Post pictures of your beeb setup

[Zarchos]

[richardtoohey]

@Zarchos Tsk, tsk there's very clearly a space on top of the bookshelf in the right of the picture. Wasted space!

[tricky]

I recently started to the broken token podcasts and in one of the early podcasts, they had a discussion of what was retro.
My conclusion was anything that reminds you of "the good old days", not the TV programme
If something gives you a good feeling to have around, it can't be all bad, but you should probably try to decide if it gives you a good feeling, or if you just bought it hoping that it would.
Says the man with 27 beebs, 300+ board games and over 1000 roleplay books and adventures!

[Commie_User]

Though with equipment, I think there's a divider between 'retro' and 'old'. A lot of it is subjective.

But I'd call it retro if something has a specific charm or magic, yet plain obsolete if something is just a pale forerunner of a new improved item. Take keyboards. There are plenty of old General MIDI keyboards with weak piano sounds and such, yet retro keyboards are collectables because they have a generation of timeless sound all their own. Like a woodgrain-finish Korg or Roland.

[KarateEd]

Ok, update on how I'm set up now.....

Ed......

This Beeb has an internal DC which is my main mode of operation,
a working diskette drive,
WE ROM/RAM with tons of stuff on it,
the joysticks you can see.

[myelin]

Not a setup as such, but my wife is a photographer, and I've been playing with a still life setup of hers, to take some shots of some of my hardware...

Electron:

BBC:

[roland]

I have now an extended desktop for my Atom. Both physically and logically

[Garrettimus]

My Electron (I also have a Plus 3 unit that's not in the photo obviously).

PS.: the TV set was a gift I received from the UK!

[martinw]

New shelf up, I just hope it stays attached to the wall!

Free'd up space for some of my other stuff now

Martin

[roland]

Is that radio still working?

[martinw]

Unfortunately not, this one with transistors in it from 1958 is though ...

This capacitor let out a lot of wax when I managed to turn it on (it's full of valves).

Once I've swapped out the capacitors in it, I'm hoping it eventually will though (it dates from about 1954).

Martin

[Elminster]

Much to tidy and organised I have a tiny corner in my house. All my wife allows me. Have to remember to take a pic you.

[1024MAK]

This capacitor let out a lot of wax when I managed to turn it on (it's full of valves).

My oh my, where did they make tubes small enough to fit in that capacitor?

Mark

[martinw]

[martinw]

Much to tidy and organised I have a tiny corner in my house. All my wife allows me. Have to remember to take a pic you.

[Deleted User 9295]

My oh my, where did they make tubes small enough to fit in that capacitor?

You may think you are joking, but they certainly did make 'tubes' (valves) small enough to fit in that capacitor. I had a wire-ended hearing-aid valve (tetrode, probably) that I encapsulated with a few other components to make an audio oscillator, and used to challenge people to guess what the active device was! Sadly I can't now find it otherwise I would have attached a photo, but it was similar to this.

[flaxcottage]

@martinw

Someone else who collects valves.

[martinw]

My oh my, where did they make tubes small enough to fit in that capacitor?

You may think you are joking, but they certainly did make 'tubes' (valves) small enough to fit in that capacitor. I had a wire-ended hearing-aid valve (tetrode, probably) that I encapsulated with a few other components to make an audio oscillator, and used to challenge people to guess what the active device was! Sadly I can't now find it otherwise I would have attached a photo, but it was similar to this.

That's pretty interesting Richard, I know that quite a few of the early transistors too went into hearing aids.

[martinw]

@martinw

Someone else who collects valves.

[Garrettimus]

New shelf up, I just hope it stays attached to the wall!

Martin

Very very nice, congratulations!

[martinw]

New shelf up, I just hope it stays attached to the wall!

Martin

Very very nice, congratulations!

Cheers Garrettimus, how's your setup looking these days, you must have filled the room you were in the last time I saw it twice over by now!

[martinw]

This capacitor let out a lot of wax when I managed to turn it on (it's full of valves).

My oh my, where did they make tubes small enough to fit in that capacitor?

Mark

These are the valves in the Ultra Troubadour radio BTW.

And the real early transistors in the Roberts RT1.

Martin

[1024MAK]

Yes I did know that they used to make small valves. But until I saw that picture, I don't think I had seen one apart from one time in a picture. And it is a little bit smaller than I remember...
By the time I was born, let alone when I became interested in electronics, the age of the valve/tube had (apart from CRT TVs) mainly passed by.

I don't think I would leave Pro-cell cells in a modern item, let alone in a vintage radio. Duracells have a nasty habit of leaking. Emergency torches, remote controls, test gear, you name it, they've leaked in it . And the Duracells PP3 batteries, although they don't leak too much, the cell link wires come adrift, making the battery useless long before it has supplied anywhere near it's capacity. Just look at the bottom. If there is any sign of any distortion, it's about to die...

Sorry about the off-topic rant

Mark

[martinw]

Yes I did know that they used to make small valves. But until I saw that picture, I don't think I had seen one apart from one time in a picture. And it is a little bit smaller than I remember...
By the time I was born, let alone when I became interested in electronics, the age of the valve/tube had (apart from CRT TVs) mainly passed by.

I don't think I would leave Pro-cell cells in a modern item, let alone in a vintage radio. Duracells have a nasty habit of leaking. Emergency torches, remote controls, test gear, you name it, they've leaked in it . And the Duracells PP3 batteries, although they don't leak too much, the cell link wires come adrift, making the battery useless long before it has supplied anywhere near it's capacity. Just look at the bottom. If there is any sign of any distortion, it's about to die...

Sorry about the off-topic rant

Mark

Hi Mark, thank you for the heads up, I'll swap them out immediately; any recommendations on decent batteries?

[flaxcottage]

That valve radio brings back memories. I repaired and recycled loads of those back in the day.

What is the valve line up, UCH42, UF42, UBC41, UL41 and UY41? If any break I may have spares.

[martinw]

That valve radio brings back memories. I repaired and recycled loads of those back in the day.

What is the valve line up, UCH42, UF42, UBC41, UL41 and UY41? If any break I may have spares.

That's good to know John, yes you are correct

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/ultra_trou ... u_796.html

Martin

[martinw]

Out of interest how do you get the valves out, I didn't want to prise them and break them?

[1024MAK]

In terms of big brand names from the high street (and of course elsewhere), Energizer seem better.

I have used GP AA and AAA sizes without problems. I buy the large packs from Rapid (link).

So far, both these brands appear (at least to me) to have less problems with leakage.

I have a feeling that Duracell go for the maximum capacity at the expense of the amount of material that will be left when the cell becomes expired. The metal that makes up the case is also the very same material that is "consumed" by the chemical reaction.

For PP3's in smoke alarms, I'm currently trying lithium based batteries. But one I received had leaked before it got to me. So always test new cells and batteries (yes, I got a replacement). At work, I am currently trying the nx brand. But it's too early for any meaningful results. And they are not as easy to buy.

nx PP3 battery

Don't get me wrong, if abused, many Alkaline cells will leak. But IMHO Duracell are worse than you would expect for such a big brand.

Mark

[martinw]

The pink bunny it is then ...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pJAjb2GYHIM

... cheers Mark

[Elminster]

Like Mark I rate energiser better than Duracell. I think the last which? Survey did as well. Recharable duracell are even worse. Don't hold charge at all.