Mystery PYE restore done

[AlanBeckett]

John,
I'm sure you know I was pulling your leg
The 39J/H is the most splendid Post-war am radio that they made. It was the last one that was actually meant to be used - see http://www.thevalvepage.com/radios/pye/39/pye39.htm.l Even Jon knows about it.
I don't have the dial for that one. In fact it was one of the first radios I bought when I 'started again', and it was only when it arrived that I realised that the pictures were all from the back and the dial is really part of the cabinet. Subsequently I've bought a real one and a P41 - the export version.
When the Summer is over I'll get them out of the attic and scan the dial(s), then we'll see what to do next.
Alan

[Yorkie]

Jeepers, that's some set!

Nine shortwave bands - the 'switchery' must be a nightmare if it becomes temperamental! And what a dial!!

Good website eh? (Jon - AKA 'Duke Nukem').

David

[standunmj]

hi guys, this mystery pye of johns is a cambridge made set , not an irish [dundrum dublin]version, this is according to the dial.mayhap some uk collector on here who specialises in pye sets could hazard a guess as to what model it is,?the cabinet resembles the shape of the grundig 3028 , though much smaller,the front where the knobs are doesent slope back like the usual p53, johns cabinet is a faithfull copy of the origonal .also the green tab on rear of chasis looks like it had p52 on it but badly obliterated, regards maitiu.

[AlanBeckett]

We may never know. As far as I can tell Pye did several things which muddy the water. First they made straightforward sets which appear in the lists, although there are a multiplicity of very similar models. Second they made almost identical sets but with different numbers, eg P53/T19D. Third they made sets for export which weren't supposed to be over here eg P41 and 49Y13. Finally they manufactured abroad, eg Ireland.
What's a P52? I can't find it.
Alan

[Yorkie]

Murphy did likewise.

Same sets but with variations depending on where they were made, and for which market. The service sheets often refer to the Irish variations.

It all helps to make life more interesting - things rarely go smoothly, but therein lies the challenge!

As a favour to a nephew, I'mm presently restoring a Ferranti 045, and was pleased to note the seven-page maker's service data, until I noticed that there's no under-chassis view to identify the 36 resistors, 54 capacitors and 20 coils, (and that doesn't include the FM tuner unit!)

Most components are on two long tagboards back to back, with some components sandwiched between them. It's possible of course to work out which is which from its value, and by tracing the wiring, but a diagram would have made life much easier. Having replaced several caps and a few resistors, and fixing a couple of loose wires, it is now working on all AM bands and on FM, but I'm awaiting a NOS Russian made EM80 magic eye from Siberia of all places, (a pack of four actually), and a UK sourced ECC85 for the FM tuner unit as the existing one is on its last knockings. Ah, the wonders of E-bay!

I was given a Pye Fenman1 and a bag of 25 boxed NOS valves for my efforts, so one good turn deserves another, and really, I got the best end of the deal


David

[AlanBeckett]

David,
If that's the going rate please introduce me. I'm sure I could undercut you by a valve or two
Alan

[Geaney]

My Mystery PYE is basically a T19D with three fewer bands than the official version. One thought that occurred to me was that my unit may have been custom built for installation as part of some sort of built in unit. The top and bottom surfaces are completely flat making it look like it was designed fit inside a larger unit. The two rails for mounting the chassis were secured on large rubber mounts providing additional protection from vibration. Perhaps it was meant for installation in a train or ship. Anyway it sounds lovely and it was great fun bringing it back to life. I'll post a scan of the dial when I get back from hols.
Cheers, John.