Radio Star Starlet 30 of 1950

This is a really small French AC portable radio in a red metal case. It was build by Radio Star in Nice (Nizza) in 1950. The wine glass and the bottle of red wine are not only for size comparison ;-)

The Starlet 30 has 4 bands (short wave is spread in 2 bands):

     
GO (grandes ondes) long wave 1.150 - 2.000 m
PO (petites ondes)  medium wave 175 - 590 m
OC 1 (ondes courtes)  short wave 16 - 27 m
OC 2 (ondes courtes) short wave 28 - 51 m

The Starlet 30 is using Rimlock tubes:

  heater voltage  
UCH42 14V Oscillator
UF41 12.6V I.F.
UBC41 14V A.F.
UL41 45V Power Amplifier
UY41 31V Rectifier

The radio has no power transformer. The sum of the heater voltages in series results in 116,6V. So it looks like the radio was build for 120VAC, which was a common power voltage in France, or for DC. Another indication for 120VAC design were the old power supply electrolytic caps I found, which were rated for 165V.

This schematic shows the layout of the radio and the position of the tubes:

The dial scale: Copenhagen April 1950

I replaced as usual a lot of capacitors, 14 in numbers. Three of the tubes: UL41, UY41 and UBC41 were gone, but it was easy to get replacement. Then I hooked the Starlet 30 on my variac transformer, and yes, it starts. First step to restore the radio is actually done. Trying to set up the tuner I found the potentiometer is weak. I replaced it with an 1m (original it was 470k) log pot with on-/off switch. And the metal case got a new paint in a dark red colour.

Now the Starlet 30 is receiving on long wave and on the 2 short wave bands. Unfortunately medium wave is not working. I expect there is a problem with the oscillator unit, but I was not able to remove the unit from the chassis and check it. After removing the screws on the front there is not enough space to pull the unit to the inside and get it out of the chassis.

The resistors in the radio are color coded according to the RMA system. I've found a very good description of the system on 

RMA Color Code

A schematic for the Starlet 30 is really welcome!!!

Radio Star Starlet 30: 

side view of the radio: 

on the right side the UL41 power pentode

the power supply section in the right-mid, 

in the lower right corner the top of the UY41 rectifier tube

top view of the radio (left to right):

UCH42, UF41 and UBC41

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Last update: 07/October/2002