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Post by elorens on Jul 27, 2020 22:28:53 GMT 12
Valves went out at about the time that FM was coming in, so FM sets using valves are rare. I believe there were a few made in Europe, but were any ever made in New Zealand? If so, does anyone have details? Thanks!
Lawrence --
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jul 28, 2020 14:12:19 GMT 12
Valves went out WAAAY before FM came in to NZ - 1981/82 if I recall correctly. In the US there were FM stations back in the 40's, so there are plenty of FM capable sets from there - although they are typically AA5 or AA6 style series string sets with live chassis'... I tend to cut the cord on those and I don't repair them for anyone. Ever.
Europe also had FM, German sets like Grundig, Blaupunkt etc - look for a UKW band, which translates to something that means FM... There are a few of those floating around, I've had a few and sold most of them - I think I still have one somewhere.
So, no. There were no valve FM domestic radio sets commercially made in New Zealand*... in fact, Philips were about the only company left in that space when FM came in, having gobbled up Pye, who had previously gobbled up Radio Corp... Collier and Beale had been gobbled up by GEC years earlier and I think they had gone by then too.
* Note: carefully worded sentence there, I'm sure there was the odd one although I don't recall seeing one ever.
Cheers, Steve
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Post by elorens on Jul 28, 2020 18:40:31 GMT 12
Valves went out WAAAY before FM came in to NZ - 1981/82 if I recall correctly. In the US there were FM stations back in the 40's, so there are plenty of FM capable sets from there - although they are typically AA5 or AA6 style series string sets with live chassis'... I tend to cut the cord on those and I don't repair them for anyone. Ever. Europe also had FM, German sets like Grundig, Blaupunkt etc - look for a UKW band, which translates to something that means FM... There are a few of those floating around, I've had a few and sold most of them - I think I still have one somewhere. So, no. There were no valve FM domestic radio sets commercially made in New Zealand*... in fact, Philips were about the only company left in that space when FM came in, having gobbled up Pye, who had previously gobbled up Radio Corp... Collier and Beale had been gobbled up by GEC years earlier and I think they had gone by then too. * Note: carefully worded sentence there, I'm sure there was the odd one although I don't recall seeing one ever. Cheers, Steve Thanks, Steve. Do you mean there could have been a few experimental valve FM sets made here? If so they could be incredibly rare: a radio version of an Edward III gold Leopard, of which only five are known to exist (my brother found the fifth one last year!). cheers, Lawrence —
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Jul 28, 2020 19:31:10 GMT 12
I wouldn't get your hopes up - there was, to my knowledge (which is FAR from complete), no domestic valve-based FM broadcast receivers built in NZ. There was no point, IC's had largely replaced transistors by the time FM became available here... so no manufacturer would go back two generations of components just for old times sake. Besides, by 1982 cheap imports had all but destroyed the remnants of the mighty NZ electronics industry as we knew it in the 40's and 50's...
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Post by elorens on Jul 29, 2020 9:11:13 GMT 12
Fair enough. Interesting that the first FM broadcast was from Whakatane!
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peter
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Post by peter on Aug 4, 2020 1:49:55 GMT 12
Around 1971 or 2 I fixed a valve set for a friend (replaced a shot valve) down in Christchurch which had an FM channel and selector - think it was an NZ made one but to be honest cannot recall it precisely after all these years - it was a long rectangular 60'ish style noval 9 pin valves (boxy rectangular with perspex scales) one. My first repair learning experience - gave it back before he paid me so he took the opportunity to not do so. After that I got paid BEFORE they got it back.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 12, 2020 11:39:36 GMT 12
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Post by elorens on Aug 14, 2020 16:44:48 GMT 12
Frustratingly poor definition. Can you identify the maker, Steve? thanks Lawrence —
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Aug 14, 2020 16:50:27 GMT 12
Looks like a Grundig 98a... I don't know the model, but Grundig are a big European brand.
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Post by Radiotech on Feb 4, 2021 21:01:12 GMT 12
Full-time commercial FM started here in 1983 - with the advent of 91 FM and 89 Stereo FM. There were some experimental stations broadcasting on FM prior to this, but they only broadcast to limited areas and for a few hours each day. As far as I know there were no tube-based receivers made here which incorporated FM.
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