Dave, Ian & Pete in their element nurturing the bulb forming machine for ECC8x small bulbs for ECC83 style dual triodes back to life. Not bad for an 85 year old machine!
After many months of checking wiring and building a Python code library, Mark is now at the point of running test cases on the whole activation system to check all the main functions perform correctly before we connect the 3 phase power and test some valves. Mark's code is based on the methodology developed by another volunteer Ted when we reengineered Brimar Display's award winning design. After talking to some ex-engineers from Middleton and acquiring some otherwise scrap pieces from the original system, we brought that back to life a few years ago. Our industrial sized rack was designed in 2018 …[CLICK TO READ MORE]
We now have all four sets of cams beautifully engineered by M-Machine near Tyne and Weir. They were responsible for repairing all of the minis in the original 1960s film “The Italian Job” and still manufacture wings and body parts for many classic vehicles. They have diversified now into excellent engineers, making high precision, one off components like our cams. You can watch a video of a 4 slide machine in action here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lunFJ9fmk5w&pp=ygUdNCBzbGlkZSBtYWNoaW5lIGFub2RlIGZvcm1pbmc%3D on our YouTube channel.
Bulletin ….Work carries on in the new factory but we always need more volunteers – especially wiremen and visitor guides. If you are based in the West Midlands or can travel easily to Stoke Prior, please consider volunteering – its good fun, always challenging, and then there’s lunch.
The UK was the centre of thermionic valve (tubes for our U.S buddies) production for many years and we produced the best and most consistent products which are still highly sought after even now – nearly 50 years after production stopped. Our dream is to restart manufacturing of valves in the UK using existing knowledge and equipment but bringing it into the 21st century where not only consistency and performance are drivers but efficiency and the environment.The Great British Valve Project is about creating a valve manufacturing base in the UK. There have been many twists and turns since we started this project back in 2015 but our biggest breakthroughs have been finding a backer and the final acquisition of equipment which will allow us to start small scale manufacturing of a limited range of valves in the UK.
Now that we have presses, grid winders, out-gass, bulb making, etc. machines located in our West Midlands base we need to get on with their refurbishment and building all the ancillary facilities, equipment, QA procedures etc. that will bring our manufacturing into the 21st century. We now need to assemble a small army of volunteers with experience in project management, fund raising, finance, negotiation, law, production engineers, etc.
You can email the ‘Great British Valve Project’ team using the form below if you want to volunteer, ask for more information or are able to help us revive valve/tube manufacture in its spiritual home – the UK. You can also sign up to our newsletter to get regular updates.
The UK was the centre of thermionic valve (tubes for our U.S buddies) production for many years and we produced the best and most consistent products which are still highly sought after even now – nearly 50 years after production stopped. Our dream is to restart manufacturing of valves in the UK using existing knowledge and equipment but bringing it into the 21st century where not only consistency and performance are drivers but efficiency and the environment.The Great British Valve Project is about creating a valve manufacturing base in the UK. There have been many twists and turns since we started this project back in 2015 but our biggest break throughs have been finding a backer and the final acquisition of equipment which will allow us to start small scale manufacturing of a limited range of valves in the UK.
Now that we have presses, grid winders, out-gass, bulb making, etc. machines located in our West Midlands base we need to get on with their refurbishment and building all the ancillary facilities, equipment, QA procedures etc. that will bring our manufacturing into the 21st century. We now need to assemble a small army of volunteers with experience in project management, fund raising, finance, negotiation, law, production engineers, etc.
You can email the ‘Great British Valve Project’ team using the form below if you want to volunteer, ask for more information or are able to help us revive valve/tube manufacture in its spiritual home – the UK. You can also sign up to our newsletter to get regular updates.
The UK was the centre of thermionic valve (tubes for our U.S buddies) production for many years and we produced the best and most consistent products which are still highly sought after even now – nearly 50 years after production stopped. Our dream is to restart manufacturing of valves in the UK using existing knowledge and equipment but bringing it into the 21st century where not only consistency and performance are drivers but efficiency and the environment.The Great British Valve Project is about creating a valve manufacturing base in the UK. There have been many twists and turns since we started this project back in 2015 but our biggest break throughs have been finding a backer and the final acquisition of equipment which will allow us to start small scale manufacturing of a limited range of valves in the UK.