Alternative

Amplion, Alfred Graham & Co. (Algraphone); London

Data
Forum
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  • Year
  • 1952 ?
  • Category
  • Broadcast Receiver - or past WW2 Tuner
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 112018

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 4
  • Number of Transistors
  • Main principle
  • Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 470 kHz; 2 AF stage(s); none
  • Tuned circuits
  • 6 AM circuit(s)
  • Wave bands
  • Broadcast, Long Wave and Short Wave.
  • Power type and voltage
  • Line / Batteries (any type) / 195-215; 215-235; 235-255 / 90 & 7.5 Volt
  • Loudspeaker
  • Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil) - elliptical / Ø 9 cm = 3.5 inch
  • Power out
  • 0.25 W (max.)
  • Material
  • Leather / canvas / plastic - over other material
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Alternative - Amplion, Alfred Graham & Co.
  • Shape
  • Portable set > 8 inch (also usable without mains)
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 380 x 270 x 160 mm / 15 x 10.6 x 6.3 inch
  • Notes

  • The valve & battery guide label only instructs the owner to communicate the serial number, no model is mentioned. Loudspeaker about 4" x 6". Case is Rexine style cloth over plywood.

    Batteries either
    HT Ever Ready B126 / Vidor L5512 with LT  Ever Ready AD38 / Vidor L5048

    or longer life
    HT Ever Ready B138 / Vidor L5536 with LT  Ever Ready AD43 / Vidor L5060

    A "7.5V" set is actually nominal 6.8V. Sentercell Selenium Metal Rectifier for HT/LT from mains (direct).

    Warning: Chassis may be live when connected to AC or DC mains.

     

    Price of 17 "Guineas" (£17, 17s) included purchase tax but excluded batteries.
    Weight excluding batteries listed as 8lb in brochure.

    When choosing a radio you will do well
    to consider the advantages offered by the
    'ALTERNATIVE.'
     

    LT current 53mA.

    External aerial option fitted for "short wave enthusiast"

  • Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
  • 3.5 kg / 7 lb 11.3 oz (7.709 lb)
  • Price in first year of sale
  • 17.35 GPB
  • Source of data
  • - - Data from my own collection
  • Mentioned in
  • - - Manufacturers Literature
  • Author
  • Model page created by Taizo Nagahiro. See "Data change" for further contributors.

 Collections | Museums | Literature

Collections

The model Alternative is part of the collections of the following members.

 Forum

Forum contributions about this model: Amplion, Alfred: Alternative

Threads: 1 | Posts: 2

I have uploaded a reverse engineered schematic based on my model. I may have made mistakes.

Issues:

The HT to LT dropper is unmarked and the 1.96 K Ohms seems unlikely high. The value in other sets with nominal 50mA series (closer to 54mA) is 1.7K to 1.85k. 1.96K would imply 105HT. The other resistors in dropper measure as marked and with a 1N4007 instead of the two SenTerCel rectifiers HT is close to 90V. Putting 15K in parallel brings LT to 6.7V (ideal is 6.75, absolute maximum is 7) with 228V AC and tap at 215 .. 235V.

The compensation for the DL94 HT current flowing into the filament circuit is definitely not enough. Adding the two extra 1K resistors marked R101 & R102 fixes this. Normally I like to leave stuff orginal, but this is likely something that might have had a service bulletin. My model is only S/N 1182, perhaps later models where changed?

The mains on/off/battery  switching isn't safe! The chassis can be live. The CenTerCell, Droppers and main HT capacitor are "live" even with switch at Off or Battery!

The HT- series resistor for HT current saving on Battery is only 82 Ohms. Typical sets with Series filaments and DL94 are 220 Ohm to 330 Ohm. This (like other makes) is shorted out on Mains operation.

 

Alignment:

There are marks on the rear scale. These have been approximately matched with printed scales to get alignment point numbers. The set can be mostly aligned out of the case with patch cords to the two loop aerials. One loop shared for MW/LW is many turns and the other loop is one or two turns probably. These are in grooves on the outside of the cabinet, taped over and just under the Rexine.  The two close togther contacts are the MW/LW loop. The SW signal connects to contact under handle and then from side of case to  the series "loading" coil is mounted between chassis and a spare tag on the LW loading coil. There is an unused capacitor to adjoing tag, no doubt for an external SW aerial.

The IF frequency appears to be 470kHz, with each IFT can having two cores, one is under chassis (typical double tuned IFT as per my schematic).  Use a loop on the signal generator and loosely couple with radio loop. IF can be checked by tuning radio to 550m as there is no IF trap.

The drive cord is simple, but doesn't seem well engineered. Move the cord drum as close to scale plate and not flush with end of shaft or the cord will fall off edge of drum.

 

Power

Because it's 1/2 Wave and perhaps nearly 65mA total mains current, use on a Shaver Transformer is marginal even though they are rated at 20VA (the consumption should be about 15W).  I have Shaver Transformers in boxes with an extra hole drilled for UK earth pin of a 5A 3 pin plug to stop the old sets with risky isolation being plugged into a simple UK to 2 pin adaptor. These also work 110V AC sets up to about 15W.   I add a 2n2F 1kV class X & Y ceramic capacitor to a pin common to 110 & 220V outlets to  mains earth or else there is a lot of mains noise. Otherwise the earth only connects to panel and transformer core, not to any of the 5A plug pins.

Michael Watterson, 05.May.14

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