federal Government, the Fed would buy up excess wheat and store it till needed in those bins. Well Dad wanted to be able to keep in contact with the family while he was gone, so he had the phone company install a phone in our old house. Since we were over 25 miles from the nearest town, they needed to put a dry cell battery on that phone, it sat on the floor beneath the phone table. That label is exactly like the one on those dry cells, except they were round with two terminals on top that had knurled nuts to attach the wires from the phone.

[@DavidTipton101]

Those are good memories Jerry and a testament to the old days where you had to work hard to make a living. Living in Queensland I can't imagine living in 75 MPH icy winds or snow or cold for that matter ⛄ I remember those old cylindrical batteries, I think they were called telephone or bell batteries, something like that.

[@wayneshirey6999]

You made that transistor disappear right before our eyes! 😊... and made that battery appear.

[@DavidTipton101]

Ha ha... Hi Wayne, yes I'm offering my discovery to NASA 🙂

[@Plons0Nard]

Must have been the effect of the Improbability Drive in the Heart of Gold. Zaphod Beeblebrox mocking about I guess. 😊

[@johnsampson1096]

Good job, Dave! As mentioned by another viewer, you have a great desoldering station. Most germanium transistors have a .1v-.2v drop across the base emitter junction for correct bias. Nice job on the battery pack as well....

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks for the tip John 😃

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

This is true, due to the band gap in germanium. Silicon has a larger band gap with a working forward bias potential around 0.7 volts in diodes and conventional BJT transistors. Who would have ever expected a desoldering station to have a service power supply in it. Someone thought of a unique combination there that's actually useful in an electronic service environment. I take it that Dave didn't build this one from scratch.

[@lifeinchina7758]

excellent....love the 'new' battery...and listening to the 'thinking out load' of diagnostics.

[@DavidTipton101]

HI Life in China, thanks. Yes the battery came out great and was a bit of fun. My wife says my thinking out loud drives her nuts 😄

[@neilforbes416]

22:05 "Whiskers in the tin"? *Bloody hell* that must've been one extremely tiny cat!!! LOL😁

[@DavidTipton101]

🙂

[@nicholas790]

Amazing!, I thought I was the only "nut" in the world. I had to "build" a battery like that for an old American made transistor radio that used a long discontinued battery, Fortunately the transistors plugged in and the caps were obviously cracked and split so it was easy to identify the bad ones. Due to corrosion on the "brass" parts, mine didn't look as nice as yours but it sure was satisfying building that battery!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Nicholas, looks like there are two nuts in the world, cheers

[@bigears4426]

You have a real passion, top class work, we had a grundig valve radio with record player when i was small watching it come to life was fun, as it slowly illuminated the green buttons

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Big Ears, thank you. There is something about old valve radios that bring back fond memories 😃

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Nice repair! The battery pack came out very nicely as well! I think if you put a diode in series with each 9V section you'll avoid them trying to charge each other. The catch is the slight voltage drop through the diodes but Schottky types should limit that to 0.3V or so.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Sincerely, Yes I thought of that and should have mentioned it or done it. In my case I only intended to fit one pack but should have said something if two packs were to be used, either diodes or at least use fresh batteries all from one packet. Thanks for that 😀

[@daleburrell6273]

...that's what I was thinking-(!)

[@AndyHullMcPenguin]

Good fix, and very nice battery pack. For the Deluxe battery pack version, add a toggle switch to swap the positive out between the two battery holders and you can fill it full of rechargeables and take it with you on your next world tour (or picnic). When pack "A" dies, flick the switch to Pack "B". No chance of self discharge, or things going bang unexpectedly, and you keep all the batteries safely tucked inside where they wont get lost, until you get a chance to charge them.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Andrew, good idea, I didn't think of that... bit like the old VeeDub or motorbike reserve fuel tank 👍😃

[@birdie399]

The battery pack was a standout. Enjoy watching you problem solve. Thanks for another interesting video.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks birdie399, yes the battery pack came out really well, thank you for watching 😃

[@29au81]

Battery Pack was superb.The Ever Ready battery in Britain when i was a youngster was blue but i like that reddish one much better to be honest...Great job with the radio as well.Beautiful looking radio.

[@DavidTipton101]

Totally agree, it's one of the best portables I've seen 😀

[@GregAlanEdwardsEmmanuelRidge]

Coolest battery I've seen! Love the radio! In the states His Master's Voice is a trademark of RCA Victor.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Greg, thanks 👍😃

[@katieaustin9676]

interesting points ,if anyone else needs to find out about lead acid battery reconditioning guide try t.co/YpdloYO92F ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my partner got cool results with it.?

[@RobertWardJones]

I enjoyed watching you trouble shoot that old radio. Those older radios are works of art! Do old radios from the United States make there way over there like the Zeniths? And just a trick to remember, NPN "Never Points iN" in the transister schematic symbol arrow. PNP "Points iN Positive"

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Robert, we do see US radios here and some still need the 120 volts to work. I would like to get one or two for myself. There was a grandfather style clock radio for auction last week but the clock required 60htz, we have 50htz so it ran slow here 😀

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

And, the arrow of both BJT transistor and diode symbols points in the direction of "conventional" current flow (not electron flow, which is opposite to that). While the arrow points out in the NPN, the actual transistor is meant to be busy modulating the flow of electrons from emitter to collector. I believe Benjamin Franklin was responsible for this convention, which was based arbitrarily on the static electricity that arose from rubbing certain dissimilar materials that he documented. "This is electrised positively, till our philosophers give us better." Well, it was positively opposite from that of electrons, the actual charge carriers in metals and ordinary resistive substances. America is weird. And I know it because I live here, with its miles and gallons and degrees Fahrenheit.

[@haraldlonn898]

Beautiful little radio. Great work. I small idea is to add 2 shottky diods in series with the 2 battery packs and it will work great.Thanks.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Harald, thank you. I considered adding diodes but didn't bother in the end and only use one bank. If I did add diodes shottky would be a good choice 🙂

[@stephencunliffe3062]

Superb job as always David.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Stephen 🙂

[@boxingday11]

Thanks, that was really interesting, the battery pack looks spot on. Regards,carl.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Carl 😃

[@deankq4adj125]

Cool radio, loved the battery box. Thanks for sharing the video!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Dean, thank you 👍😀

[@harbselectronicslab3551]

Thank god for cheap bulk Russian Germanium transistors on ebay !! always handy to have a handful........I like the fact you built that battery even though most will never see it.......it shows you are good at what you do.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Harb 😊

[@neilforbes416]

2:59 9 Volts? Change the connector for a clip-on and use the little rectangular battery that usually powered small pocket transistor sets.

[@DavidTipton101]

👍

[@kennethgibbons2487]

loved your battery box mock-up!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Kenneth, thanks, I was happy with it 🙂

[@daleburrell6273]

2:36...I know that I'm late to the party- but recently fixed 2 vintage transistor radios, and I was able to substitute a 6-cell battery holder for the large square batteries that these radios used.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Dale 🙂

[@ottodydaktyk]

I got a chuckle when you touched the radio and jumped. I thought I was the only one that did that. As always, well done! Your eye for detail is impeccable.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi David, I do a lot of jumping, probably a fight or flight reaction... I tend to flight 😄 thanks David

[@arthurdanielles4784]

As an ex serviceman, one of the treats re being abroad particularly in Asia et was acquiring transistor radio sets ie Panasonic, Sony et that had full leather cases. Real eye catchers and my mom / sister loved em. 👍 The NAAFI also sold some real gems over the years re tech from radios to reel to reel (Grundig TK141 that I still have and replaced the belts on et) to the all that followed. Ah the wonders of HP 👀😀 NEWBIES !! = When repairing re soldering et ALWAYS use a 25 watt or similar soldering iron NEVER more than 45 watt as you will LIFT the tracks on the board. A 15 watt you can use on modern boards but earlier ones you will struggle with that. 👀ALSO many early boards were SEALED with a kind of lacquer though you could always see a cheaper board by the appearance of BADLY FLUXED / SOLDERED boards where invariably you get boards that were not properly cleaned, have bad soldered joints or 'cold joints' that need re soldering. 👀

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Arthur, that's good info 🙂

[@alastairbarkley6572]

Great to hear the words 'earth' and 'aerial' being used. And Australia obviously uses the same mains wiring colour convention as us here in Europe.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Alastair, Our mains wiring colour code was red, black and green but we switched to brown, blue and green with a yellow stripe some years ago to align with Europe. Makes sense really, red and black are associated with positive and negative in DC circuits 🤔🙂

[@boomer2095]

I am not impressed, the professor fixed this same radio on Gilligan island 🌴using only coconut’s 😎👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Ha-ha, I remember, I think he was trying to recharge the batteries. I get most of my radio training from Gilligan's Island 😃

[@daleburrell6273]

0:36...you can't put a price on 'nostalgia"- I certainly know the feeling!!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Dale 🙂

[@loricastro3772]

Amazing video, as always ... you are very skilled! Thanks a lot for share.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Lori, thank you and you are welcome 😃

[@Stevenkjy]

Yes love your battery pack, I am sure those type were available in the UK too.... OC170s are available over here but nearly a tenner!! The antenna socket reminded me of car trips with my Dad in the early 60s, we had an aerial that clipped to the car window glass and plugged in to a socket like that, (which is a fairly standard car radio antenna plug still in use...). They were fairly specific to the UK as fitted car radios had to have a separate licence but portable radios did not, so was a good selling point to have radios with those sockets and a clever bit of tax avoidance!!..The radio licence was not abolished here in the UK until 1971... I have had radios that have taken various Eveready battery types PP3,PP7 and PP9.... like I say sure I have seen those 2 pin connectors before... Regards from Scotland!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Steven. I remember aerials like that too. Out TV/radio licencing system was removed in the early 70s as well, I don't think we ever had one 🙂

[@ivanigorpollick6690]

very well done for this beautifull transistor radio

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Ivan 🙂

[@phillipyannone3195]

Well done, and great job on the battery box as well. Were you just connecting the antenna to the collector on the RF amplifier to get it to work?

[@DavidTipton101]

Ha ha! yes the battery box was a bit of fun wasn't it? Came out better than I expected. You are correct Phillip, I bypassed the OC170 and went straight to the collector.

[@dougmcartin3881]

Hello David. Just found your channel today and glad I did. I'm also a vintage radio restorer here in the US. I like the valve stuff too but do play with the solid state stuff as well. Your desoldering tool is a real work of art. Is that something you designed yourself or is it a commercial unit? ATB Doug.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Doug, thanks for your comment. The desoldering tool is a cheap unit from China. I got mine from eBay for 30 or 40 dollars, would be cheaper where you are. Works well enough on PC boards though but not point to point wireing.

[@daleburrell6273]

...I have been using a ZD-915 desoldering tool- it works extremely well.

[@kennethgibbons2487]

I had an aunt who had a transistor (old) that was in a leather case that opened at the back and was secured with domes. The battery compartment was a tube that held "C" cells. i used to use it as a rough radio for when i was painting houses so I drilled through the top of the case and inserted a mini socket. I then had a big 9V torch battery (you know the ones that were made of metal cases that you screwed to a torch top via the battery terminals. I took a lead from the battery and plugged it into the socket I had mounted on the transistor - made for a long life and durable work radio. I'm not sure if I still have it - might be in my box of old stuff.

[@DavidTipton101]

That's how a lot for radios end up Kenneth, 90% of the ones I get have paint on them 😄

[@saarike]

Genious work and radio works again in his or hers former glory!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi saarike, thanks, that radio was a good find, looks as good as new 🙂

[@saarike]

@@DavidTipton101 Nice design and sound.

[@bachirkhatat4952]

Very very nice job and very nice radio thank you david for this video 🌹❤👍

[@DavidTipton101]

It is my pleasure Bachir Khatat, thank you 👍🙂

[@alfredneumann4692]

This re-inventing the battery.... amazing!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Alfred, the battery came out looking good, I've made several more since for other radios, cheers 👍🙂

[@arnaudmilner238Wildbillhickock]

For all of the effort you could have installed a pin plug in the side to plug in a wall socket converting AC to DC 9vdc and have permanent power going to it while being used. And installed rechargeable batteries in it to be charged in it so it could have been used on its own for travel.

[@DavidTipton101]

That is true Arnaud... or I could have left the radio as it was originally designed and built a convincing battery pack with easily replaceable batteries which last an amazingly long time. That's the difference is between restoration and redesign 🙂

[@curtwuollet2912]

Don't feel bad, I started in electronics about 1970. At that point you really had to understand both tubes (sorry American) and transistors as well as silicon and germanium. And about the time I got really good with transistors, the stuff I worked on all changed to ICs. Sorry tablet wouldn't let me finish.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Curt, I admit I struggle with transistors, I'm more at home with tube stuff 😀

[@RssutharJaisalmer]

Wow! Very Very beautiful & awesome Radio! I like all very mutch! 😯👌👆🙏

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Rssuthar 👍🙂

[@RssutharJaisalmer]

@@DavidTipton101 You are great man 😊👌👆

[@terryblackman6217]

Nice one. Especially the battery box.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Terry 😀

[@JerryEricsson]

A lot of folks here in the old US of A buy the old USSR built transistors, they are cheap and available, however not a lot of documentation you sort of have tot try them to see how they work in many cases.

[@DavidTipton101]

I've seen a number of KZbin videos of repairs to Russian radios by American/Canadian restorers, surprising how many are available in the US 😮

[@cliffjones7868]

I didn't expect such well explained comments detail. I learned a thing or two. Excellent! Have you shown what brand of Solder sucker you used before? Beautiful Battery construction!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Cliff, thank you. The solder sucker I used was similar the one below. I have a powered one now to use on tube radios but the one I used in this video is fine for PCBs. www.ebay.com.au/itm/Blue-30W-220V-50Hz-Electric-Vacuum-Solder-Sucker-Desoldering-Pump-Repair-Gun/193023191442?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D226059%26meid%3D41af399d3ca64a6493d7aaecacf1b678%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D273811947772%26itm%3D193023191442%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv5PairwiseWebWithBBEV1Filter&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[@andrewclegg6541]

I am sure my late uncle brought one back from Australia in the 60s. it was in a brown leather case shoulder strap. He was a £10 pom.He worked for a big engineering company, something to do with oil rig machinery.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Andrew, I haven't seen one in a case but a very good radio all the same. There were a lot of £10 poms at the time, really helped Oz get going 👍🙂

[@daleburrell6273]

0:21...well, at least you're HONEST! Actually, I'm the OPPOSITE- I happen to be an enthusiast for vintage transistor radios, and I have very little experience with vacuum tube radios.

[@DavidTipton101]

Yikes! I will read all your comments Dale and simply respond "Thanks Dale 🙂" Thanks Dale 🙂

[@brucejoseph8367]

So funny when the transistor blew up, spilt my tea laughing!

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha, didn't do me any good either Bruce 😂

[@jeffreypetchharrison4363]

luckey it did not go nto hid brain pan, he would be wearing a wooden over coat clutching a bag of flowers ..jeff..

[@SteveHacker]

Another FANTASTIC video that has made my day/night! I TRULY believe you will become one of the KZbin greats, among many such as: “Uncle Doug”, “D-Lab Electronics”, “The Guitologist”, “RadioTVPhonoNut”, “Mr. Carlson’s Lab”, and so on. I would LOVE to pick your brain before you become too famous to answer emails and comments (and believe me, YOU WILL). Would it be possible to email you with questions, photos, and such?

[@DavidTipton101]

Hang on there Steve, I'm a rank amateur compared to those guys and I have great respect for them. You can understand I am reluctant to give my email out, there must be another way 🤔

[@SteveHacker]

David Tipton ... NNNOPE! You’re the guy! I JUST KNOW IT! I can’t fulfill my life’s dream of learning electronics until I can email you! No pressure though. It’s just my soul you’re crushing here. LOL! Sorry... Couldn’t resist! LOL! 😜😜😜😂😂😂

[@michaelclutton8446]

Nice work, was really impressed with how you made that battery box, your desoldering tool seems to work better than the one I use, be interested to know what the model is perhaps they are available in the UK

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Michael, the battery box was a bit of fun 😉 I got the desoldering tool from eBay. Search "electric desoldering gun" should find it. It has a blue case with a rubber U shaped tube on the side 👍

[@neilforbes416]

22:12 Didn't see any whiskers? What about the rest of the cat? LOL Yeah, I know, I'm pussin' my luck here!

[@DavidTipton101]

🙂

[@neilforbes416]

@@DavidTipton101 I had a "feline" you might use that emoticon!

[@bachirkhatat4952]

You are an artist david 😍🌹👍👍👍👍👍

[@DavidTipton101]

It's a nice radio Bachir, thank you 😃

[@bachirkhatat4952]

@@DavidTipton101 👍❤

[@nrth3rnlb]

The battery box, simply great 👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks nrth3rnlb 😃

[@HG80369]

Great repair David... that battery is a work of art!

[@DavidTipton101]

Oh thanks HG80335 🙂

[@kennethroyce101]

Union Carbide in India manufactured those 9volt batteries blew up in 1979,I can remember seeing it on the news on TV.

[@DavidTipton101]

I remember it well Kenneth. Almost 4,000 killed if I recall, that was a gas leak I think😟

[@Captain_Char]

I have a little portable am set that's 9 volts, and im pretty sure the germanium transistors in it need to be replaced as well, since the little thing only really can get a 2 stations on it, which is more than my Philco 70 can

[@DavidTipton101]

If you are getting something it may not be the transistors 🤔

[@mackfisher4487]

Your mastery of the printer to make labels and in this case the Eveready battery cardboard housing is excellent Dave. (If you're sure to currency perhaps you could make your own)

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Mack. I am a little short of cash... 🤔😉

[@mackfisher4487]

@@DavidTipton101 (you said short of cash) why not start a Patreon account.

[@DavidTipton101]

@@mackfisher4487 I was being a bit flippant there Mack. Thanks for the suggestion but I'm OK cash wise, although the freefall in the stock market isn't helping, I just thought I would share my hobby.

[@SangiTariq]

Lovely Radio Excellent work

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Tariq, thank you 🙂

[@stuartirwin3779]

Hi David. Mica sheet? That's phenolic. Mica is something else entirely. 😊 Well done on the battery reproduction.

[@DavidTipton101]

Ha Ha, yeah you got me Stuart, I meant Micarta sheet of course. The battery came out pretty good, I just need to leave the back cover off so I can see it :-)

[@MarcKloos]

I want a circle cutter! I don't have any use for it but it looks so cool!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Marc, you can never have too much stuff you don't need, go for it 😉😄

[@РалияРизванова-п7и]

I was lucky to have thought about researching choices just before I shell out thousands of dollars for batteries. Fortunately I discovered this battery reconditioning program t.co/YpdloYO92F Thanks to it, Now I have got old but functioning batteries with no expense of getting new ones!

[@RajendraVermaa]

Very nice. Liked your explanation. Thanks

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Rajendra 😃

[@عبدالرزاقالجلبي-ي3ص]

Hi davad my frand love Your work and love your Channel Abdul. Iraq. Baghdad

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Abdul 😀

[@ralphmans]

Good job David. One question, what is the brand name of the solder sucker that you use?

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks ralphmans. It is a cheap Chinese one from eBay. Here is a link to one on Aussie eBay, this is the first one I saw, there may be cheaper options: www.ebay.com.au/itm/30W-220V-Auto-Electric-Vacuum-Solder-Sucker-Desoldering-Pump-Iron-Guns-50HZ/184298778326?hash=item2ae9102ed6:g:XP4AAOSwkkRffnjG

[@ralphmans]

@@DavidTipton101 great, I saw those before but wasn’t sure of their performance, yours seems like it does an excellent job. Thanks

[@daleburrell6273]

...VERY NICELY DONE!!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you. Thanks Dale 🙂

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

How can you tell when the schematic is providing voltages corresponding to a 20,000 ohms/volt passive meter, like those of the day? I.e., when you measured the collector voltage with the DMM and saw -7 instead of -5... How can you be confident that measurment was indicating a fault?

[@DavidTipton101]

You are absolutely right TheCondoInRedondo. The DMM but is only a guide for voltages

[@davidelrick7189]

Great repair old radios were better not like throw ones of today

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks David, this one is built like a tank and works so well 👍🙂

[@burntoutelectronics]

Ah yes probing around the PCB with your finger! Something you'd never consider doing in a valve radio!

[@DavidTipton101]

Haha... correct BOE, although I often put my finger on the grids or the volume control to check where the signal stops or starts, anything else is done with a chopstick 😄

[@etwaroojai382]

Good job David , nice video

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Etwaroo Jai 🙂

[@pufango4059]

Excellent ! Coincidence just been using oc 172 transistors . The simple way i use to test them (not very scientific but it works for me) set the mm to diode mode , probe negative to base then probe positive to collector Do the same to the emitter . If you get two similar readings from collector and emitter all is ok but if you get one reading with a value and nothing on the other chances are it’s duff .Hope this makes sense ? Best regards Tony Uk 🇬🇧.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Pufango, thanks for the tip. My transistor knowledge is very poor and I realise a transistor is two diodes but didn't know how to test them. I was pretty lucky to get it working, I will do a bit more transistor work eventually and maybe I'll get better. Thanks again for the tip 👍🙂

[@jggmobile]

That’s pretty neat. I need to fabricate a 90 volt battery for my Zenith trans-oceanic. Thanks for the inspiration. Is it still possible to buy mica sheet these days? I’ve got some shelved projects waiting for some of that. 👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi jggmobile, I misspoke in the video, it's not mica sheet, I should have said Micarta sheet or phenolic sheet. Phenolic sheet is readily available 👍🙂

[@jggmobile]

@@DavidTipton101 Thanks David, I’ve been shopping and stumbled across something similar based on PEI. Ultim 2300. It runs nearly $1000 a sheet. Thank God that’s not what you were using.

[@DavidTipton101]

@@jggmobile Oh dear, I hope you only bought one sheet 😉 I think I got my phenolic sheet from eBay, pretty cheap and delivery included 👍

[@jggmobile]

@@DavidTipton101 Lol, way out of my hobby budget. They must use that stuff on the space station.

[@andygozzo72]

those transistors are well notorious for internal 'tin whisker' shorts, you can sometimes blow them out with a high current pulse, connect c,b,and e together and discharge a large charged cap into those and the screen..

[@andygozzo72]

a 'new ' one will probably eventually fail similarly in time,

[@andygozzo72]

later types AF124 to AF127 are 'usually' better but i have had a couple also develop whiskers..

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi andygozzo72, I experiment with that very thing in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omTRdZipZq6VbpI