Bush VHF61

BUSH VHF61. This popular a.c mains valve radio was introduced in 1956, and employs long, medium & v.h.f bands.
The valve line-up includes :- ECC85, ECH81, EF89, EF89, EABC80, EL84, EZ80, & EM81.
The set employs push-button switching for wavebands, and on/off functions. I bought this set at Birmingham N.E.C this year to replace my other VHF61, as the cabinet on my specimen was in a bad state, so I swapped chassis & cabinets. I now have a spare chassis for sale (works ok on vhf only), if anyone is interested for spare parts? I recommend changing the Hunts
moulded capacitors on these radios, and the three wax-paper capacitors in the audio stages. My radio required a complete change of valves, especially the two valves (EF89) in the i.f circuitry. The EABC80 required replacing, as the two internal f.m demodulator diodes were faulty. The EL84 valve heater was lit up like "christmas tree lights"! The 470k ohm resistor in the EM81 "magic-eye" valve circuitry was the only resistor in the set to need replacing. After replacing and securing the chassis to
the cabinet with the six screws, the replacement of the EM81 tube can be a bit of a trick for beginners, due to a very small area in which to work in. First, loosen the wire clamp to the left of the speaker, this gives a bit of leeway to installing the valve.
Place valve in socket (correct way round, of course, so display area of valve is flat to the front of the set), lift spring gently over the top of the valve, and push the valve up from the bottom of the valve base - this then secures in a slot in the wooden baffle. Then tighten up the 4BA nut holding the cable clamp to the left of the speaker. Now you can switch on, and view the really nice display of the "magic eye" valve Be careful not to damage the ferrite aerial rod, whilst chassis is out of cabinet (easily done!). If you do break these, they can not be glued together - with any adhesive, as the surfaces are slippery! When in the cabinet, this device is secured on to metal holders by rubber grommets. Other sets from this time have the ferrite aerial assembly fixed to a gantry on the chassis, so no need to remove them .