[Central-Electronics] CE 20A and BC-458 vfo

[Frank Barnes]

Thanks to you both.  It will be a while before I begin restoring the 20A
and VFO but I will eventually get to it and post progress.
Regarding the "junker" unit being upgraded to an 80 watt one:  Did you just
remove the two 6AG7's and replace them with an 807 or similar?  I thought
that the 2 x 6ag7 final amp was a bit odd but I'm sure there was a reason
for it.

On Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM Cal Fuhrman <calfuhrman7 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Nice find Frank.  I'd like to ride along with you on this journey when you
> get to it.  Several years ago I was chased home from Orlando Hamcation by a
> CE-20A and a very interesting little Amp in an original CE case.  This Amp
> has a pair of 832 tube's and looks to be in excellent condition.  So, a few
> weeks ago I bid on and purchased the CE VFO from Schulman Auctions.  I'm
> also backed up with projects but would really like to get these units back
> in use.  I've got a CE-10A and BC -458 that I converted at our Northern
> location.  I finished getting that one working some years ago.
>
> With several of us working on the same units it might be helpful to share
> experiences.
>
> 73
> Cal - WA3CTZ
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 6, 2025, 1:18 PM Frank Barnes <fbw4npn at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> At the Raleigh Hamfest, I acquired these two units, which apparently have
>> not been used for decades so they will require a thorough restoration.
>> I'm not even certain why I got them ($30) but I have always been curious
>> about phasing-type exciters.  I'm an old-time HF guy (age 84) and still
>> like tube-type units.
>> I have put together a very rough web page where I'm collecting whatever
>> documents I can find regarding these units.  The link is here.
>> <https://w4npn.org/central-electronics/>  It will be a while before I can
>> restore these since I have a dump-find Heath SB-1000, a 2 x 807 xmtr and a
>> workshop power supply in the que first.
>> I also printed an old CQ magazine article (*The Command Set Roundup*) that
>> speaks to command sets in general and which looks helpful.
>> And I see some chatter on the Central Electronics blogging site in the AM
>> Phone system.
>> I haven't yet opened up the units so I don't know about their internal
>> condition but first impression is that they can be refurbished.
>> *If anyone knows of other articles, etc., about these Central Electronics
>> 20A units, or has advice regarding rebuilding these, please share it! * I
>> had no idea how complex the 20A is...looks like excellent engineering for
>> the time.
>> Advice is welcome.
>> Frank
>> W4NPN
>>
>>
>> --
>> Frank Barnes
>> www.W4NPN.net
>> Chapel Hill, NC
>> Grid Square FM05
>> Cell 919.260.7955
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>

-- 
Frank Barnes
www.W4NPN.net
Chapel Hill, NC
Grid Square FM05
Cell 919.260.7955