I bought one of these 30 years ago for camping. It's still working today, used it yesterday during a power outage.My model doesn't have internal batteries (or the flashlight), the radio only worked off the solar cells in full daylight.
I have the same radio. I've had it for about 15 years now. It has developed a loud noise when it is cranked up. It would be great if you could do a video how you corrected this problem. Thanks for the video brother, I enjoyed it
The noise is from the black disc that holds the rubber belt inside the radio. Put electric grease on the each side of the center of the black disc where it makes contact with the steel supporting center pin. DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE RUBBER BELT !
He should have pulled up the antenna ,which you have to utilize for shortwave! I have the exact same model, and it works quite well. You also wind it about 35 cranks and let it charge while winding down, then turn it on. Read the instructions I'm saying!
That is a neat radio. I love electronics The shortwave may work. Probably an antenna is required for short wave. Even some of the more expensive short wave radios work very poorly, if at all, without an exterior antenna. Shortwave is specially good at night with the exception of a few lower daytime bands. I found a shortwave radio in the public dump when I was a kid. At first It wouldn't get anything but static. I got a library book on shortwave radios and read where they needed long antennas to get good reception. I made a long antenna just like the book said to. I was twelve years old and lived in Ohio. That night, in my garage, I received a transmission from Quito, Equator. It was a life changing experience. I have been in electronic related work most of my life. Thirty years ago, when I was thirty six years old the electronics shifted to computer automation.
I have a story something like yours. I found one of the huge console SW radios from the 30's when I was about 12, brought it home and listened to European radio late at night. It was amazing. We just hooked up a long wire to it. Also, I was thinking the same thing about attaching an extended antenna to my Freeplay. I'll try it soon. If it works I'll put up a video about it.
For one thing you need to pull up the antenna. Another thing depends on the short wave band it is set up for. Not all short wave bands are active all the time. Some such as 40 meters are active at night while other higher frequency such as 10 and 30 meters are active when there are sun spot cycles. If you have a wire antenna, clip one end on the built in radio antenna and see if that makes any difference.
@@meldeweese6875 the noise is coming from inside the radio because the electrical grease is dried up on the left and right side center of the black disc that holds the rubber belt. Put electric grease on these two locations. ⚠️Warning: DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE RUBBER BELT !
I'm fascinated to know how you fixed this, John. I wish I had caught you ten years ago. I have come across several of these Freeplays (two were the Freeplay Plus identical to yours) and, in every case, the wind-up mechanism is clearly slipping, making a terrible noise and barely charging the radio. I took the back off one - but couldn't see how to get into the cog mechanism to find out where it was slipping (if I remember rightly, the cog unit was sealed; but it was a long time ago). One still works really well with solar. On the other, the solar panel never seemed to charge even when new (I'm guessing an issue with the electronics or soldering). But, with both of these - and with several others I have seen - the cog mechanism is clearly slipping and making a loud noise. I would love to have a neat solution for their repair - and it seems to me that you came up with one.
@@jwwm2 I finally figured out how the spring power is controlled into the radio. To the best of my knowledge, I believe that the generator charges a capacitor in parallel with the radio. When the capacitor reaches a set voltage (say 6V), it is switched out of circuit by some sort of Schmitt trigger/transistor circuit (the workings of which I have yet to fully diagram) and a shorting wire is connected across the generator. The radio runs the capacitor down until 3-4 volts and then the switching circuit detects this voltage and switches out the shorting wire and reconnects the capacitor. If you're wondering about this, it is to stop the radio unwinding really quickly when it's turned off and slowing up as you turn it louder (what would happen if you just connected the generator directly to the radio). High currents put more resistance on a generator causing the opposite of what you need with a wind up radio. The radio would be starved of power up loud and the wind would be quickly wasted when not in use. If you have no idea what a Schmitt trigger is, it is an electrical device made up of transistors that takes in a variable voltage and converts it to a choice of two voltages. The input has an upper and lower threshold for switching a bit like a thermostat that turns heaters off at 22 Celsius and turns them back on at 18 Celsius. They are usually used to remove noise from a digital signal but can be used to switch on/off a capacitor at different charge levels.
I bought mine from C.Crane in Fortuna California and up to this day it still works great ! Bought it in 1994.. now it's 2020 as long I don't let kids abuse it like my 2 walkie talkies... little brats!
Thanks for this video. A friend has found one of these at a thrift store, and we need to know the polarity of the DC-in jack. We'd greatly appreciate this info. Thanks for noting that it is 6 volts. Yes, an external wire antenna should greatly help with shortwave reception. Try this at different times of the day, especially late afternoon into evening.
Its a little late but i just got a new old stock one. The Jack can handle betwen 3 and 12 volts DC with the Positive in the middle and negative on the outside. I hope this helped someone that passes by in the future.
I purchased from amazon a 12 volt Cig plug (one end) with wire, small jack plug on other end (for Radio), will put a 12V/6V reducer in middle to get power from a 12V Cig outlet.
I looked at your video for your windup radio interesting model to have I would suggest you hooking up a 30 ft wire to your antenna actually the longer the better this may help increase your reception for shortwave then have another Earth wire to the negative side of your battery if you have a ground then you need to ground your receiver as well just a metal rod into the ground with a wire going into your radio negative side if you have negative if you don't have a negative your main point is get a long wire to your antenna hooked up and then run that wire outside 30 ft Plus this will definitely help you increase reception the normal radios are going to pick up the most powerful stations because in general if you have a long wire it picks up a lot more basically we're going back into crystal radio so you have to think about your receiver is not sensitive enough without having an external antenna for shortwave it might also have to do where you're living a bunch of other Factor try a long wire let me know if it works all the best really good receiver you have there and the fact that it's wind up very very good deal if something happens you got radio power
Do you still have and use this radio...is so..you HAVE to have the antenna pulled out to receive any SW signals...and it would not hurt to have a long wire at least 10 feet hooked to the antenna, and use it at night for the best shortwave stations...usually between dusk to dawn. I seen someone on here needed the power in polarity...it is positive pin...and I think 3-12 volts DC.
It was mostly just a matter of taking off the back cover, and oiling the moving parts. The on/off doesn't work now, and I need to fix that. Maybe I'll do a video showing how I do that, and you'll be able to see the insides.
The comment ( below ) is correct ... the last ( fast ) gearwheel has an AWFUL sleeve bearing that gives LOADS of SLOP ..... this should have had a roller / ball bearing , but the ( otherwise ) clever Trevor Bayliss did not spot this design flaw .... also he forgot to fit rechargeable batteries that could EASILY be topped up in the fierce African sun , thus almost never needing the clockwork " wind - up " .... DAVE™ .......
The inventor Trevor Balis died today (5 March 2018)
I bought one of these 30 years ago for camping. It's still working today, used it yesterday during a power outage.My model doesn't have internal batteries (or the flashlight), the radio only worked off the solar cells in full daylight.
I have the same radio. I've had it for about 15 years now. It has developed a loud noise when it is cranked up. It would be great if you could do a video how you corrected this problem. Thanks for the video brother, I enjoyed it
The noise is from the black disc that holds the rubber belt inside the radio. Put electric grease on the each side of the center of the black disc where it makes contact with the steel supporting center pin. DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE RUBBER BELT !
Late 1990s - UK cost was then £80.00 - I sent one to New Guinea. The shortwave worked well. They really appreciated the LED light.
He should have pulled up the antenna ,which you have to utilize for shortwave! I have the exact same model, and it works quite well. You also wind it about 35 cranks and let it charge while winding down, then turn it on. Read the instructions I'm saying!
That is a neat radio. I love electronics The shortwave may work. Probably an antenna is required for short wave. Even some of the more expensive short wave radios work very poorly, if at all, without an exterior antenna. Shortwave is specially good at night with the exception of a few lower daytime bands. I found a shortwave radio in the public dump when I was a kid. At first It wouldn't get anything but static. I got a library book on shortwave radios and read where they needed long antennas to get good reception. I made a long antenna just like the book said to. I was twelve years old and lived in Ohio. That night, in my garage, I received a transmission from Quito, Equator. It was a life changing experience. I have been in electronic related work most of my life. Thirty years ago, when I was thirty six years old the electronics shifted to computer automation.
I have a story something like yours. I found one of the huge console SW radios from the 30's when I was about 12, brought it home and listened to European radio late at night. It was amazing. We just hooked up a long wire to it.
Also, I was thinking the same thing about attaching an extended antenna to my Freeplay. I'll try it soon. If it works I'll put up a video about it.
I clip a wire to the antenna and shortwave comes in better. Also the "shortwave fine tune" knob really helps clear up the stations.
For one thing you need to pull up the antenna. Another thing depends on the short wave band it is set up for. Not all short wave bands are active all the time. Some such as 40 meters are active at night while other higher frequency such as 10 and 30 meters are active when there are sun spot cycles.
If you have a wire antenna, clip one end on the built in radio antenna and see if that makes any difference.
+D. Hansel Thanks.
Thanks -!
Sure like to know HOW TO fix my " Free Play " radio - heavy noise in the crank !
Mtn Mel , Ret USN SERE Inst.
tipi camp in W. Colorado.
@@meldeweese6875 the noise is coming from inside the radio because the electrical grease is dried up on the left and right side center of the black disc that holds the rubber belt. Put electric grease on these two locations. ⚠️Warning: DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE RUBBER BELT !
I'm fascinated to know how you fixed this, John. I wish I had caught you ten years ago. I have come across several of these Freeplays (two were the Freeplay Plus identical to yours) and, in every case, the wind-up mechanism is clearly slipping, making a terrible noise and barely charging the radio. I took the back off one - but couldn't see how to get into the cog mechanism to find out where it was slipping (if I remember rightly, the cog unit was sealed; but it was a long time ago).
One still works really well with solar. On the other, the solar panel never seemed to charge even when new (I'm guessing an issue with the electronics or soldering). But, with both of these - and with several others I have seen - the cog mechanism is clearly slipping and making a loud noise. I would love to have a neat solution for their repair - and it seems to me that you came up with one.
I remember those old school radios with the big spring in them before they moved to generator and storage battery.
These radios were revolutionary. I finally gave up on fixing mine, though. I couldn't find the right parts, and then I moved out of the USA.
@@jwwm2 I finally figured out how the spring power is controlled into the radio. To the best of my knowledge, I believe that the generator charges a capacitor in parallel with the radio. When the capacitor reaches a set voltage (say 6V), it is switched out of circuit by some sort of Schmitt trigger/transistor circuit (the workings of which I have yet to fully diagram) and a shorting wire is connected across the generator. The radio runs the capacitor down until 3-4 volts and then the switching circuit detects this voltage and switches out the shorting wire and reconnects the capacitor.
If you're wondering about this, it is to stop the radio unwinding really quickly when it's turned off and slowing up as you turn it louder (what would happen if you just connected the generator directly to the radio). High currents put more resistance on a generator causing the opposite of what you need with a wind up radio. The radio would be starved of power up loud and the wind would be quickly wasted when not in use.
If you have no idea what a Schmitt trigger is, it is an electrical device made up of transistors that takes in a variable voltage and converts it to a choice of two voltages. The input has an upper and lower threshold for switching a bit like a thermostat that turns heaters off at 22 Celsius and turns them back on at 18 Celsius. They are usually used to remove noise from a digital signal but can be used to switch on/off a capacitor at different charge levels.
@@TimpBizkit this wind up radio is much better than the old crystal controlled non-battery AM radios.
The little rubber drive belt that goes from the last (and fastest) pulley to the little generator is probably broken or missing or slipping
I bought mine from C.Crane in Fortuna California and up to this day it still works great ! Bought it in 1994.. now it's 2020 as long I don't let kids abuse it like my 2 walkie talkies... little brats!
When you see those wide up cars on TV,and this,and everything going up I could do with both right now.
Thanks for this video. A friend has found one of these at a thrift store, and we need to know the polarity of the DC-in jack. We'd greatly appreciate this info. Thanks for noting that it is 6 volts. Yes, an external wire antenna should greatly help with shortwave reception. Try this at different times of the day, especially late afternoon into evening.
Its a little late but i just got a new old stock one.
The Jack can handle betwen 3 and 12 volts DC with the Positive in the middle and negative on the outside.
I hope this helped someone that passes by in the future.
I purchased from amazon a 12 volt Cig plug (one end) with wire, small jack plug on other end (for Radio), will put a 12V/6V reducer in middle to get power from a 12V Cig outlet.
Mine made a loud noise after I cranked it. Thought it would blow up. What is wrong with it?
I looked at your video for your windup radio interesting model to have I would suggest you hooking up a 30 ft wire to your antenna actually the longer the better this may help increase your reception for shortwave then have another Earth wire to the negative side of your battery if you have a ground then you need to ground your receiver as well just a metal rod into the ground with a wire going into your radio negative side if you have negative if you don't have a negative your main point is get a long wire to your antenna hooked up and then run that wire outside 30 ft Plus this will definitely help you increase reception the normal radios are going to pick up the most powerful stations because in general if you have a long wire it picks up a lot more basically we're going back into crystal radio so you have to think about your receiver is not sensitive enough without having an external antenna for shortwave it might also have to do where you're living a bunch of other Factor try a long wire let me know if it works all the best really good receiver you have there and the fact that it's wind up very very good deal if something happens you got radio power
Short wave requires the reel style antenna that is available on eBay
Do you still have and use this radio...is so..you HAVE to have the antenna pulled out to receive any SW signals...and it would not hurt to have a long wire at least 10 feet hooked to the antenna, and use it at night for the best shortwave stations...usually between dusk to dawn. I seen someone on here needed the power in polarity...it is positive pin...and I think 3-12 volts DC.
How did you fix it though? Mine is make that weird loud noise when cranked
I have the one before this one had to open it put the band back on the gears working fine now
Can you tell us how you corrected the noise in the wind up mechanism?
It was mostly just a matter of taking off the back cover, and oiling the moving parts. The on/off doesn't work now, and I need to fix that. Maybe I'll do a video showing how I do that, and you'll be able to see the insides.
John, can you comment on the power of the Solar cell? I need to replace mine . Thanks.
Trevor Bayliss was English and he lived on the Thames on an island near London not in south Africa
have you tried putting the aerial up? you might get all wavebands then
Shortwave tunings on the bottom
my model has no batteries in it it only works off the crank or when it is in the sun
The comment ( below ) is correct ... the last ( fast ) gearwheel has an AWFUL sleeve bearing that gives LOADS of SLOP ..... this should have had a roller / ball bearing , but the ( otherwise ) clever Trevor Bayliss did not spot this design flaw .... also he forgot to fit rechargeable batteries that could EASILY be topped up in the fierce African sun , thus almost never needing the clockwork " wind - up " .... DAVE™ .......
Will you sell it? I will buy it.