The Steam Radio

Hello Steampunkers, dear friends

This time I explain you how to build in some easy steps a unique Steampunk Radio with a glowing "Vacuum Tube" on the top.
All the parts I used, exept the broken radio, are from the junk yard. The broken radio I bought from a friend for 1 buck. It was demounted and the idea was to use the vacuum tubes for some other projects. He told me there is no way to fix it...:-) The positive fact of this radio was the "line-in" jack - so it's possible now to connect a MP3 player or a mobile phone.
To keep the antique look of this Steampunk creation I decided not to repaint or to polish something.

Step 1: The Philips BCH 420A from 1952

After I got the demounted radio for 1 buck I went to my small Steampunk Lab to take out the tubes and other useful parts. But I was too curious - I wanted to know if this radio is really broken. So I plugged it in and switched it on... The "Philips BCH 420 A" hum very loud even before the vacuum tubes warmed up. A clear sign that the filter capacitor is over the edge and broken. I found an old one in my storage and replaced the part.
Yesss....the radio was running!!!!
So I cleaned out all the dust from the last 60 years and with the help of some "contact spray" even the switches and the potentiometers became like new.

Comments

[alekseipyatak]

Эх, такой приёмничек испортил

[pastanaut]

I like the water damage on the front. It adds subtly to the idea that there are working inside which are powered by steam.

[wobbler]

You refer to 1uF capacitors, but the picture looks like a 0.1uF capacitor. Can you confirm the correct value? Thanks.

[thechocolatist]

Hi. the correct value is 1uF, the picture should only give a sample how this capacitors are looking like. I will change the picture. Thank you for your comment.

[Winged Fist]

Wow! You never cease to amaze Mr. Chocolatist! You got my vote for both competitions, even though I plan to enter both contests, you surely deserve to win;-)