Ben G4BXD proprietor of the wonderful Military Wireless Museum in Kidderminster has recently taken ownership of a rare Eddystone S909A receiver. According to the QRG (Quick Reference Guide) to Post War Sets (downloadable from this site) the S909A was a variant of the S909 but with optional external HT/LT source connectors which is probably why it doesn’t have an ON/OFF switch. Some 225 of these were made from 1959-1963. The EDDYSTONE Type S.909, 1958, marine communication receiver, designed for the Swedish Merchant Marine. Two band (1.6-4.7Mc/s) plus fixed switched crystal controlled channel on maritime distress frequency of 2182kc/s. AC/DC 110-250v. AM and MCW only. Single conversion superhet with switchable crystal gate (IF-465kc/s, bandwidth 10kc/s or 5kc/s at 20dB down). 7valves plus metal rectifier. 1 RF; 2 IF. Built-in speaker. Production run of S909 was 100.

John Gibson contacted us to say his Eddystone 840C worked nicely as purchased except that the magic eye was ineffective even on strong signals. He said that examination of the DM70 data sheet reveals that for the tube to be operational, its plate voltage needs to be held at about 60 volts, half the high tension level. Any higher and the tube is de-sensitised and barely works. The solution is to wire a 10K 1 W across the existing DM70 plate resistor and another 10K 1 W from the plate to ground (0 V). The plate of the DM70 is now clamped at 60 V, and the magic eye works fine.

(EUG can take no responsibility for the accuracy, safety or consequences resulting from this advice from John but offered in the spirit of the EUG group)

Ken in New Zealand sent me this picture of an Eddystone part that belonged to his father who also had a much used 680. Ken enquired whether it was part of the 680 or some other set. It looks to me like the shaft insulator brackets that were sold individually as components from the mid 20’s until post war. However, none of the component catalogues in the archive show one with three shaft brackets mounted on a brass base plate. So the question is, what set was this used on or was it a long forgotten Eddystone component?. It is about 180mm long and has the name Eddystone stamped on it. If you can identify it let me know and I will pass on the information to Ken. Chris g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk .

Mystery solved. I got this reply from Tor Marthinsen in Norway. ”

I’m sorry to say that I’m not so busy with my Eddystone receivers as before, maybe I’m slowing down because of age? However when I saw the ‘mysterious’ Eddystone part you were interested in, I immediately knew where I could have used such a part – in the ‘Amateur Communication Receiver’ as described in the ‘Eddystone Short Wave Manual No.4’. You must look into the second edition, in the ‘List of Parts’ for this receiver you will find the ‘Condenser Cradle No. 1114’. You will also find it in the ‘Components catalogue’ from 1939″.