Martin wrote:
> Of the 6 of these sets in my collection,
> I think that 2 have faulty mains transformers.
> These sets take 500mA at 105V 50Hz and overheat badly,
> and still overheat when the rectifier is removed.
> whereas the other 4 take 300mA and work fine.
> I know there is a possibility that they just don't like 50Hz,
> despite the voltage being reduced.
>  I'd be interested in comments from anyone familiar with these sets.
>   Also, I would like replacement transformers.
> The possibilities are originals, if anyone has any for sale,please,
> or using a couple of spares which I have, which will fit and have
> 240-V primaries, but do not have a 5-V winding and using a
> Russian 6X5 equivalent or a silicon diode or a bridge,
> instead of the 5Y3.
> A  more expensive solution that I am vaguely considering is asking
> a manufacturer (such as Majestic transformers, who did me a one-off
> at a fair price for another set a few years ago) to make me some new ones
> with 120/240V primaries. If I did this, would anyone be interested
> in any to bring the price down, and what sort of a price should I
> be considering?
> Thanks,
> Martin(Stockport)

Radiola wrote:

> Curious, of all the radios I own, the only one that had a bad power
> transformer is a Crosley too... coincidence?

> Werner

Michael A. Terrell wrote:
> Radiola wrote:

>> Curious, of all the radios I own, the only one that had a bad power
>> transformer is a Crosley too... coincidence?

>> Werner

>    Its another sign of the penny pincher Pal Crosley was famous for.
> I worked at a former Crosley plant in Cincinnati in the late '70s.
> The place was called Cincinnati Electronics which "Bought" the assets
> of Avco, who took over the defense electronics operation from Crosley.

>    There was a small museum in the office complex and I worked with
> some people who worked there during WWII.  They told all kinds of
> stories that would make people who collect military radios cringe.
> He was supposedly caught one night with a homemade machine removing
> the markings from rolls of coax and rebranding it with the mil spec
> markings.  He also made sure that they bought the cheapest parts he
> could find, and specified custom parts with little or no operational
> margins.  I'm surprised to see that so many survived over the years.