Vintage Audio Activities...

[Peter.N.]

That's interesting. Spectrum Communications is not far from here. They converted my CB rig to the 10 meter amateur band when I got my license in the '80s.

Peter

[xantia_v6]

Any idea about the date and origin of these transistors? I found a bag of about 30 of them while tidying the garage. I think that they are germanium PNP, but they are unmarked, and the case style is not one that I recognise.

My transistors

[Peter.N.]

I have seen them and am pretty certain they are from the '50s/'60s but cant remember what I have seen them in. If they are Germanium and PNP they would almost certainly be from the '50s as all the early transistors were PNP although most of the very first ones I came across were the Mullard 0C series which were plastic rather than metal - except the 0C16 a beefy single ended output transistor for use with hybrid car radios it worked brilliantly too.

Peter

[myglaren]

They look similar to the ones in my Beomaster receiver from the sixties, long gone now.

Which were Germanium.

[mickthemaverick]

It looks to me like they are either 1960's Sony 2SC73's. as shown as item no 12 or (more likely) unmarked as shown as item no 20 on this website:
http://www.ultraelectronicactive.com/el ... Tubes.html

[xantia_v6]

It looks to me like they are either 1960's Sony 2SC73's. as shown as item no 12 or (more likely) unmarked as shown as item no 20 on this website:
http://www.ultraelectronicactive.com/el ... Tubes.html

Yes that is well spotted!

I also found a couple of LASCARs (Light Activated Silicon Controlled Rectifiers) that my dad bought for some project in the 1970s. A technology that disappeared very rapidly (I could never think of a practical use).

[mickthemaverick]

I also found a couple of LASCARs (Light Activated Silicon Controlled Rectifiers) that my dad bought for some project in the 1970s. A technology that disappeared very rapidly (I could never think of a practical use).

I remember using LASCARs to control cupboard lights in the early fitted kitchens. They were set inside the cupboard and on opening the door the influx of ambient light caused the LASCAR to switch on the cupboard light. Long since replaced by PIR technology

[bobins]

OK, so we're not in lockdown, and vintage audio is only a part of this, but I thought this might interest a few who like older tech.
I went to see the mobile television outside broadcast van at Amberley museum yesterday https://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/whats- ... -amberley/
It was a wonderful look inside this nicely restored old lorry. There was a chap inside it who explained what it all did, and they had the volunteers inside an adjacent barn answering questions and with lots more period exhibits.

MCR21 at Amberley - own work

PYE Mk7 camera - own work

PYE Mk7 camera rear - own work

MCR21 control room - own work

No mod-cons driving position - own work

[Peter.N.]

That looks more modern than the outside broadcast vans we had down here when we came in 1970, in the days of 'Westward Television' if anyone remembers that.
Run on a very tight budget by about three people.

Peter

[bobins]

That looks more modern than the outside broadcast vans we had down here when we came in 1970, in the days of 'Westward Television' if anyone remembers that.
Run on a very tight budget by about three people.
Peter

Rather like The Outer Hebrides Broadcasting Corproation, if anyone remembers that

OHBC

It was money no object in this van apparently ! The 4 positions shown in the control room picture (comms, sound & vision, camera/producer, prod assistant ?) each had an electrically heated metal foot warming pad at their feet for those chilly winter days Luxury !

[NewcastleFalcon]

The thread title needs a bit of amendment maybe just to a more general "Vintage Audio Activities" (only admins have the power now), but I will use it as the most appropriate thread to deposit this from many Falcon shutter clicks of such things today including a this little assemblage.

a batwing and a record player

Try this for as a starter for 10...

whatsthisthen?

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I'm guessing at a PA system speaker for station or waiting room?

[NewcastleFalcon]

I'm guessing at a PA system speaker for station or waiting room?

The casing is bakelite, and the bloke in "Ten Green Bottles" vintage in Hexham which deals in record players and vintage radios pointed it out as being one of the rarest things in the shop, and pointed out a similar looking thing which he had sold recently in a book about such things. We may have to wait for out Vintage radio experts to tell us what it is because I cant remember myself although we did have a surprisingly long and enjoyable conversation about the various bits of vintage audio equipment he had in the shop. He was a bit of an enthusiast

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Following use of the dark arts I will revise my suggestion to a vintage radio, an Ekco AC 76 to be precise!!

Information about it is on this page but you do have to scroll down past some other interesting things!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Following use of the dark arts I will revise my suggestion to a vintage radio, an Ekco AC 76 to be precise!!

I think you've got it, I'm pretty sure that was what David Ord the chap in the shop described it as. Got into conversation because the sound from that little record player in the box was excellent. I made that remark and hence followed a decent 20 minutes of the things he had in the shop and he even fired up the Batwing which was the thing that caught my eye most. He had 2 of them in the shop, and had acquired and sold about 8 others.

Regards Neil