Garage Gazette
TOOLS AND THE SHOP => ANTIQUE ELECTRIC/AIR TOOLS => Topic started by: goodfellow on January 19, 2019, 06:28:52 PM
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Picked this up from a friend's old garage -- a vintage early 60s 4-band AM/CW Lafayette HA-63 receiver. Kind of rare these days and not very common even back in the day. They were imported from Japan and IIRC they were manufactured by Trio-Kenwood. The quality of Japanese electronics was starting to show back in 1963. Lafayette imported a lot of their equipment from Japan in order to offer rock bottom pricing. They were the Harbor Freight of the retail electronics market back in the day.
Dirty as all get out and it will need a thorough cleaning and a quick test using a VARIAC to slowly bring it up to operating voltage. Chances are that the electrolytic filter caps are toast at this point, but that's an easy fix.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/HAM_Gear/PICT0936%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/HAM_Gear/PICT0938%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/HAM_Gear/PICT0937%20Medium.jpg)
LOL -- First thing I touch on the thing, and the bakelite knob breaks apart -- time for some crazy glue. ;)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/HAM_Gear/PICT0939%20Medium.jpg)
Only big problem is the silk screened frequency scales on the glass fascia are starting to get flaky --
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CW? citizens wave?
Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
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CW? citizens wave?
Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Continuous Wave -- aka it's a mode for receiving Morse Code
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4 bands?
A couple of SW as well?
Do I see a BFO switch setting?
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Do I see a BFO switch setting?
Absolutely -- pretty cool little receiver (if you're odd like me and love tube radios) -- LOL
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Absolutely -- pretty cool little receiver (if you're odd like me and love tube radios) -- LOL
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I like the tube, or valve radios and find them fun to work on but sometime intimidating with the dangerous voltages and the frequent use of the case as a ground or common. The automobile models with their vibrators are particularly interesting :)
The use of a variac and dim-bulb test is highly recommended BEFORE plugging in for the uninitiated who has a tube radio of unknown condition.
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Lafayette sold kits also competing with Heathkit ....
I miss those projects, last ones built, Dynaco Stereo, 2 power amps, 2 pre-amps, AM/FM receiver, AKA the poor mans McIntosh. It was quad don't cha know, now called surround sound.
Think the new gen could build them ? :D
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Didn't have to look very far to find the first problem -- two 50+ year old filter capacitors are totally shot. They weren't just electrically "leaky", but actually physically leaked out the bottom of the can. Ordered some cheap replacements online and that should be good enough to get at least a faint signal.
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Didn't have to look very far to find the first problem -- two 50+ year old filter capacitors are totally shot. They weren't just electrically "leaky", but actually physically leaked out the bottom of the can. Ordered some cheap replacements online and that should be good enough to get at least a faint signal.
Yup, those filter caps in the power supply are almost always shot with some actually exploding out of the case. Replace those and any paper caps and chances are you will get an working radio.
Just finished up a complete refurbish of a Motorola 8M. All new caps, solid-state vibrator, new speaker with alignment playing on the bench as I watch the game and savor a nice amber ale. It will be reinstalled in a 1959 Borgwald Isabella.
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Very nice work Nick -- congrats on a job well done!
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Dirty as all get out and it will need a thorough cleaning and a quick test using a VARIAC to slowly bring it up to operating voltage. Chances are that the electrolytic filter caps are toast at this point, but that's an easy fix.
VARIACS---------You guys are wussys----hit it hard and listen to those old caps go ------BOOM. The old tubes like it too---- :D :D
This is a New Ameritron amp, with about 3 hrs on it. AL-811, was blowing on board fuse.
I always use my Variac. ;D
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VARIACS---------You guys are wussys----hit it hard and listen to those old caps go ------BOOM. The old tubes like it too---- :D :D
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That great glow and warmth from a tube red-plating is sooo comforting. :D