eBay - the right way!

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Dillen — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:51:59 GMT

I had to ask a fellow collector who has a set like this at hand.
He told me that:

- The left knob is the volume, tonecontrol and power switch.
All the way left it has a click lock which is power off.
Normal rotating is volume, rotating while pulling out is tonecontrol. It will not stay
out but snaps back in (to volume) when you let it go.

- The right knob is the source selector (Gramophone/FM/AM).

- To tune in stations you rotate the dial.

Martin

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

mhw — Mon, 30 May 2011 08:20:50 GMT

One for sale in Norway as well!

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

beaker — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:23:46 GMT

I like this but will not be bidding. I'll look forward to the resto thread though.

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

ablaumeise — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:48:14 GMT

Dillen:

One has tuning/source selector, the other has volume/tonecontrol (& power switch).

But then wouldn't the red points on the knobs (especially the source selector) be useless? Anyway, I placed a bid on it. If you guys promise not to outbid me, there'll be a restoration thread.

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Dillen — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:35:11 GMT

Yes, a flat piece of fiber, typically red-ish in color and about 3cm wide sticks out through the slit in the back.
The antenna will not rotate a lot anyways, only a few degrees.
Maybe better visible on this set:

And here in a closer view (actually Beakers Mini 513K) :

It has been a long time since I had a Minette 512 in my hands, but if I remember correctly
the two knobs have double functions (push/pull).
One has tuning/source selector, the other has volume/tonecontrol (& power switch).

Two slightly different versions of Minette 512 exists in that the FM tuning and detection circuits
were redesigned at some point.

Regarding the speaker cloth, I have a couple of ideas where to ask - or where to have it made
if it can't be found elsewhere.

Martin

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Leslie — Sun, 29 May 2011 16:08:24 GMT

Wish I haven't mentioned this object, maybe I could have bought it for 10 euro's? For anyone who put a bid on it, good luck!

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

ablaumeise — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:36:06 GMT

I asked the seller if she knew what it was for. She says it rotates the ferrite antenna, so at least the circuit should be original.

But I guess that's what one of the other knobs used to be for? So most likely the string snapped or the mechanism broke and the extra knob was added.

Martin, do you know how this thing is supposed to work? I'm somehow of confused. It has only two knobs - one seems to be the source selector, so the other one is most likely the volume control. But then how do you rotate the antenna (which is obviously built to rotate, see the slit in the back and the flexible connection) or tune to a station (or is the thing in the middle of the scale another knob?)? The knobs can't have dual functions as they have marks that correspond to the lettering….

Edit: All right, I think I got it figured out. The seller sent me some additional pics. The antenna was originally adjusted by a piece of cardboard that protrudes from the slit on the back. No idea how that knob should adjust it, though. The antenna seems unaltered on the pics. Maybe it's for something else after all.

Well, if Martin says it is possibly to get a replacement cloth I might as well place a bid on it...

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

beaker — Sun, 29 May 2011 13:43:47 GMT

Very nice little thing, that knob would put me off but it is rare so hope it gets sorted out and used.

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Dillen — Sun, 29 May 2011 09:40:33 GMT

I don't know what that knob is for.
Maybe a volume regulator for an external speaker.
The new owner/restorer will have to check and correct this.
I'm sure that a new piece of cloth in the correct pattern and color can be found or made.
It may hold bidding down a bit, but surely if this was exactly the type of radio, I was
looking for, I wouldn't let that detail keep me from it.
The Minette 512 is not THAT common.

Martin

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

ablaumeise — Sun, 29 May 2011 09:39:08 GMT

You're welcome...I almost placed a bid on it myself. But then I decided to take a closer look first.

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Leslie — Sun, 29 May 2011 09:20:36 GMT

ablaumeise:

What's the grey knob on the right side, though? Looking at other pictures (like this), that doesn't belong there. So somebody most likely messed up the original circuit, connected an extra knob and drilled a hole in the front, thus ruining the speaker cloth...

Good you mentioned this, almost placed a bid on it! Thanks!

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

ablaumeise — Sun, 29 May 2011 08:45:25 GMT

What's the grey knob on the right side, though? Looking at other pictures (like this), that doesn't belong there. So somebody most likely messed up the original circuit, connected an extra knob and drilled a hole in the front, thus ruining the speaker cloth...

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Dillen — Sat, 28 May 2011 02:30:40 GMT

A nice piece indeed.
Rare to see with intact dial and most of the lettering still readable.
The seller states that the radio was tested without antenna, it lit up and
picked up some local stations but only very quiet.
Nice resto candidate !

Martin

Re: This looks cute? Is it rare?

Peter — Sat, 28 May 2011 02:07:52 GMT

Very retro! Does it say if it works?

This looks cute? Is it rare?

Leslie — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:06:21 GMT

Never seen this radio before! Must be old...