| Korting Dynamic 1030 (mine is a 1031) tube radio receiver. Actually the radio is not mine at all! It belongs to a lady here in town. She may be interested in selling it. This one is currently on my bench. I checked the tubes and replaced one. Since the owner had it turned on prior to me working on it recently, I did not use the variac to bring the AC line voltage to the unit up slowly. It now works and is a real nice sounding receiver. |
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| August 2011-- working on 2 vintage tube receivers/phonograph units. One receiver is a Korting 1031 (very similar to the 1030 model) and the other radio I am working on is a NORMANDE Sterling High Fidelity turn table with AM/FM Short wave receiver. The Normande receiver is a similar type of circuit and size to the Korting unit. |
| This one is in pretty nice shape. It works very well. I have not re-capped it (yet) nor have I done much cleaning of contacts or dust ect. I tested the tubes and replaced one tube and it works fine just like this. I am going to vacuum up the dust and speak to the owner here in Elliot Lake about the recapping. Re capping is a common step in restoring these old receivers. This one has two tuning eyes and they both work. One tuning eye works for signal strength and the other has some other purpose. I am going to try and get a manual and schematic. The tube layout is on the back panel of the radio. The same owner has given me a Normande Sterling High Fi 2/616 model nr radio to work on. I have a schematic and parts layout sheet for this radio. It is very similar in layout to this Korting receiver. Both radios have AM (Broadcast Band), FM, Short Wave (6 to 19 mhz for the Korting) and the Korting has Long Wave band as well from 150 khz up to around 400 khz. One button is missing from the Korting and I will be trying to find a replacement somewhere. |
| A view of the back and bottom of the Korting receiver. There is a handy bottom access panel which allows one to get access to the bottom chasis. Handy for cleaning and circuit inspection. Note the dust on the top of the access panel. There was dust inside the chasis as well! Inside the chasis there is a type of circuit board and point to point wiring as well. Everything is in pretty good condition. When I took my small shop vac and vacuumed the radio..it actually looks real good. Plays well too! Great Sound! The old paper capacitors should be replaced ..maybe in a year or two or so but for now..I am going with "if it ain't broke don't fix it"!!! |
| Below are thumbnail photos. You can click on them to expand as necessary and then hit escape button or back button on your browser. |
| Above: pictures of the wiring and components on the underside of the chasis. The paper capacitors should be replaced. They are generally replaced in many restoration projects of older vintage tube radios. Paper capacitors are sometimes coated with wax. These ones were not. The resistors are generally left alone unless there is some damage. Old carbon resistors may absorb some moisture and change a bit with time as well..but generally they are left in the radio. Its a good idea to let your radio operate and play music or something at least once a month or so. Capacitors tend to dry out with lack of use. |
| The photo on the left is a close up and not all that clear..but it shows some contacts that have oxide on them. This is from the Normande Receiver. I have electrical contact cleaner spray to use to remove oxides. It is particularly important on the contact points themselves. In this case..I may wetten a piece of paper with contact cleaner and swipe the contacts to clean them and then wetten a q tip or two to scrub off the oxidized parts for appearance sake. I wont spray the contact cleaner on parts ..unless I have to. Contact cleaners do tend to react with plastics and it is a good idea to use them in a "minimalist" manner. Good for the environment and your pocket book as well. |
| Hammarlund HQ-180AC page(s) with pictures -- I am starting this article and will write more in the fall and winter when I start "serious" ham radio and shortwave listening! Winter is about 6 months long with snow and that is the time I do more bench work and ham operating. HERE IS THE ARTICLE as it stands now...Sept3-2011 Hammarlund HQ 180 PAGE(S) LINK HERE |
| This radio has many switches as you can see. Many switches have many buttons. Buttons and knobs and rubber feet..often go missing!! This radio is better than most. It has only the one switch button missing. Switches are made up of electrical contacts and electrical contacts get oxidized. A radio like this one from either the very late 50s or early 60s might get by without changing any capacitors...maybe for even up to 10 years or so..but the contacts should be cleaned if they are easily accessible. |
| Here I am with Q tip in hand. This radio is nice to listen to. Good rich sound and it is easy to work on as well. Large open spaces, plug in tubes. I had to replace the fuse connector..seen to the left just above the transformer. The old fuse holder did not work and I decided to put in a more common fuse type at the same time and I will give the radio owner some spare 1 amp fuses that I have around. I replaced one of the burned out 6.3 vac incandescent lamps (dial lamps). It was a screw in variety and I just happened to have a few on hand. It helps to have a large junkbox full of parts when working on this old stuff. My wife likes going to garage sales and I when I go along ..I buy drawers with parts such as fuses, knobs, little bulbs. It all comes in handy when replacing parts in old radios. I dont get into alignments because I dont have instructions and the owner just wants the radio up and running again. It sounds real nice and has LONG WAVE band as well. Nothing much on Long Wave however..Just some airport transmissions but one could put up a long wire antenna or loaded vertical to listen for other types of signals. Some experimenters operate LONG WAVE and MID wave..just punch the words LOW FER or MID FER into a search engine and you will come up with a surprising number of experimental stations. Some are now operating around 500 khz..just below the broadcast band. |
| I use pure alcohol from the drug store..99 percent proof. Dont drink any though!!! I think you would not only have a nasty hangover but you might die from that stuff. One lady behind the pharmacy was very reluctant to give me a bottle. I guess she thought I was some sort of wino or something. Anyways..I use pure alcohol and q tips or paper towel wad on a stick to swab out dust and look over the circuitry. One fellow I have spoken to about vintage restorations says to use "spray 9" to clean the chasis. I didn't think of that at this time. Its probably cheaper than pure alcohol. |
| Two classic sound movies showing the Korting 1030/1031 receiver listening to the broadcast band at night. The glow of the dial and the tubes and the old songs with fading ect..real night time magic! Reminds me of the late 60s before I got my ham ticket. I would listen to 75 meter AM operators such as W3CIC and Watertowns little radio. Also WBZ Boston, WCAU Philadelphia and WABC in NYC. Below is a link to some AM radio station audio and video of this Korting 1031 in action. These two files may take a LONG TIME..TO LOAD UP..its not as NEARLY as fast as you tube. These clips are less than a minute long .LINK CLICK HERE |
| Below a link to 2 movie clips of the Korting 1031 receiver listening to signals on the Broadcast Band at night. Map shows one station location with reference to my location. |
Here I am looking over the Normande Sterling 2/616 receiver. It is
part of a HI Fi system with record changer.
The transformer has a shorted winding and I will have to take
detailed pictures and make a real good sketch of the wiring before I
take it out.
First though, I will disconnect the primary and measure its
resistance. I suspect a shorted primary because the fuse really
blackens just like a dead short.
Then I will check the secondaries of the power transformer. Unlike
the Korting 1031..this time I have a schematic diagram and a wiring
diagram. The wiring diagram shows the Mains transformer with
an 870 turn secondary ..rougly delivering 220 volts or a bit more.
Other secondary is for 6.3 ac.
A person could rewind the transformer and I have done this before
(with smaller transformers) but I will likely seek out a suitable
replacement transformer..if I can find one. Another option..if the
owner does not want to spend that much time and money on the
radio..I may buy it from her and then part it out to others who need
spare parts. -- or another option..might be to build a nice cabinet
out of wood or perhaps find a junked radio with a good cabinet and
build a stand alone radio and then perform a (WORK AROUND
SOLUTION). Leave the old broken transformer in place and just cut
the wires off then remotely in the new wood cabinet wire in a
second active power transformer to do the job.
part of a HI Fi system with record changer.
The transformer has a shorted winding and I will have to take
detailed pictures and make a real good sketch of the wiring before I
take it out.
First though, I will disconnect the primary and measure its
resistance. I suspect a shorted primary because the fuse really
blackens just like a dead short.
Then I will check the secondaries of the power transformer. Unlike
the Korting 1031..this time I have a schematic diagram and a wiring
diagram. The wiring diagram shows the Mains transformer with
an 870 turn secondary ..rougly delivering 220 volts or a bit more.
Other secondary is for 6.3 ac.
A person could rewind the transformer and I have done this before
(with smaller transformers) but I will likely seek out a suitable
replacement transformer..if I can find one. Another option..if the
owner does not want to spend that much time and money on the
radio..I may buy it from her and then part it out to others who need
spare parts. -- or another option..might be to build a nice cabinet
out of wood or perhaps find a junked radio with a good cabinet and
build a stand alone radio and then perform a (WORK AROUND
SOLUTION). Leave the old broken transformer in place and just cut
the wires off then remotely in the new wood cabinet wire in a
second active power transformer to do the job.
If I end up putting the receiver in a new cabinet and doing the work
around solution idea..I will be recapping the receiver. Might as well go
the extra yard.
Paper capacitors like the ones in this picture will be replaced by newer
modern poly capacitors..likely orange drop capacitors.
I buy these from just radios in Toronto Ontario. I do carry some in my
own stock as I usually buy the large bargain packs and varieties.
IF YOU ARE RESTORING AN OLD RADIO AND NEED A FEW PARTS..I SELL
SMALL HANDFUL OF PARTS AND I SHIP THEM OUT IN AN ENVELOPE FOR
$1.41 POSTAGE IN CANADA. A bit more for overseas and USA. I make a
few extra dollars from selling parts and it all goes back into radio hobby
and electronics supplies. I spend more than I MAKE by a long shot!!!
I just recently bought a MINT CONDITION HAMMARLUND HQ 180AC.
That purchase and other purchases of gear I do..often outstrips any tiny
profits I make selling parts.
SO I MUST CLASSIFY THIS ACTIVITY as either a small one man shop
(Cottage Industry) that constantly is in the RED (loses money) or an
enjoyable hobby for my early retirement years. One that keeps the mind
sharp and active and has spin off activities such as my web pages and
the DOMAIN NAMES I HAVE: NAMELY..www.earlandrews.com
www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com and www.sparetime.biz.
I might be interested in selling the Domain Name sparetime.biz..
contact me: ve3ab@rac.ca if you happen to be interested.
around solution idea..I will be recapping the receiver. Might as well go
the extra yard.
Paper capacitors like the ones in this picture will be replaced by newer
modern poly capacitors..likely orange drop capacitors.
I buy these from just radios in Toronto Ontario. I do carry some in my
own stock as I usually buy the large bargain packs and varieties.
IF YOU ARE RESTORING AN OLD RADIO AND NEED A FEW PARTS..I SELL
SMALL HANDFUL OF PARTS AND I SHIP THEM OUT IN AN ENVELOPE FOR
$1.41 POSTAGE IN CANADA. A bit more for overseas and USA. I make a
few extra dollars from selling parts and it all goes back into radio hobby
and electronics supplies. I spend more than I MAKE by a long shot!!!
I just recently bought a MINT CONDITION HAMMARLUND HQ 180AC.
That purchase and other purchases of gear I do..often outstrips any tiny
profits I make selling parts.
SO I MUST CLASSIFY THIS ACTIVITY as either a small one man shop
(Cottage Industry) that constantly is in the RED (loses money) or an
enjoyable hobby for my early retirement years. One that keeps the mind
sharp and active and has spin off activities such as my web pages and
the DOMAIN NAMES I HAVE: NAMELY..www.earlandrews.com
www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com and www.sparetime.biz.
I might be interested in selling the Domain Name sparetime.biz..
contact me: ve3ab@rac.ca if you happen to be interested.
There is more to come in this
series of Vintage Repairs,
restorations, and Vintage
sounds.
Let me know if the videos are
good or not. Can you down
load and run them. They do
take time with my older
computer (HP year 2005 and
Im still using windows xp.
series of Vintage Repairs,
restorations, and Vintage
sounds.
Let me know if the videos are
good or not. Can you down
load and run them. They do
take time with my older
computer (HP year 2005 and
Im still using windows xp.
73 earl ve3ab
NOTE: navigation links below
NOTE: navigation links below
home page www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com
click here.
click here.
AN OLDER 1930s radio Sears Silvertone
restoration..click here
restoration..click here
MORE links and pictures and discussions
are being written now..including
The Galaxy R530 General Coverage
Receiver..This one is in my collection and as
well the new to me..Hammarlund HQ-180AC.
I could not pass this one up. I just had to
purchase it. The owner kept it looking just
like new. NO SCRATCHES and the paint job
looks almost like the day it was built.!!
Stay tuned for more boatanchor stuff in the
very near future.
73 Earl Andrews VE3AB chief cook and bottle
washer for
www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com
are being written now..including
The Galaxy R530 General Coverage
Receiver..This one is in my collection and as
well the new to me..Hammarlund HQ-180AC.
I could not pass this one up. I just had to
purchase it. The owner kept it looking just
like new. NO SCRATCHES and the paint job
looks almost like the day it was built.!!
Stay tuned for more boatanchor stuff in the
very near future.
73 Earl Andrews VE3AB chief cook and bottle
washer for
www.hamelectronicsmagazine.com
Above..thumbnail picture (click on it to expand). One
of the Broadcast Stations I was listening to was
broadcasting live from Miller Park. I looked it up and
Miller Pk is in the Millwalkie Wisconsin area. About a
300 mile path. The signal travelled over the state of
Michigan and over 2 of the Great Lakes to get to me.
Actually..listening to long distance Broadcast Band
signals is interesting at night. See the movie link to
hear the signals I was receiving.
Note that the Wisconsin Signal became stronger
than the music station as the movie clip went on.
This is a common condition. Signals often fade or
even flutter as ionospheric condtions change and
the skip zones change.
of the Broadcast Stations I was listening to was
broadcasting live from Miller Park. I looked it up and
Miller Pk is in the Millwalkie Wisconsin area. About a
300 mile path. The signal travelled over the state of
Michigan and over 2 of the Great Lakes to get to me.
Actually..listening to long distance Broadcast Band
signals is interesting at night. See the movie link to
hear the signals I was receiving.
Note that the Wisconsin Signal became stronger
than the music station as the movie clip went on.
This is a common condition. Signals often fade or
even flutter as ionospheric condtions change and
the skip zones change.
HQ 180 (Hammarlund General
Coverage Receiver) CLICK HERE
Coverage Receiver) CLICK HERE
| KORTING 1031 (SIMILAR TO MODEL 1030) This one is for sale by the owner. I (Earl VE3AB) can act as sales agent ..email me ve3ab@rac.ca -- price and terms negotiable. I would "guess" that the owner might sell for about $275 or so. But I will let you speak to her and negotiate the deal. I can answer any technical questions as I have worked on the radio. It is now in her possession in Elliot Lake Ontario. Possible deliver to Ottawa from Elliot Lake. |