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Post by DHockey on May 12, 2020 8:55:01 GMT 12
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 13, 2020 8:53:29 GMT 12
Yes I saw that too. If it was closer I'd grab it. Companion sets are quite rare down this way and I don't have many photos of them on the site, but the under chassis photos I've seen lead me to believe they are very well built.
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Post by DHockey on May 13, 2020 13:48:06 GMT 12
Yes they are rare in the south. Reasonably rare in Auckland too compared to the other manufacturers. I have 5 John’s Ltd sets in my collection including three Companion’s The others are a Well-Mayde and an Ace. I’m located in Dunedin and I brought the sets down with me when I moved from Auckland. I’m planning on taking some photos of these sets over the next wee while to submit to your site. I was surprised to find that one of them was already there! I own this very radio: www.vintageradio.co.nz/model/well-mayde/sg41It’s still in the same condition, awaiting a proper restoration.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 13, 2020 14:07:52 GMT 12
Hi Daniel - I think those photos may have come from a Trade Me listing - TM would be the single-largest contributor by far to photos on the site... and unusually the photos of it were reasonably good - its funny because the cameras on phones seem to be getting exponentially better with each successive model but peoples photography skills seem to be decaying at an inversely proportional rate... It shocks me how bad some photos on TM are - but beggars can't be choosers so a blurry part-photo of a set is better than no photo at all... One thing I have found over the years with TM, good photos get better prices. The sets I stage and use the good camera on always seem to sell far better than the ones I do quick snaps of.
I'd love some photos of your sets - yes, please. Was it you that gave me some photos of the Columbus model 62 with those unusual knobs on the Companion? I've always been a little mystified by them - one-set-wonder knobs... I don't think I've seen any other set with them. It's odd to see them on that set, they have to be replacements surely...
Cheers, Steve
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Post by DHockey on May 13, 2020 14:57:07 GMT 12
Yes indeed, my phone takes much better pictures than my old digital camera! I think listing things on trademe is a bit of an impulse things for many, (“get rid of this junk, chuck it on trademe!”) so they tend to rush the process of listing things and take rubbish photos as a result.
Yes, it was me who sent you photos of the 62 with those knobs. Maybe they were a transitional design between the wooden ship knobs and the later bakelite ship knobs? It’s a bit intriguing since RCNZ was so consistent and standardised by this stage with much of their other componentry and designs.
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Post by davidballantynezl1tfg on May 29, 2020 10:40:56 GMT 12
Well, I bought it. Nobody else put a bid in. "Going" the lady said. Removed chassis & looked. Some one had replaced most of the caps. Worst soldering I have ever seen. Poked a 0.47 & it fell out! Appears the be AGC bypass. May be should be 0.047. Will get back to it after long weekend. Anybody have a circuit? What year? Model 70 D.W.A.C. 6SK7,6K8,6SK7, 6B8, 6V6, 5Z4, 6U5 Rola K8 EM spkr. code 25A0 ? Bit hard to read. 1YA 650 khz So between 1939 & 1948 my estimation.
Needs a good tidy up under chassis & new electros. before I apply any power. David
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Steve
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Post by Steve on May 29, 2020 11:30:25 GMT 12
I've bought a 'going' set like that before. Going simply means they plugged it in and the transformer made a strangled cry for help which sounded sort of like Marcus Lush having a rant on talkback - so it must being 'going', or maybe one of the dial lamps sort of lit up... At least its in good hands now I can't help with the schematic. I don't recall ever seeing very many Johns' schematics - the library has some early ones... I assume they were used to start the fire after they went out of business, or they're half a kilometer deep in some Auckland landfill by now. On a side note, was it you that was looking for an A222 power transformer a while back? I pulled one out of my parts set for someone ages ago, and found it again the other day while cleaning up the work bench. Your avatar reminded me. Cheers, Steve
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Post by davidballantynezl1tfg on Jun 1, 2020 19:38:32 GMT 12
Hi Steve, Yes that was me after a TA222 pwr. xformer. Fitted a WW res. but it failed. Replaced with a temp. one but it would be better with a original Xformer. Do you still have my email address? Just had a look & I see yours in my contacts. Will send E to you.
Been away for the long weekend so no more done to the Companion. Cabinet should be re done but I gave it a good oiling & it looks much better. A job for the future. Got a few other projects half finished. David
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jun 2, 2020 21:47:32 GMT 12
Hi David, this is the bandspread dial from the 1949 Johns catalogue - The next earliest one I have is 1938 so I can't check anything in between. The 0 on the end of the speaker code could indicate 1940 or 1950 manufacture - so the radio could be either. However, the cabinet reminds me (in a flipped version) of Cash Radio (Paramount) sets used in 1940 - I have one of these. I don't recall seeing it much after that although a similar style in Console size was used in the early 50s for the Courtenay model 91. The Press, 16 Nov 1940Also, your set has round IF cans - those went out with the ark... as did dark painted chassis'... so my gut says 1940-42. The dial / knob layout of your set appears in advertising in 1941 and runs through until about 1946... sooooo.... I think your original estimate of 1939-48 is right, and it can probably be narrowed down a little more to around '41-'46. If the speaker is 1940, then the set could be 1941. You can just make out the same position of the magic eye, and the same knob layout on this is a console. I have later ads almost the same that show slightly more detail with different cabinets. Auckland Star, 1 Nov 1941So, 1941? Cheers, Steve Attachments:
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Post by davidballantynezl1tfg on Aug 28, 2020 10:06:22 GMT 12
I see the Rola K8 speaker is different to others in my collection. What year did they come from & where were they made. This set is working now but I left the cabinet as is was. David Attachments:
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 28, 2020 10:09:26 GMT 12
Radio Ltd model FA and FJ from 1941 used that style... I don't recall other sets that have it...
I think they were made in Wellington by Swan Electric Ltd?
Cheers, Steve
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Feb 10, 2021 16:51:19 GMT 12
David has just sent me some photos (I hope he doesn't mind me sharing) and so I've uploaded the model, although sans-details beyond the valve lineup. I wonder where all of Johns' service information ended up... www.vintageradio.co.nz/model/companion/70dwacDoes anyone know what knobs it would have had? The bottom ones are definitely Columbus model 62 knobs - the tops look like 1938ish Ultimate style Its a good looking set - reminds me a little of the design of the Courier BWC 'Vesper' from 1938.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Feb 10, 2021 18:25:10 GMT 12
And also found this to confirm its most likely a 1941 model NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 3 SEPTEMBER 1941
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Post by DHockey on Feb 11, 2021 8:55:09 GMT 12
I have two mid 30’s Companion sets that use these knobs. Haven’t come across them on any other brands.
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