1942 Ducati Radiogram Repair (Part 1)

I think this device is before 1942 (probably 1938) because during the WW2 le production was converted in military radio device and in 1943 the factory of the neiborough of Borgo Panigale was bombed by american B17.

WOW almost Marconi-old. Died: July 20, 1937

I have never seen a soldering iron like the one you use. What make is it? Cheers Ian

Why did a wartime Italian radio use American series valves? Was this before the sanctions were imposed? These tubes all had European octal E (6.3 volt) equivalents.

the weird capacitor is a "tickler" coil....

Nothing like a rumble of a big V twin lol.

Swinging Shepherd Blues !

If it were me I'd have a cabinet craftsmen refinish the cabinet and then put a new expensive turntable in it as part of my home audio setup.

The days before circuit boards and even ceramic strips - scary stuff.

The twisted wires are called a gimmic.

Hello sir I am from India and want to talk to you meet to you but how its possible

Can you print a PCB board for old radios like that?

Insulation tape was around in the 1940's but it was made of cloth. Developed from the mid 1920's

Hello salom

Please where are you from ?

it survived ww2😮

Thank you for posting 👍👍

Tracking weight 3lbs 4oz

I believe the old-timers called those wound capacitors 'gimmicks'.

Clearly turret board wasn't a thing back then. What a rat's nest!

Wow gorgeous radio! Cool mod.

solder as glue...eeek

Ducati radiogram that,s very rare !!

😮 wuao funciona

Insulation tape there was in the 40s and even long before them, but it was textile, not PVC.

You are on GOD level 🙏

I bet you learned your skills in the Royal Navy..? Not many know about thrapping.

Mark you dld well to fix this birds nest and sort out this mess nice piece of furniture

Super !!!

What I dont understand is if you have the schematic why not rip it all out and put it back nice and proper with all the caps and wires replaced or updated so it looks nice and proper. Unless it is to preserve the way it was originally wired? I would think all the wires and things need to come out...

I can't believe you don't make a mechanical connection

you are a genius what a mess ?

Yeah, the twisted wire cap is called a "gimmick capacitor".

The I.F. transformer is a classic "Optimum Coupled, Double Tuned" transformer. It is tuned by means of the two slugs and the fixed caps, so that gimmick cap is entirely redundant. You should have deleted it (although maybe the slug was broken, so the previous Tech couldn't adjust it).

However the little "coil of wire" caps were very commonly used as trimmers and are original..

You said something wrong in the beginning.Normally top cap of HF tubes like 6A8G is the grid. in this case for HF/Mixer. A critical cap is in the audio section is C2 if it leak bring the output tube 6V6G to go with to high current bring the output transformer to burn. It is not so easy when somebody before you tryed to fix things in this old radios without knowledge.
Sorry for my bad english (I am a Swedish ) I like your you tube channel . Keep going with the good work!!

Do you have a battletrak video?

Via passo subito alla part 2 ❤

Who needs a PCB when you can just wire-solder everything like a cheap electric guitar :D

Ahh Bluetooth, little AM transmitter would be better and more fun!

Anode…I think that’s the grid…Nevermind, anode appears right.

Twisted wire with end cut off = gimmick capacitor…usually a few puffs

One of my first jobs was to work on jukeboxes replacing 15 inch speakers with the new permanent magnet ones.
I remember this so well because speakers weigh nothing compared to jukeboxes after the second pickup to replace the speaker at the shop I took one of the old speakers made a template out of 3/4 inch plywood to back set the speaker to allow for incursion with the new ones. This allowed us to stock,repair,replace bulbs in one trip each day doing at least 3 calls per day in one round trip. Wynford sound Scarborough Ontario gave me a bonus and started a creative incentive policy.

nice to see vintage getting some love. As an 80 baby im very curious for these old components, genius!

To give some perspective, these cost almost as much as a new small car to buy new back in the early 40s.
And would last a damn site longer as those old cars back then were needing engine rebuilds after 20,000 miles

Hi Mark, I've just been reading some of the comments further down, and it's clear that some of your audience are very knowledgeable too. Me? I don't know a thing about electrics or electronics, but I find your videos compelling to watch nonetheless. Thank you.

How are you powering the radio with 235 v ?

Hello from the states ! Just recently found your channel and now I’m a sub! I used to tinker with electronics back in my teens and love watching your content. I have a project for you and would love to give you not info on it. It’s an old cb base station. If there is a way to contact you email or other wise let me know! Thanks !

very cool piece

Just found you Mark (with the quite recent 25k pre...'twas fun!) then ,'cause of where my enjoyment lies, went looking for tubes, hopefully to get me motivated to carry on with a , about the same vintage, radio into a guitar amp. I just gut them and start anew. This one though, that I'm doing, had a tube or two spare so I've devised an oscillator, LFO, feeding some of the grids of those weirdo heptode thingies, but with a shared triode grid - and cathode (6k8) and it might even work! Man oh man I'd love that OT and speaker, they're lovely! Though I'd also find a place for the turntable electric motor, might even drive a leslie!
Oh, good news with the would wires as caps, didn't quite figure that one even though I use the big tuning mechanical caps as treble bypass on volumes so I could do some of those twisties either side to get them more in a suitable range... bit pointless but kinda fun regardless.

No unobtainable ICs! What a joy!