Component Sources

The Components

On this page you'll find some useful contacts for both modern components and those that are more vintage in nature.

Some of the components used in older radio and crystal set designs can sometimes be quite difficult to obtain, but you should still be able to get hem from some suppliers

Tuning capacitors can be of any type or style as long as the value is is in the region of 500pF or thereabouts. Capacitors with a value of around 300pF will certainly work, but the tuning range may be very slightly limited and the tuning coil may need to be adjusted accordingly to compensate, by adding a few additional turns of wire.

Larger air-spaced or the more compact solid dielectric tuning capacitors are equally suitable for any of these circuits.

The OC71 and OC45 transistors are germanium types (as opposed to the modern silicon types found today). They were made by the Mullard company, and you may find that the word Mullard is printed on the casing, which was, incidentally a black painted glass encapsulation. You will need to search vintage and surplus suppliers for these devices.

The OA81 diodes should still be readily available. Other Small Signal Germanium diodes could also be tried in these circuits.

Any modern electrolytic and ceramic capacitors, as long as they are of the correct value, will work in these circuits.

Any modern resistors, again so long as they are of the correct value, will be perfectly suitable. In simple crystal set and TRF radio circuits 1/4 watt, 1/2 watt and 0.6 watt resistors will be fine.

The LT700 transformer should also be readily available from many suppliers. The LT700 was often sold under the "Eagle" brand name.

The 450pF or 500pF compression trimmer used for tuning in the 'matchbox' style radio are not now widely available but, once again, a search of Ebay, the internet and surplus component suppliers may be rewarded with some success. If not then see the notes on the matchbox radio page for other tuning ideas.

Crystal Earphones are still widely available. When I checked in 2007 both Bowood Electronics and Maplin listed them as in stock.

Sources For Older Components

If any of the parts that you require are not readily available from your usual electronics component supplier then a search of E-Bay may be a good place to start a search of the internet. Also search the internet using a search engine like Yahoo or Google for 'vintage' or 'surplus' component suppliers. A look through the advertisements in popular Electronics and Radio hobby magazines that you will find in W H Smith's may also provide some good leads.

Some of vintage and surplus component suppliers that come to mind are:

CHEVET SUPPLIES - 157 Dickson Road, Blackpool, Lancashire. FY1 2EU Telephone: (01253) 751858, Fax: (01253) 302979
http://www.chevetsupplies.co.uk/

J BIRKETT Radio Components - 25 THE STRAIT, LINCOLN, LN2 1JD. Telephone (uk) 01522 520767
Birkett's often have rare and so called 'surplus' components in stock, particularly surplus air-spaced tuning capacitors.

OLD RADIO PARTS - Pete Roberts runs a very useful website and source of vintage radio components here:
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/oldradioparts/front.htm

Suppliers of Modern Components

A very good source for general everyday modern components is BOWOOD ELECTRONICS, Telephone: 01246 200 222
A friendly, helpful and very speedy source for many of your electronic components at prices that won't frighten your wallet!
http://www.bowood-electronics.co.uk/ but maybe not the vintage ones, though may well be worth asking - the proprietor is very helpful.

Cricklewood Electronics are also very reliable and to have a good range at competitive prices with quick delivery:
http://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com

Jaycar Electronics have proved very useful with a good range of components, very good pricing & surprisingly quick delivery:
http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/

Maplin Electronics have a reasonable range, but don't seem to be as good as they used to be and are usually more expensive:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/