Tonfunk T 500 help
 

I purchased this Tonfunk unit at a garage sale yesterday. I can't find any info about it on the net. Here's what I know:

Tonfunk model T 500
Vidiola Erie Corp.
75 Front Street
Brooklyn, NY

made in West Germany.

The tubes are 6AJ8 (original was an EF89), ECC85, ECH81, EABC80, EL84

The guy said it works, I plug it in and nothing happens. I will test the tubes.

Can anyone direct me to an owners and service manual? Thanks

I don't find a Tonfunk T 500 at radiomuseum.org...

6AJ8 is the same as the ECH81... there should only be one of these (AM converter tube). EF89 has a US equivalent - 6DA6 - but it's not common.

What do you mean with "nothing happens"? No light, no sound ....
Remember that thing is about 50 years old. You should think of recapping it for your own safety.
It is a very nice radio and I hope you will cope the problem.

I plug it in and there is no light, no tube glow, no nothing....
turntable does not turn.
I am going to investigate a little further when time allows.

Is this item rare? I would love to get it working.

Your tonfunk is a little bit strange.
The stations on the dial for a.m. are the same as in europe. The fm-range is up to 108 mhz, This means it is an american model.
It is nice, but I think it is seldom too.

The function:
Check the power plug, then the cord, then the fuse, then the switch. I think your set has got no current at all. I would try to check with an ohmmeter and avoid to power up such an old thing.
And I advise you again to change the caps. Really. Had a lot of those old beasts, only one was really working. The other 20 sets all had problems with their caps.
BTW: Tonfunk was a little factory in Duesseldorf. They made nice radios, but not in big amounts.

Hope someday your tonfunk will speak with you again.

Yours
Alex

Thanks myrgatroyd. I will take your advice. I want to hear this gem someday.

At your service and glad that you think my advice is senseful.
I wish you can hear it someday... do you have experiences in fixing tube-matters?
It would be helpful for us to know the tube setup of that little beast, so it could be possible to fix it without a schematic, which could be hard to find.

Yours
Alex

The only thing I recognize is the TT: it's a BSR "Monarch" from the mid-1950's. My parents had a Westinghouse portable phono with that unit inside, and a big Admiral console that had used one as a replacement. Unless you can find a way to lighten up the tracking force, I guarantee you that arm will destroy modern records... especially polystyrene 45's.
Tom

And, is this "Monarch" an european or an american despot?
I think that thing is only labeled with tonfunk, but there is that strange dial.

Alex

BSRs were made in the UK, Birmingham, if I recall. Sold on both sides of the Atlantic with appropriate motors and driveshafts for each country of sale.
Tom

Ah. Thank you.
I did not know this brand. Consoles and phono radios like that Tonfunk often used Perpetuum Ebner, Dual or Telfunken tts.
I hoped to get a hint where this beast was made.

Yours
Alex