RUSS' OLD RADIOS
  • HOME
  • FOR SALE
    • CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
    • DO IT YOURSELF SPECIALS
    • EXCEPTIONAL DEALS
    • WITH MP3 PORTS
  • RESTORATION
  • BLOG
  • BEFORE/AFTER
  • CONTACT US
  • UNIQUE RADIOS
  • 1920'S Superheterodyne

Grebe Synchrophase Seven

3/7/2016

9 Comments

 
This is probably going to be the last restoration prior to the large project mentioned below.

GREBE SYNCHROPHASE SEVEN
Using five 201As  a 112A as a first audio and a 171 running at 180 volts, this is one of the LOUDEST battery radios that I have restored. It is also one of the least likely to be seen in operation due to the extensive use of pot-metal parts.
Picture
The inlayed brass escutcheon is worth having even if the rest of the radio is gone. This is another part that is often damaged.
Picture
In the spirit of the MU-1, the Seven drives the tuning caps in sync, eliminating 2 of the tuning knobs but adding 2 more stages for a total of 5. That is a lot of mass being driven by one knob.
Picture
And this is what the linkage looks like after it crumbles into small chunks. The pot metal has degraded to the strength of dried mud. It can easily be crumbled with your fingers. 

Above is a "reject" replacement part made of steel. Since the six linkage parts (5 on the caps and one pivot) must be the same length to have any hope of working, this one failed buy about a 1/16 of an inch. Keep in mind that the fine tuning turns a metal roller against the Bakelite main tuning knob - not much friction  - so even more need to be accurate.
Picture
Picture
Toner was custom mixed and applied with an airbrush.

It will take a few days to dry enough for reassembly. I'll add a finished picture then.
Picture
9 Comments
Phil Kordish
5/5/2019 08:38:46 pm

Where does the tuning knob attach to the linkage ? I don't see any pot metal damage and both tuning dial turn but no movement on the linkage. Phil

Reply
Russ
5/7/2019 09:10:43 am

There is a vertical shaft that ties the coarse tuning control to the linkage and another connection to the fine tuning control but it is through a clutch which may slip if the assembly is warped, cracked or broken as is often the case, as found.

Reply
Geneva
7/22/2020 12:55:31 pm

I was living in Tenino Wa back in 1996, when I was salvaging with a friend of mine, and I came across a face plate, and its for the radio you refurbished. I was going thru stuff I hadn't looked at since we moved to NC 15 yrs ago. Well we are going back to Florida, so I'm going thru stuff, I came across the face plate and looked it up and came upon your page. You have done a beautiful job, and radio is gorgeous, now if I can only dig up the rest of the pieces to have a whole one....

Reply
Russ
7/22/2020 01:04:13 pm

Thank you and good luck finding the rest of your radio.

Reply
Geneva
7/22/2020 01:11:31 pm

Ive been looking online at other radios, and they have wooden face plates, mine is brass, can you tell me which ones have the brass face plate.

Reply
Russ
7/22/2020 01:20:10 pm

If you have the brass/wood front panel like the one at the top of the post, then only the Syncophase 7. Keep in mind that because of the pot-metal issues, few of these radios will ever work again.

Reply
Glenn Greenough
10/10/2020 09:13:34 am

I have recently come across two of these radios while helping an old collector move out of his house. I am looking for a good home for them as restoring one is beyond my skills. One looks beautiful with a so so case, and the other looks dusty with a case in good shape. One is the battery model and one is the AC model, though I don't see much difference looking at the chassis. I can send you some pictures if you are interested. Glenn

Reply
Phil Kordish
10/11/2020 12:23:16 pm

I'm looking for a front panel for my Grebe battery set. Phil

Reply
Glenn
10/14/2020 10:16:12 am

I have the box from one of these radios with the face plate that someone turned into a really big jewelry case with a red velvet interior. The knobs from a radio were attached for appearance. The face plate is in good shape but I don't know how to remove it without damage. The person who built the box cut the tuning knobs so they can attach flat to a piece of wood behind the plate. The plate seems to be wood and brass (battery version of the radio.)
I also have two radios. One is the chassis only (maybe it came from the box mentioned above) of an AC radio (no power supply.) This shows it's age but is all there except the tubes. The other one is a DC radio in the box with a clean chassis that looks to be in good shape. The box needs some TLC and refinishing. The guy I got them from probably has the tubes, but he is moving and can't search for them right now. Is there a way I can post pictures to this site? The radios are free to a good home.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

                         Russ Webb

    Picture
    Russ Webb & Fuzzy

    Minion, Radio fixer







    Categories

    All
    All
    Antiques
    Electronics
    Radios
    Repair
    Restoration
    Travels
    Vintage

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

CUSTOM DESIGN BY SUE WEBB  06/2013       Redesigned by Russ Webb     Approved by Fuzzy   Updated:  Pretty much all the time, but I forget to change this date
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from valart2008, rafeejewell