[Chris Cusick]

I recently picked up a nice 46/132 Farm radio in a good condition cabinet - but when I pulled the chassis out, it looks to me like someone has removed 6 of the moving plates and the associated fixed plates from the oscillator section of the variable capacitor.

If you take a look at the picture below, you can see the empty slots where I think these would have fitted.

But it seems like such a bizarre thing for someone to do - and not all that easy either - that I have my doubts. Maybe this is actually how the factory supplied them ?

I'm certainly having issues getting it to tune in to stations - I can get 3 or 4 strong stations but nothing is in the right place on the dial; everything is pushed up into the higher end of the dial scale.

Also I cannot get it to work when the B+ voltage is at 90V - I made a simple dc power supply but I actually have to reduce the supply to about 70V to make he 1LA6 tube go into oscillation - I feel this is connected with the first issue but again I'm not sure. When I do get it tuned in, it sounds great.

The radio has been recapped (not much to do really) and a couple of borderline resistors were replaced.

I guess I might have to hunt for a new variable cap. but I'd appreciate any information or ideas.

Here is the the schematic diagram and a picture of the tuner :
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/590/M0013590.htm
http://www.hightail.com/download/OGhmYUlqSEJrWS9MYnNUQw
Thanks !
Chris