04-21-2019, 08:44 PM
Life!
Last checks of wiring and I found some speakers to make sure there was a load on the output. I turned on quickly and checked the HT and bias supplies before the valves warmed up. All looked as expected - a bit high before the heaters warmed up. Since the chassis was upside-down and resting on the power transformer, there was a little bit of buzz from within. Power on again and left on. All the valves were lit up, and with the selector set to the Aux input with a phono lead connected ready for the finger test, I advanced the volume a little and was pleased to hear some hiss and hum from the speakers.
Switching to FM (no antenna) brought the hoped-for white noise, but not unexpectedly, there were no stations. Placing a test lead on the antenna input fixed that, and stations came in, weakly, across the dial. I'll try a better ribbon antenna soon. The transformer buzz seemed to change slightly as I switched between FM and tape inputs, but was also very sensitive to how the unit was positioned on the wooden blocks used to support it.
Bias on the output valves measured -17.5v, and the all seemed to be behaving properly, no signs of gross overheating. I doubt they are matched as 3 are branded RCA and just one, presumably original, as Fisher.
More evaluation, and some pictures to follow soon, but that is step one reached with success. A nice little Easter Egg
Last checks of wiring and I found some speakers to make sure there was a load on the output. I turned on quickly and checked the HT and bias supplies before the valves warmed up. All looked as expected - a bit high before the heaters warmed up. Since the chassis was upside-down and resting on the power transformer, there was a little bit of buzz from within. Power on again and left on. All the valves were lit up, and with the selector set to the Aux input with a phono lead connected ready for the finger test, I advanced the volume a little and was pleased to hear some hiss and hum from the speakers.
Switching to FM (no antenna) brought the hoped-for white noise, but not unexpectedly, there were no stations. Placing a test lead on the antenna input fixed that, and stations came in, weakly, across the dial. I'll try a better ribbon antenna soon. The transformer buzz seemed to change slightly as I switched between FM and tape inputs, but was also very sensitive to how the unit was positioned on the wooden blocks used to support it.
Bias on the output valves measured -17.5v, and the all seemed to be behaving properly, no signs of gross overheating. I doubt they are matched as 3 are branded RCA and just one, presumably original, as Fisher.
More evaluation, and some pictures to follow soon, but that is step one reached with success. A nice little Easter Egg
I don't hold with furniture that talks.
