Detrola PeeWee Portable 282

[bandersen]

I picked this little guy up a few days ago. It's not really my thing (almost all my other radios are Philco, Sparton, Motorola or RCA), but it looked sad and neglected and it was only $5


The outer material (tolex ?) is in good shape as is the dial face, speaker, chassis etc. The only real problems I can see are a missing knob and back.




I figure it would have used batteries like these The "A" cell fits perfectly into the plug. Too bad these batteries are long dead.


The schematic at Nostalgia Air was barely readable, but I found a better version in a Beitman's Most-Often-Needed Radio Schematics for 1940.

I did a quick recap - only 6 capacitors. I tested a few resistors and they were 25% high or so, but I've been reading that it's best to try out a radio before bothering with replacing them. After my last few radio projects, I'm a believer.


Then, rigged up a D cell for the filament, an HP dual variable supply for the 90 volt supply and a 3' lead for an antenna. Once I turned it one, it starting playing almost immediately Really it's more like these days. I could only find music on one station.


Alas, my success was short lived as the dial cord snapped Oh well, I have some new string to make one from.


Anyone have a spare matching knob ?




It's nice to finish a project (more or less) in one evening after all those TVs!