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The French Connection - UNIC 'Royal' Radio- Restoration Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 22 май 2020
- Here's a radio only its mother would love. This poor orphan is in rough shape and will require a lot of work. Is it worth it? No! Am I going to do it? You bet!
Carl's Capacitors eBay store: www.ebay.com.au/str/vintageco...
Music: www.bensound.com - www.epidemicsound.com
Cher David,
OC: Ondes Courtes SW
PO: Petites Ondes MW
GO: Grandes Ondes LW
BE: Bande Etalée SW of 49 meters with a frequency from 5.9MHZ to 6.2MHZ
PU: Pick-Up that’s for a turntable
All the best from Marseille, France!
Au revoir!
In the UK, we would call the BE a 'band spread' scale. Thanks for confirming the French translations !
Thanks Christophe, I had them worked out except what BE meant, Thanks 👍🙂
Sat down for my dinner on a Saturday evening and there's a new David Tipton episode, Yaaay!
Thanks 984francis, enjoy your dinner 🙂
Well, when it's all done, I expect it'll pick up some Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, Johnny Hallyday, Plastic Bertand... or something.
You might be right Steven 😉
Omit Plastic Bertand from that list for pity's sake.
James Bowie Yep, replace him with France Gall.
@@James_Bowie 😂
Thanks for making our much constrained lives at this time a little more tolerable. The quality of your camera work of close ups and insets of the instruments is particularly good. The only down side is that some other US U tube makers look so bad I can no longer watch them. Keep up the great work.
Haha... thanks Bob 😄
I got my interest started in electronics and radio over 60 years ago. My favorite uncle was a radio and TV repair guy. In his tool case he had a lump of plasterscene (modeling clay) which was mixed with metal fillings. He used to repeatedly push the valve pins especially on the old B9A and B7G valves into the soft lump to clean all corrosion and dirt from the pins. Worked like magic! Seeing you with the noisy valves in this video reminded me of that time. kevin Johnston
Hi Kevin, amazing what these old techs did in the old days. Good idea, thanks 👍😀
That certainly is a UNIQUE radio! The original manufacturer was so confident this radio would never need servicing, he nailed on the back cover. I had no doubt that YOU would get it working. But, it does prove one maxim of the universe. Color blind people should not be allowed to paint... anything! ;-) ) I can't wait to see how it all finished.
Unique is being kind videolabguy 😄 I'll be nailing the backs on all my radios from now on. I have paint stripped it and suspect it was orange and green originally. I can't wait to see it finished either 👍😀
I’m always happy when I see you put up a new video. I’ll grab a beer, put on my headphone and see what you’re up to this time. Wow, this is some radio! You have some work ahead. I’m curious how it will turn out!
Thanks Rene, you and I are both curious to see how this one turns out 😀
This is the first French radio I have seen. Having had some experience dealing with French technology I find they build things like no one else, and they take pride in that. Sounds great so far, you have quite a knack in bringing them back from the dead.
Hi Phillip, It's the first French radio I've worked on. I worked with French aircraft since the 80s so I'm used to their thinking to some extent. The radio sound pretty good 👍🙂
Had a smile on my face all through this video David. You do make and present great videos. This one had me thinking I was hearing things with the sound effects / low volume music going on while you were talking, I kept looking over my shoulders wondering what the f++k is that behind me until I realised it was on your video! Mind you, my second whisky didn't help!!! Thank you David.
I like to keep my viewers on their toes Graham 😄 Many thanks for your comment 👍😀
Yes, David, 10 kp == 10 nF.
I was delighted to see the notification pop up. This French girl needs some Aussie love. Nope, .... lots of love 😄👍🤝
Hi Plons0Nard, thanks. I'm late this week, computer problems 🙄 It's getting a lot of love, I hope it's worth it. Thanks for the capacitor value info, I though I saw somewhere that Europeans tended to express cap values in pF, my German set maybe 🤔
@@DavidTipton101 , you know, that actually makes a lot of sense! 10Kp = 10,000 pF = 10nF = 0.01µF Though I guess I am spoiled and really want to see it as 0.01µF
@@DavidTipton101 Those yellow plastic film caps often seem to have the values expressed in Pico Farad, such as 100K, 630 volts, which is a .1 uf. I never heard of Nanofarads until I ran into a Russian guy on a radio forum I frequented, it seems to be a European thing mainly. I guess they use Picofarad markings on many new caps because it's a compromise unit of measurement between what Europeans, and everyone else uses.
@@olegkostoglotov8800 One of the reasons why I never really considered working on pre-WWII radios is that the Germans used to express cap values in cm! Not kidding! 1cm is roughly 1.1 pF.
@@olegkostoglotov8800 In retrospect Oleg it was pretty straight forward. The caps I get are marked, for example, '103' meaning 10 plus 3 zeros so 10,000 picofarads. Nothing different just the markings were different 😀
'Mouldy-meter' made me giggle. I'll be awake all night now trying to think of something similar for my avometer. Cheers David, very enjoyable, thank you!
Hi Mark, that's a tough one arvo-meter 🤔 Thanks Mark
Certainly a nice classic looking radio and dail glass in mint condition as well , the bonus being the French dust inside lol ,great work as always David .
Hi Doc, It's a one of a kind radio, well two if you count the one on the internet. It would be interesting to know the history behind it 🙂
As always, just another superb video. Thank you.
Thanks Suhayl 😀
Another silk purse from a sows ear. Can't wait to see the cabinet resto.
You might want to curb you enthusiasm till I work on the cabinet Ian 😄 I have no idea how this will look when finished, I don't know if this ever looked good, fingers crossed 👍😀
looking forward to seeing how the cabinet turns out, I expect it will up to your usual high standard
I hope so Paul, I don't have much to work with here 😄
It is fascinating to me to watch you bring these beautiful old radios back to life. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Dean 😀
Thank You David!
I,m consuming just about everything there is about radio/guitaramptechnology while having my daily 30 min. spin on my bicycle in my garage. The Corona is a bloody nuisance in many ways but your videos certianly let me focus on stuff that I can get my hands on.
Cheers from Sweden👍
Hi Jerker, thanks. It's a different world at the moment. Stay well in Sweden 👍🙂
The Radiomuseum has a page for the UNIC Ile de France. This has an identical chassis and probably also same tube set except for the magic eye. Thanks for sharing this one with the world.
Hi Harri, I looked at that and even had it in the original video but cut it out. Apart from the band switch it looks a same chassis, pity it didn't have a schematic 👍🙂
What a sweet little liar of a radio, I was surprised when I saw the size of the speaker and chassis. I hope I am not being to harsh. It does have a nice BIG sound though.
Great work Dave, that radio has found you just in time
I can't fathom what the designers were going for here Craig, it could have been a nice good sized set but this is what they settled on. I am working on the case now but I have no idea if its's going to look good or not when it's finished. It does sound good even out of the case, I thought that when it first started working 👍🙂
I’m really enjoying “The French Connection” Dr Dave, AKA, Microfarad Surgeon Channellor. And I also remember back in the day when all radios had a “Whatever Wave This Is” setting, but sadly those days are gone. Seriously, I do have what some may call a warped sense of humour but at least I have one. Another great/entertaining video David from someone who can still find a way to give new life to radios that would otherwise be destined for the bin.
Hi Graham, thank you. I don't think there would be many of these around so good thing it didn't go to the bin 👍😀
I saw many of your videos, incredible recoveries. You inspired me to try to recover my old rusty and very heavy RF generator (German, and I think very rare) EP104BS. I hope to get maybe half the quality of your work. Thanks for everything
Thank you Jose, I see the schematic for your generator is on Radio Museum 👍🙂
MASTER A CORDIAL GREETING FROM CUBA.
YOUR VIDEOS ARE ALWAYS GREAT.
MY RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR ITS WORK SO EXCELLENTLY CARRIED OUT.
GREAT HEALTH FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
A HUG.
Hi Juan, thank you very much. I hope all is well with you in Cuba and a hug right back at you 😀
Another great video! I'm looking forward to the follow-ups. Great work, keep it up!
Thanks Tim, next one is in production 😀
Slick job repairing the broken coil & the switch! Looking forward to part 2, thanks David!
Thanks James 👍🙂
Thanks Sir for uploading of restoration of a French Radio.Awaiting of next part.
Thank you Rakesh 😀
Great video! I always learn something. Thanks for sharing. Take care & stay safe 🙂
Thanks batman387. you stay safe too 😀
Thanks. Looking forward to pt.2
Hi Neil, thanks 😀
What a great find! I love to see how countries parts and build techniques but this is the first French radio I have seen. Thank you
I've seen a number of French radios and they are generally quirky but this one is at a different level, note I didn't say a higher level 😄 Cheers Bruce 🙂
Great video Dave! When you finally got a station, Christine (the better half) says "That doesn't sound French!" 🤣🤣
Looking forward to the case resto! 😁 Cheers, Chris
Haha... I like your Christine, a sense of humour 😄 thanks Chris. The case resto is under way and coming along nicely. I'm as curious as anybody to see how this comes out. Cheers! 🙂
Nice video !!!! I like very much when you disasembly potentiometer and make it restored, your explanation to find problems is very didatic, I learn a lot !!!!!!!
I wait next video.
Congratulations - Sao Paulo - Brazil
Hi Fernando, thank you, glad you got something from my video 👍😀
Another excellent teaser for what's to come with the cabinet restoration!...
Yes, I too was surprised at the size of the actual chassis in that large cabinet?!
Back then, a lot of people thought 'big' (on the outside) means better. :-)
You are probably right Glenn, keep up with the Joneses and all that. I was expecting a big chassis in there, I couldn't believe the size when I pulled the back off 😄
👍👍waiting for next part🙂
Thanks manoj 😀
David, eres increíble!!! Definitivamente naciste para esto. Gracias por compartir tanto y aprendo mucho de ti.👍😃
Gracias Enrique Estoy muy feliz de que disfrutes compartiendo mi hobby. Todo lo mejor 😃
David, I never seen one of these, absolutely unique, look forward to the case refurbishment, it's going to be quite a task.
Hi Alan, I have only seen the other one I showed in the video, maybe they only made two 😀
Thanks Dave. I'm sure she will scrub up well. I'm looking forwarded to parts 2 & 3. Keep well.
Hi Paul, thanks. Fingers crossed it will be an amazing looking radio 😄
Hi David! Wow! The paint on that cabinet was set on STUN! My wife is from Belgium, but she didn't recognize the radio or the brand name. Looking forward to your next video! Cheers!
Hi David, it was out there all right. It may be there aren't a lot of them around which is probably a good thing 😄
Have been waiting for your latest video all week.
Certainly picked a radio with a unique color scheme.
Its like 50's Rock 'n' Roll Dinner meets colour blind Picaso.
Cant wait to see the finished product
Thanks 1974UTuber. Wait till you see the colour under the white paint 🙂
Great Radio, David! Gene Hackman would love it... Nice job on restoring that pot. It will be a nice addition when complete.
Hi John, thanks, I'm interested to see how it comes out too 😀
I like your new intro music, and as always, enjoyed your restoration work. Cheers!
The intro music was for this video only, back to normal programming next week 😄 Thanks Quantum Leap
yeah, i love it too, much more calmer or soothing compared with the original intro music.
The French certainly built some wild and wacky looking radios! Sounds pretty good for such a small speaker. R&A speakers were fitted to a lot of British stuff.
Looks like the majority of the work will be on the cabinet for this one. Looking forward to part 2.
Hi Paul, wacky is right. It sounds very nice, even better when I get it in the case. The cabinet is a big job, I'm just taking a coffee break from it now 👍🙂
Hi David, in each of your videos, you can perceive the satisfaction you feel in seeing the devices come back to life.
A lot of love, but absolutely a lot of competence.
I will go to my father's house to take the old Magnadyne S94, which belonged to my grandfather.
In one way or another, I will be able to make her sing again
Thanks Enrico. There is great satisfaction when it comes back to life again. Good luck with your grandfathers radio, I see there is a schematic on Radio Museum 👍🙂
David, an old time tip on repairing tracks on old pots. Get a soft pencil, softer the better. Draw over the track a few times to deposit some graphite, and that should help a heck of a lot.
Hi Lloyd, that's a good tip, thanks ✏😀
Nice to see you bring it back to life. I believe a lot of people buy old radios just to use them as decoration and never actually use them as radios, that was probably the case with the previous owner of this radio.
Thanks TheStuffMade. Yes, maybe. The radio was on display in the ladies home. She was moving back to Europe and needed to move it on 👍🙂
Great to have you back David with another repair story. As much as finding your repairs interesting it's your background banter that has me laughing... "something is not working" you say stating the obvious while there are multitudes of crackles and background static! The volume control repair was great - why do your tabs never break off - when I used to do something like that i could almost guarantee that the tabs would break when bending them back again. Loved the way you tracked the doubtful solder connection - poking with your plastic stick then announcing "...well look at that". Looking forward to the next parts of this repair.
Hi Kenneth, thank you. Yes, I'm probably thinking out loud when I say things like that 😄 I only bend the tabs enough to separate the parts, they don't usually break. I was lucky it was a bad solder joint, I was wondering how I was going to track the oscillator problem down when it came good. Thanks Kenneth 😀
What a very cool and unique radio Dave, I love it! What a great job you did troubleshooting it and get it playing splendidly. I can't wait to see how the cabinet turns out. I love unique things and I love this design. I bit overkill on the size of the cabinet vs. the chassis, but still a very neat radio.
Hi Gregg, It's wacky to say the least but I spend so much time with them they grow on me by the time I finish them no matter what they look like. I knew the oscillator wasn't working early on but got side tracked on the way. It has a very good sound, it will sound even better in the cabinet. I guess if you are going to collect radios you might have a few unusual ones in the mix. I see you have a new video out, I'll check it out. Cheers! 😀
Dave, caught your French Connection theme change to your intro music nice touch. Glad to see that your videos
concluded with the “Dave signature music” with magazine ads for radios, it’s a great signature and branding
for your RUclips channel, You should use the audio or your ring tone. The potentiometer / on-off switch was an
outstanding, example of your skill, radio restoration should be about “reuse not replace” so great mentoring for the community.
Hi Mack, how are you? Yeah, went a bit french there for a minute 😀 The ring tone idea is great, I'm going to do that even if it's just to annoy the wife 😄 I was so lucky with the volume control, happy to get it working again. Take care Mack 👍🙂
Oh la la, something rather different. Despite initial fears that it was going to be all fancy case and a pretty ordinary radio the set proved to be a good performer. Looking forward to future episodes.
Hi Ken, thank you 😀
"Change stations by moving the glass around" HaHa! I was almost expecting to hear some French come out of the speaker when it came to life. Great video, again.
Hi David, yes, my comic genius knows no bounds 😀 Cheers!
What dedication David....!!! Walt
Hi Walt, thanks 😀
In the rough and tumble world of radio restoration...your videos are faire dinkum Mr. Tipton!
Haha, Thanks AuroraMills 👍😀
You can't fix a French radio ! Because it's well, French ! Oh No David is playing Crazy French music hehe. Nice work David as always.
Hi Joseph, it's called French 'Logique', thankfully this one looks pretty normal. Thanks Joseph 😀
Hi, my maternal grandmother was French, mostly, as they say around here, her parents came down from Canada and can trace their lineage to the first French Settlers in Canada way back when Christ was a Corporal. So it is kind of nice to see how the French built their sets! (Of course we claim to be Swedish since dad was pure blood Swede, and here you pretty much go by your father's blood, my Maternal Grandfather was pure German, in fact he fled Germany just as the first world war was warming up, he had been drafted into the German Army but considered himself Dutch since the part of Germany he was living had been taken from Holland in a recent conflict, or so they say.
Boy, your European ancestors sure got around 😀 Thanks Jerry, cheers 🙂
Going great. I hope you will include full restoration of the case. It should be interesting.
Hi tarstarkusz, thanks, I will cover the case repairs in the next video
Good find. Nice radio. Viva La-France
Hopefully it looks good when it's finished ACHF 😀
It will
Great. Bravo.
Thank you D. Ilic😀
BE was called "trawler band" (Bande Chalutiers) back in the time
Thanks again André 😀
Wow, I really like this one. If you had been on the Apollo 13 mission, it would have landed on the moon and returned easily! HA! I really like your tenacity. THANKS DAVID
Haha... a bit of MacGyver do you think John 😄 Thanks John, I'm still smiling from your comment 👍😀
love the video love the french elevator music its fantastic
Hi Ian, thanks 😄
Super! Nice little continental twist to this episode. An interesting little set. Case was a bit OTT for the chassis.
Hi Gary, Thanks. The case is ridiculous, it's looking at OTT in the rear view mirror 😀
its beautiful David
Thanks Ian 😀
The one sold by FreddieBrunsman looks more correct that this green nightmare. He sold his for 65 Euros!( little over $70 US) Even the borers gave up on yours!
Nice fix on the capacitors and volume control! I see you did your correction for a working eye tube. Nice job so far.
I uncover the real colours in part 2 HTM, I will try and return it to it's original look if I can 👍🙂
Thanks for the videos
You are most welcome ideal1980 😀
Just forgot to mention on previous videos i have watched i love your music selection listening to today,s music is horrific like a saw blade up against your ears.
Thanks for the feedback Michael I try to keep it a bit neutral if there is such a thing 😃
Interesting design, nice to see a radio with some French personality to it. I think it was common in the 50s and 60s for radio shops to assemble radios out of chassis, components and cabinets they purchased separately. They could undercut the name-brands in price this way. Maybe this was one such radio? Looking forward to the cabinet restoration!
Hi SY. I did a bit of investigation on the Unic company but cut it out of the video at the last minute. They made test equipment and in the 50s branched out into radio and TV. The company name was Ribet & Desjardins in Paris. At first I wondered too if it was a home built until I saw the same unit on the internet 👍🙂
@@DavidTipton101 Thanks. I asked because I have a 1951 no-name Japanese radio that was built by a radio shop out of kit parts from other vendors. This was to avoid the high tax at the time placed on name-brand radios. As Japan pulled itself out of WWII people couldn't afford luxuries and so welcomed these bargain radios. Much of their post-war electronics industry grew out of this kind of entrepenurialship. I wondered if the same thing occurred in Europe.
It was a good idea to use the scope.
I notice that a lot of people rarely use a scope to fix vacuum tube electronics.
You have to be careful about the maximum voltage input and always use a x10 probe.
An isolation transformer must be used for hot chassis devices.
Thanks Gordon, the scope comes in handy at times. I have a full time Isolation transformer 👍🙂
Wow, can't believe that one worked, looked like someone has tried to fix it in the past with that loose wire in their, its a shame that people painted over the woodgrain finish of house hold products, I remember my mum doing the same thing but back then they thought wallpaper was the best too, lol
Hi Melissa, That's what it looks like, someone has tried to repair it and given up, tossed out the hardware and shoved it back in the case. I was worried it wasn't going to work but very happy when it did. They should have used wood grain 'Contact' it would have covered the borer hols at least 😀
@@DavidTipton101 wood gran contact, very attractive, lol 😂🤣😂🤣
J’aime cette aventure de radio! I am in France at the moment, so RUclips interrupts the video with ads in French. How appropriate!
C'était une belle aventure. Haha... I guess it would, thanks Hijme 😄
Love your videos! Have you ever discussed your background on any of you videos? How did you come upon this wealth of radio knowledge? If you have already discussed it, I will get to it as I make my way through all of your videos. If you have not discussed it...we would love to know all about it
Hi Chris, thank you. I don't have a wealth of knowledge on radios, I have had to learn on the way and have only been doing it for a few years. I dabbled in electronics most of my life so I had a basic idea of what components did and RUclips was an excellent teacher of how radios work. I am also in a vintage radio club and can get advice from some of the members. If you click on my name and then click 'about' there is a one line summery that encapsulates it perfectly 😄
I like your approach to solving problems such as the coiled wire technique and explaining why you do things. Magic Eye O..O No Signal Strength Meter just use the eye! To me, that aqua color needs to go (just my opinion). I"m sure you will Tiptonize it ...err.. "Make it Right". Your bench is so clean and organized. Looking forward to more video.
Hi Craig, thank you. My bench starts off clean then I have to clean up as it gets messy. Cheers 😀
Another interesting video. I hope that ghastly green colour gets changed!
Hi Crazy Nuts, it will 😄
Hi David, just to say I am working on a radio with the same black capacitors as your Unic and I came to the same conclusions as you with regards to the values. You are doing a great job there.............................................Berni
Hi Berni, In retrospect it was pretty obvious. I'm glad you came to the same conclusion 😀
Ooh la la. Why monsieur, you are really spoiling us :)
You've got the magic touch David.
Hi Paul, thank you 😀
33:52, Glad I wasn't the only one distracted by the content of the radio, lol
Hi Trogdor, Haha... it was interesting for me, I could have cut it out but thought it may interest people from other countries. Our treasurer tested negative for Covid 19 BTW 👍😀
Nice troubleshooting Dave. I'm busy on a few French radios at the moment and I have come to the conclusion that they are inferior to the German equipment. The soldering is dodgy on all three units and the layout is almost backyard tech. However they are quite charming and ornate. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
Hi Derek, thanks. I would agree the under chassis assembly methods are very average. I have seen some very ornate French radios and hoped mine would be the same when I heard about but... I will do the best I can with what I have, Cheers Derek 👍😀
@@DavidTipton101 I reckon you'll make it shine.
That chassis is like a peanut in a barrel... lol. Although once it's together that resonance may give it a very nice sound.
Ever worked with wood veneer David? Be a treat to see some bird's-eye maple and walnut on there, or some such combination.
Until next time... Cheers.
Haha... that analogy is apt! It sounds remarkably good now, it should sound very nice once in the case again. Yes I have worked with veneer before. Cheers scofab 😀
Cool‼️
📻🙂
Thanks Jeff 😀
"More front than Harrods" comes to mind although the application in not as intended.
It is like that Pablo 😄
Very curious restoration.
Curious restoration or curious radio John 🙂
French? ooh, la la! I have complete confidence you will have this one purring like a kitten and looking good David! A quirky radio, isn't she?
Thanks Eric. It should come out ok, so far, so good. Quirky is one word, there are others 😀
David Top Marks I have never had French Radio to Repair I have repaired the other Nations one German and UK etc but as I said Never a French one as I said Top Marks Mate.
My first toe in the French radio pond too eddyaudio. It's interesting to see how different countries approach the same subject and I'm happy to get exposure to some other than Aussie radios 😃
I've read and/or heard about Zenith 'Royal' radios (TransOceanics as well) but not a UNIC Royal tube radio. Somewhat unusual but it doesn't look too beat-up and looks like it could be a good restoration project Dave.
Thanks RoughJustice 2k18. I'm just doing the case and it's coming together OK, whether it will look any good when finished I don't know 😀
that green really stands out
Yep, it certainly does 🤦♂️
I don't know if "Pimp My Ride" has made it to Australian TV, but somebody definitely "pimped" that radio. I look forward to your de-pimping it. 🙂
It needs a good de-pimping for sure Wayne 😄
That's an odd looking radio. I like the woodgrain on the one in that photo.
It might be a "smuggler's" radio; . . plenty of room inside for "other things." Heh heh.
Haha... that's as good a reason as I've heard Rick. I'm returning mine to wood grain 😀
:-)
As an expat brit living in France, I have several french radios. I expect some one has given you the following info: SW = OC = ondes courtes ; MW = OM = ondes moyennes ; LW = GO = grandes ondes. I believe BF is a very low frequency Sw? good luck with this resto and I look forward to the next episode!
Yes, folks have been very helpful with that information tegwyn7, thank you. The case is progressing I hope it comes out OK 👍🙂
This was really interesting and very different to your previous radios. It seems so strange that you can't get anything on Long Wave - I grew up with my Dad listening to cricket from Droitwich.
Hi Dave, yeah, no stations on long wave here, no sure there ever was. Might have been a European thing 🤔🙂
I'm looking forward to seeing how this on turns out...
Me too Colin, me too 😀
Nice radio . They do turn up quite often here in the UK . I have done quite a few and actually have a small collection of them myself . They are so attractive and visual . However the cabinets and knobs are very light and flimsy . Some are even made partly from a sort of paper mache ! The chassis are pretty standard and normally not difficult to fix . For some reason they all seem very sensitive considering the simple circuitry .
I think the speaker in yours has been replaced . Never seen that UK brand in one of those . Probably better than the original though .
I look forward to seeing how you get on with the case . Regards .... Thomas
Hi Thomas, have you seen this model radio before? The case on this is very poorly made. I hadn't considered the speaker being a replacement, you might be right. Cheers 🙂
@@DavidTipton101
Hi David . No I havent seen that exact one but the construction of case is the same on most . Very flashy and attractive but cheaply made and unstable . If they get damp they tend to fall to bits . I have often added more wood blocks internally to strengthen them . They do look stunning when restored though and normally work very well . Caps always need changing but thats expected of course . Look out for the SNR Excelsior 52 .Case on that is enamelled metal . Twin speaker and huge mirror dial .Check online . Sure there will be photos . I have one in my collection . One to keep . Regards ... Thomas
those tar capacitors and those if cans..it looks like a philips chassis to me
They do look a bit Philips Hugo. Interesting thought, thanks 👍🙂
G'day David, I was listening to your 612 ABC you seem to get good reception at your location. Wondering how the short wave 1& 2 will go on the long wire in the backyard? This radio is a real eye-opener with all these bands on. Can't wait for your next exciting respond to this build. Cheers mate.
Hi Dennis, the ABC comes in very strong but other stations not so good. I live in a depression behind a mountain so reception is pretty poor. There is no long wave here except for airport and sea beacons. We also have limited SW, there is a Aussie SW station that this radio may pick up in the extended SW band. Cheers 🙂
David!!!
So glad to see another video from you! Really enjoyed this one so far...looks like it is going to be another one of those lots of work, but work well worth it units.
Not sure what actually is the case, but it appears that the pointer on the dial is on some sort of cylinder that runs across what looks a lot like #10 or possibly #8 wire that runs across from side to side. By now you probably have already addressed the issue, but I was thinking that you would probably clean and somehow lubricate that "wire" that it runs on to allow it to move more freely. I suspect, though, that the difficulty you mentioned in tuning it is more likely to be in the tuning Capacitor itself though.
Do you think it would be worth "re-engineering" the dial cord system so that you could take the radio out without having to take the front plate with it?
This one would be a good one to use the "Flossing Brush" on to clean the sockets for the valves.
I have to say that I was heartbroken when you ended this video...wanted to see so much more in one sitting. To be honest, I think I was wanting it to be more like 4 hours per episode! I really do enjoy your videos!
Oh, I also have a suggestion for a video. If you have already done this, forgive my ignorance. Your box that you use with the dim bulbs. How about a video on it, the schematic, how it is constructed, etc.?
Looking forward to the next installment...
Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? Is it done yet? ;-)
Not just me then
Hi Wayne, I trust you are well. Yes, the pointer is as you say. Those parts are all in bits now and will be cleaned up. The issue with the tuner was the string was loose, I'll fix that. The chassis, front panel and dial glass all come out as one which is a good thing for testing so I'll leave it as it is. I used a flossing brush on the sockets and they came up very well. I intend making a video with the dim bulb and some of the projects that finished with parts not quite right, like wrong speaker or incorrect speaker cloth, I will show that they did get finished eventually. The next instalment is underway. No, it's not done yet! No! No! No! NO! 😄 Cheers Wayne
@@DavidTipton101 , THANKS for the kind reply! And your patience with me! You have given me so much encouragement and wonderful examples of things to do when working on restoring a radio. I can't thank you enough. I am so very eager to get started on working on mine, but have several debts that MUST be eliminated before I can even think of ordering parts, equipment, or anything to do with the work on the radios...but when I can...look out!!! I will probably go video crazy with them.
Like you indicated, a loose dial string is basically useless. I saw a couple of radios that use a system I like a lot better. There is a small rubber wheel that is pressed tightly against a dial about the size of a DVD and it takes many turns of the knob to get the dial...and therefore the capacitor...to go from one end to the other. NO strings! I think every system has its advantages and disadvantages. I think with the rubber wheel type, it would be a good idea to have either multiple or switchable rubber wheels, one larger for the main tuning, and a smaller one for fine tuning.
Hi David.
Found this.
P.O. = Petites Ondes = Broadcast 550-1620 kHz.
O.C. = Ondes Cortes = Shortwave
G.O. = Grandes Ondes = Long wave
Hi John, thank you. I did find out later on, it makes sense when you know what it means 🙂
More information that may be useful, this set was manufactured by a company called Ribet & Dejardins, but I couldn't find a listing for a UNIC "Royal" model. I will check that Italian website I have bookmarked for a schematic. I think you are right about the markings on those tar caps, also a Phillips style part, 47K and 10K represent picofarads.
Thanks Oleg, I'm happy I have the correct caps in there. In the original cut of the video I looked on Radio Museum which has a bit of info on the company, I cut it out as I thought it may not be interesting. I can't find Royal either but Radio Museum does have a chassis the same as mine but no schematic. www.radiomuseum.org/r/ribet_ile_de_france.html
I checked that Italian site for service info, could even find a listing for UNIC or Ribet &Dejardins, which odd given that I have found diagrams for some odd German makes on there. I couldn't find anything on a Dutch radio site either. All I found was a kook in California who thought his poster for UNIC was worth $2000 USD, you could probably buy a shed full of this company's sets out of France for that much! Anyhow I would go through the service info for Phillips sets of the same vintage, ones that have the same wave bands, and tube/valve lineup, other then the power transformer there are a lot of Phillips parts in that set so they probably went the easy route and used the same circuits.
BE stands for "Bande Étalée" which was in the 49 meters (5.9 to 6.2 MHz); it allowed people who had a fisherman in the family to get news from him when he was away...allegedly...(pardon my poor english, I'm french...obviously...)Very nice video, by the way, and no hard feelings for the poor quality of french radios (joking)
Hi André, thank you for the information. Your English is fine 👍🙂 The radio is also fine, I don't get what they were trying to do but you will be proud of it when it's finished... I hope 😄
RF coils repair it’s only for the braves 👍. 10kp means 10 kilopicofarad, as you correctly deduced 10 nF, it’s an old fashion to mark values on caps, especially those intended to use in rf circuitry.
Hi MML, with coil repairs, it's go hard or go home I reckon, they can be frustrating for sure. Someone suggested the 'P' was the tolerance and you just read it as 10k and the default unit is picofarads 👍🙂
An unusual shape radio you got there David. The valves inside that radio look to be the B8A rimlock type. They were popular from the early 1950s but they were gradually superseded during the second half of that decade by B7G, and B9A types.
As a matter of interest, since there is a fair bit of woodworm holes in the sides of that radio, are you contemplating making new ones? The reason I ask, I have a Defiant radio, I can’t remember it’s model number that has woodworm in its side panels. Last year, I was about to feature it in a You Tube video but when I saw the woodworm holes, I was somewhat put off. Not being one who is all that handy at wood work, If you do decide to replace the side panels, I will watch what you do - hopefully it will give me some idea what it likely involves.
Should you be interested, yesterday I uploaded Part 1 (and part 2 today) videos featuring an Ekco, model AD75 radio.
Regards, Phil.
Hi Phil, I won't give anything away but I used another solution which worked well for the side panels and didn't involve lime green paint. The round Ekco, I've added to my watch list, thanks 👍😀
Bonjour de France !!
Bonjour d'Australie 😀
Unic really? 2:09 LOL, Haha ha hahaha!!! All that rice, and no meat inside? I guess it it turned out to be a _eunuch_ after all.... LOL! Sorry David, I seriously couldn't help it. I have to say though, I am looking forward to this project.
Hi Raul, You nailed it! I don't get what the designers were trying to do. Anyway, thanks Raul 😄
Maybe there was a similar model with a phonograph in the top, or one with a larger chassis, hence the spacious cabinet. I would guess that the set is from the mid 1950s, the IF cans look like what Phillips was using around that time. The Rimlock tubes came out around 1949 or so, and faded away by the late 1950s in favor of nine pin ones, those were a Phillips invention and used all over Western Europe, and in Britain as well.
Hi Oleg, yeah, maybe a phonograph on top. I agree, I put it mid 50s too, thanks 👍🙂
To easily unstick rusted parts I use a product made by the WD-40 brand called "SPECIALIST Rust Release Penetrant Spray", "Blu Torch technology". It is specifically made for rusted parts and appears to instantly loosen or breakdown rust between parts without harming anything. I get it here in the states and it is not expensive ($7 for a large aerosol can). Not sure if it is available in Australia but if it is it would be worth trying if you can get it. It might save you a little grief in the future. They sell it on Amazon but I get mine locally at the hardware store.
Hi MultiCyclist. We can get 'Specialist' WD40 but no mention of Blu Torch on the can, otherwise it looks the same, $17.50 here. I didn't use anything on the stuck knob, I should have in hindsight 🤦♂️🙂
@@DavidTipton101 Hi David. That's great. Still worth it in my view. A can should last a long time. As long it says Rust Release Penetrant Spray (black and silver can with yellow logo).
Fun facts. The original WD40 blue can product was never formulated to free rusted fasteners. It was originally formulated by or for Nasa and used on the Saturn IV rocket to prevent it from rusting when it was on the launch pad. Somehow it found its way to the market for other uses.