National Panasonic

It was the year 1975 I was going to school my parents had a Panasonic Radio with multiple bands PHONO/MW/LW/SW1/SW2. Fascinated by the features DC 9v 6×1.5 A size batteries That big knob for tuning the stations, the string inside with a red wire to indicate the station location and a background light. at the back identical to this one had a grey wire to plug into some 2pin socket. The radio stood there on the table playing my parents favourite radio stations. As years go by my dad went out and got a big set which carries a wine compartment a radio tuner and record player all concealed in doors. so this national panasonic wasn’t their favourite anymore, as a growing young boy (Growing up in the Caribbean) I took this radio under my care. It slept in my bed I carried it everywhere to the beach, by the riverside, When the music played I drummed my fingers on the formica surface.

Station Exploration

In the night when all the local radio stations were off I would search the radio for more radio stations there was radio caracas and pueto rico some french stations then was shortwave, bbc and some australian stations, just turning that tuner I would find stations just off the regular channels. on further explorations I added some wire on to the antennae to strengthen some signals the wires got longer and longer after moving it from place to place. I got German stations and dutch and some american stations, Bonaire,Transworld radio.

The Challenges Arose

One day I was searching past 1600mhz and the tuner string broke I could no longer change stations sometimes I just looked at the radio pondering then, that is when I discovered the screwdriver determined to fix it myself. I opened the radio undoing the back and removed the screws then took out the insides, looking at all the parts inside the tuning capacitor the coil internal antenna and other components. so inspecting the string and the wheel that rotates the tuning capacitor there was a spring hanging, the string didnt have enough play to join so I left it open placed the screws in a container I left the radio bare out of the housing. The batteries were held in place by a plastic tubing. With all this I had no technical knowledge about components, just observation, so at this time I was using the radio while it laid bare on the table the circuit board the battery compartment the antenna. I used my hand and manually rotating the white wheel to find the stations. another discovery the internal coil antenna there has wax to keep it in place discovering moving the coil up and down that black rod I would get different stations. after observing how things work inside. There was a local radio shop that sells parts and repairs (I didnt want no one to fix my radio), I saw the pile of unfixed ones in the shop as spares at least I know mine still worked. I asked for the tuner string the man had rolls in his shop, he sold me a good length with some advice of using beeswax to rub on the string. After some fiddling around as to the length of the string and tries to keep it taut enough not to slip and the right rotation, there was some instructions on the back cover finally it was done but there was question if the red pin was in the right spot for the station. (Tip nail polish which contains enamel) Taking some nail polish I manage to get that red pin to stay in place. After some time it was done, I closed the radio and placed it in position on a table.

Power Challenge 

The batteries would last quite some time but sometimes when no money to buy Batteries, I would use old ones that had some power and rotate them around, then one day I noticed the word 9DC volts with a black connection, I inquired about it to my dad he told me it was used to connect the radio to electricity then the light bulb went on in my head. I asked for this connection and was told it was nowhere to be found, my hopes fell then I went back downstairs I lived in a little room at the back, the garage was in front. My own teenage cave, my comfort zone I get to go out in the night and come home no one knew when i would come home. Right so one day I decided i am going to make my own connection to this radio for the battery buying was tiring, that little black connection i didnt have anything to fit it so i opened the back of the radio and fastened 2 wires on the battery compartment on the other end was a plug that fits the wall socket. (Without no knowledge as to the difference of AC and DC ) I plugged this wire into the wall socket then flicked the switch. There was a large pop then smoke I hastily turned off the switch and went to look at the damage that I caused. My heart just fell out I looked totally aghast. And now for years this radio was silent. I just packed it away in a corner and life went on.

Air Studio Montserrat

A new beginning

It was 1979 I began to work on building Air Studio Montserrat as a Labourer and Carpenter which was completed 1980 the Isolated double walls packed with sand the roof Isolated from the main studio walls the insulated wall of fiberglass so itchy the heavy 3×6 treated timber double plaited steel work the air condition ducts big backup generator. After completion of the studio I got a job as the handyman from trade work to just general work there is more in detail but things elevated. I became subjected to the engineers repairing the recording console board in spare time I watched them using soldering iron, flux, components from RS Components. The catalogues, looking through the outdated magazines they would throwaway collecting components that ends up in the bin the isopropyl or rubbing alcohol. Then came Radio Shack a new opening in town. Before this there was just the old tube components with light in them so big these radios. Then my love grew for this kind of work and still doing the odd jobs. The first Group that came to record was the climax blues Band. 

Electronics Course

I would give more details in another post so through the years of working here was 7 years. There was an opportunity that happened for me to do a six month course in electronics introduced by the Humber College in Canada I graduated very highly acknowledged by this time 1985 23 years old I had the knowledge to repair the National Panasonic radio without any help. There was a schematic drawing inside the radio which I understood then had to work out the value of the burnt resistors the hole where the circuit was broken was replaced by wire the capacitors changed and diodes and other components, before you know it my radio was back on the road. I was very impressed with myself. So this site reminds me of the radio stations I once searched for on my radio. Now I have become an IT technician and Web designer. Thank you for reading a little bit of my BIO.