ok, y'all Euro-radio folks -- I need a little help, if you would. - Videokarma.org TV - Video

mhardy6647 · #1 01-19-2009, 03:56 PM

I am taking a look at a Lorenz multiband table radio for the friend of a friend. It was reported to be dead. A length of power cord had totally rotten insulation, so I replaced that. I also prophylactically set the power transformer primary tap at 127V (seems like a good idea; whaddya think?) from 110.

I have two questions; please excuse my ignorance on non-US radios!

1) I see a couple of metal tabs/prongs above the voltage selector. One is broken off. I am guessing/assuming a mains fuse might have been wedged into these. Am I correct? There is no sign of the fuse (nor the broken-off prong).

2) Exactly how does one turn one of these on? :-P I am guessing just hit a function button (e.g., "MW"); and hit "Aus" to turn it off (although aus means "from"; maybe it has other meanings I've forgotten).

Sorry to be so naive. Thanks for your help!

steerpike2 · #2 01-19-2009, 04:14 PM

VERY nice radio set that. But those German sets always are.

"Ein und Aus" is German for On and Off
And the mains switch *is* integrated into the wave-change piano key bank, as you suspect.

You are exactly right - those two tabs are for a fuse. You ought to be able to buy a modern PCB-mount 1" glass cartridge fuse holder and solder it on there.
I'd guess it needs something like a T800mA (T=slow blow) fuse.

mhardy6647 · #3 01-19-2009, 04:37 PM

Thanks very much... somehow I didn't imagine that I'd get an answer from South Africa, though! :-)

Sandy G · #4 01-19-2009, 04:55 PM

Neat set ! I'm thinking it'll be a fine performer, too-All of mine of that type are...

mhardy6647 · #5 01-19-2009, 05:03 PM

Its owner bought it in a German thrift store when she was in college -- she did 3 of her 4 years of UG in Deutschland (the BRD, that is).

steerpike2 · #6 01-19-2009, 05:09 PM

It possibly has an annoying quirk in that the FM band (UKW since we ARE talking German here) probably only goes up to 100MHz. Can't see that much detail on the photo.

jeffsod · #7 01-19-2009, 10:18 PM

I just replaced the fuse in a similar vintage Braun and was told by the local tech to use a .75 amp (gma size?) fast blow. Found it at the local Radio Shack. At first I tried a .50 amp that I had on hand but the blew too easily.

I remember reading a discussion somewhere that the 127 setting could be better for the radio. Something to due with modern US line voltages.

One of my other radios utilizes the Ein button for off and on. The function button remains pushed in no matter whether the power is on or off.

Looks like a nice set and surely worth the efforts.

mhardy6647 · #8 01-20-2009, 08:06 AM

Kein(e) Ein on this one :-)

Yes, modern AC mains voltage, according to the prevailing wisdom on the Entireweb, runs quite high. Thus I figured 127 would ease the stress on that Telefunken EL84 and its buddies :-)

Not entirely coincidentally, I got Mrs. H a Kill-a-watt for Christmas (she was thrilled) so that we can measure AC line voltage, power consumption, power factor, all that stuff. It seems like a cool gizmo; hope it's at least moderately accurate.
http://www.p3international.com/produ.../P4400-CE.html

I'll add a fuse and try to Variac this sucker up soon (maybe tonight; Mrs. H has a meeting tonight).

toxcrusadr · #9 01-20-2009, 12:29 PM

You'll want to know the actual voltage where the radio will be used to make the decision on the voltage setting. Definitely a good idea to consider and nice that your radio has that feature. You will find voltages anywhere from 115 to 128 around the country. Anything over 120, I'd definitely use the 127 setting. If it doesn't run right though, you may be jacking it down too far. I once had a battery set (1.5 V tubes) I tried to run off nicads, and it just wouldn't run on the 1.2 v.

Did you recap the whole radio? It's going to need electrolytics and all the paper foil caps replaced.

Very nice! Are those dual eye tubes on either side or some other type of indicator?

jeffsod · #10 01-20-2009, 01:53 PM

I think those two narrow windows you see on either side near the knobs are the bass and treble indicators. This radio is too early for that narrow style tuning eye.

mhardy6647 · #11 01-20-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffsod

I think those two narrow windows you see on either side near the knobs are the bass and treble indicators. This radio is too early for that narrow style tuning eye.

That is correct (the "bass" display is broken; I haven't looked into it yet). The magic eye tube is up in the speaker grille (top left if memory serves).

Haven't done anything to it yet. Working my way forward from the rotted power cord right now.