PYE "FENMAN" Mk II. This large AC Mains valve receiver, must have been the ultimate in radio entertainment in 1955. It had two bass speakers, and two high frequency speakers. It also had an elaborate bass-cut tone control, a "magic-eye" tuning indicator valve. Needless to say, it had quite a sound output. It was a modification to the earlier "FENMAN" model, which was not so elaborate. The main fallback on both sets, is that the control knobs were difficult to remove. These were made of cheap plastic, and were prone to break, even when the slightest force was imposed on them ! The knob springs used to tighten-up on the plastic (with age), and this did not help matters either ! I
managed to repair the ones on my receiver, and after the set was repaired, I coated some industrial grease on the control shafts to ease the strain on the plastic knobs, should they need to be removed again ! Note the chassis is full of "HUNTS MOULDSEAL" capacitors -these need to be replaced !
Valve line-up : EF80, ECF80, ECH81, EF85, EF80, EBC41, EABC80, EL84 (X2), EZ80, & EM80.