Featured
Latest
Rees Mace radio
 
Share:
Notifications
Clear all

Forum 141

Rees Mace radio

14 Posts
6 Users
0 Likes
2,218 Views
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

Taking a break from the Ferranti, I decided to have a look at the rather nice Rees Mace radio I bought from Mike's (Crackle) last meet-up. It actually uses the Pye 445U circuit. Mike had previously restored it some time ago so it turned out there wasn't much to do. The set basically worked but seemed somewhat insensitive. There were some capacitors that hadn't been changed, one was a screen-grid decoupler for the mixer/IF stage. It was a metal clad cap but I've found that these are seldom better than the paper type. The bridge confirmed it was quite lossy so I changed it along with a couple of others around the volume control. Another test showed a slight improvement but it still seemed insensitive. It worked on all wavebands but only louder signals came through which made me suspicious of the I.F amp. Fitting a new UF41 made a vast improvement and it showed good sensitivity over all wavebands. I quickly checked the other valves as well but there were no further improvements so the originals went back.

One test I usually make is the reception of Gold......this set won't tune down to it (194 metres) so I suspect the oscillator needs a tweak. The only problem is that all the RF adjusting cores appear to be stuck fast so I'll need to try and sort that out before I start alignment.

I noticed that one pilot lamp was dimmer than the other. Both of these are rated at 6.3V with the rather low current of 40mA. One lamp was correct, the other was 6V 60mA. I don't think 6V 40mA bulbs are available anywhere. However I remember seeing one in my box of odd bulbs...no idea where it came from and it's been in the box for many years hoping it would 'come in handy one day'! Well that day had now arrived so it was fitted in place of the 60mA bulb. Now both lamps were the same brightness....a silly thing perhaps but it may as well be correct if the right lamp is available and it's made use of a bulb that's probably been in the spares box for well over 20 years.

Some photos so far.

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 12:33 am
Anonymous
(@anonymous)
Posts: 16832
Group Deactivated Account
 

Hi Rich
Its nice to know this radio is now working better. This was one of the first radios that I bought after my recent revival of interest in radios, and well before I decided to specialise in my collecting habits.
The dropper resistors originally had what I call "woolly" asbestos as top and bottom washers. I removed them from the radio, first coating the asbestos with PVA, then cut off the washers under water and replaced washers made from with pond liner, after first testing the rubber with a hot soldering iron for a few minutes. It was later that I discovered that pond liner is not a good electrical insulator, but I dont suppose it matters in this instance.
I cant remember much more about my attempt at restoration, except that I stripped the tired looking cabinet and re-varnished it.
I loved the colourful multi-band dial, and it originally attracted my interest because of the Trawler band. I have fond memories of, in the distant past, listening to fishermen chatting to their loved ones ashore, and listing to the local amateurs chat on Top band.

Mike

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 9:27 am
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

Well if it was one of the first you restored then you did a pretty good job! There's not much more to do. If I can free the cores of the RF coils, it should be easy to tweak up the alignment. I noticed that one of the SW bands appears dead apart from low-level noise that's not tuneable. It may suggest that the oscillator is not operating on that particular band. Other than that, it's back in the cabinet and enjoy it.

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 2:05 pm
Terrykc
(@terrykc)
Posts: 4005
Member Rest in Peace
 

 I don't think 6V 40mA bulbs are available anywhere. 

They used to be used for cycle rear lights when dynamos were popular so an old fashioned cycle shop might still have a dusty box lurking on a shelf.

We used to have one not far away but it closed down just before Christmas ...

An alternative place to look is on the continent. Although LEDs rule the roost there too, I've certainly encountered dynamos in the last couple of years* - and not just in Halfords, either. Supermarkets, particularly the big ones, have cycle accessory departments as do some High Street shops like Hema in Belgium and the Netherlands so, the next time you pop across the channel you might find some!

* At prices around €5, so ~£3.50 with the current strong pound!

When all else fails, read the instructions

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 7:44 pm
Cathovisor
(@cathovisor)
Posts: 6390
Famed Member Registered
 

There's an old-fashioned cycle shop in town, and I do indeed need just such bulbs for my vintage bicycle.

How many do you need?

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 9:44 pm
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

They used to be used for cycle rear lights when dynamos were popular

I never thought of dynamo bulbs. That might explain why it has a magnifying pip on the main bulb...not that it affects its current application.

Tonight I had another look at the overall alignment and decided that it wasn't worth doing anything further. It has nine wavebands one of which is the Trawler Band. MW is calibrated from about 550m to 200m. The Trawler Band is from 200m to around 70m so it covers the top end of MW and sure enough, there is Gold sitting just above the 190m mark. I'm happy with that. The Trawler Band scale is actually marked with BBC Third right at the top so it seems that the radio has been intentionally designed this way.

So tonight I just reassembled the set and spent half an hour checking through the various wavebands. I have to say that most of the SW bands are a little disappointing now. There is so much QRM (man-made noise) that it renders most of the bands completely useless. However MW and LW perform very well and the sound quality of this set is excellent. Basically it looks good and sounds good!

 
Posted : 31/12/2015 11:22 pm
Anonymous
(@anonymous)
Posts: 16832
Group Deactivated Account
 

Rich
You can get almost anything on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-MES-Minita ... 0s3fLwWbiw

Mike

 
Posted : 01/01/2016 8:38 am
Till Eulenspiegel
(@till)
Posts: 4947
Famed Member Registered
 

Now that's very interesting to learn that the Ree-Mace brand name was used on a set made by Pye.
In the 1920s Ree-Mace was a very upmarket brand. I have a Rees-Mace "Cameo" battery radio which was made either just before or just after WWII. The valves are the Mazda octal 2 volt series, TP25 etc.
We know that RM Electric which is I assume is the Rees-Mace firm manufactured radios and later television sets under the Strad brand in Gateshead. Good well made products made in Geordieland.

Till Eulenspiegel.

 
Posted : 02/01/2016 9:32 pm
DavidParfitt
(@davidparfitt)
Posts: 4
New Member Registered
 

Hi sideband

I've been offered one of these RM 215 radios, but the band selector knob on the far right is unfortunately missing. I was wondering whether you could tell me what is written on this particular knob on your radio, and the diameter of it, so that I could look out for a suitable replacement? Seems to be the same design as on several Pye radios, but the text on the knobs may differ.

Many thanks

David

 
Posted : 31/05/2020 1:44 pm
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

@davidparfitt

Hi David.

I will see if I can get a reasonable picture. As is happens, the radio is on the bench at the moment for routine maintenance. Its probably the same knob as used on the Pye 445U since it's the same set in all but name.

 
Posted : 31/05/2020 4:51 pm
DavidParfitt
(@davidparfitt)
Posts: 4
New Member Registered
 

That's very kind of you, thanks.

 
Posted : 03/06/2020 8:53 pm
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

Actually, the knob is the same as all the others except it has 'wavechange' engraved on it.

 
Posted : 03/06/2020 9:00 pm
DavidParfitt
(@davidparfitt)
Posts: 4
New Member Registered
 

Excellent, thanks. Do you know the diameter by any chance, so that I can post a wanted request in various places?

 
Posted : 03/06/2020 9:05 pm
sideband
(@sideband)
Posts: 4215
Famed Member Moderator
Topic starter
 

I'll have to measure it when I am next in the workshop. I'll also have a look in my box of knobs...I scrapped a Pye ages ago and may still have the knobs.

 
Posted : 03/06/2020 9:26 pm
Share: