Ferguson 382U

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FERGUSON 382U. This a.c/d.c mains valve radio is quite lightweight, despite it's size. It employs long, medium & v.h.f bands, and was made in 1956. The set has a concentric knob system of volume & tone, as well as tuning & wave change. The problem with the wave change knob is that it's cog teeth mesh with the teeth on a plastic cog on the wave change switch. The small cog tends to break around it's spring clip (due to ageing process of early plastic). The result is the wave change knob travels around in circles, and does not turn the switch. A good solution is to find a replacement cog, or to glue the old cog on the shaft of the switch.

Many resistors have been found to go o/c, or way out of tolerance, in these sets. They require replacement, and so do the many HUNTS MOULDSEAL metal foil capacitors - their plastic insulation cracks (replace them !). My set does not work on v.h.f, and I have some work to do on that section.

The model 384U replaced the 382U in 1958. These had push-button switching.

FERGUSON 382U "FIREFLY" valve mains radio -additional information.

Due to an advert, which I placed in a recent B.V.W.S bulletin, with regards spare nylon cogs for actuating the wavechange system on these sets - as these cogs get brittle with old age !. I managed to get a reply from a fellow member, Mike Field, who said that he could manufacture me a replacement cog, in brass. I have received the new cog, and after fitting it on the wavechange switch shaft in the set, found that the cog teeth (although slightly larger than that of the original) meshed with those on the back of the wavechange knob, and hence operated the switch, so making the project a success !.

I coated both the brass cog, and the teeth of the activating knob in grease, so they mesh with ease.

Mike Field can be contacted by telephone, on ( 01886) 832107 (he did give me permission to put this information on the site). If you have problems with the cog on this radio, do contact him, and he will endeavor to make you a brass replacement for a reasonable price. A very useful contact !