Amstrad 8090

[Retro Addict]

I purchased this box today. It was at a local garage, in use. I first saw it in there a couple of months back. I read one of gettoman's posts a few weeks ago, about boomboxes with removable walkmans. In his post was a picture of the same Amstrad box that I'd seen in the garage. I didn't know before I saw gettoman's post that the box had a removable walkman. It was at this point that I decided that I definately had to have this box. So, about a week later, I called into the garage and asked about the boombox. The owner said that it was fine for me to have it as long as I brought them a replacement stereo to listen to. I don't get many days off work these days, so today I made it my priority to get that box! As my Sharp GF-7400 was on my hit-list of 'lack-lustre' boxes to be disposed of as and when time permits, I took it to the garage with me to serve as the Amstrad's replacement. I spoke to the owner and he let me do the exchange without hassle. After he has listened to and approved the suitability of the GF-7400, I made my way home with the Amstrad. The box was absolutely filthy. These are some pics I took when I got home...

You can see from the following pics just how much oil and grime covered this box. It was looking in a very sorry state indeed.

I'd already removed the walkman for cleaning.

Somehow these buttons have melted

I have now cleaned this section but have no pics of it yet.

The left speaker cabinet

The right speaker cabinet

Now for the 'after' pics...

Cleaning one of the speaker cabinets revealed this cigarette burn

Tuner section cleaned

Some more cleaned

Bottom section cleaned

Back together and looking pretty good!

It has a problem though, one of the speaker connections is missing, and only a wire is left. A round, metal 'bolt' which serves as both the wireless connection, and the cabinet attachment, is missing. I need a replacement. Does anyone know of any sources?

The wire. It makes the electrical connection but the speaker cabinet is 'floppy'

Also, I need replacement antennas. I have a pair antennas from a faulty box, but they turned out to both be an inch too long. I need some that measure approx 5 - 5.5" closed length. Again, if anyone has a spare pair about this length, I would be glad to hear from you!

I will be doing a lot of detail cleaning to this box another day, plus trying to fix the missing speaker connection, locate some replacement antennas, see about that 'time set' button, and try to fix both dead cassette decks.

The best feature of this box is the sound. Wonderful deep bass, and generally a very grown-up, high quality sound, and very loud!

Please get in touch if you can help with the further restoration of this box.

R.A.

 

[Gluecifer]

Wow!! You REALLLY rescued that box beautifully, Luke!!
That's some beautiful work. I really didn't think it would come up that nicely.

Magnificent save, brother! You may be able to replaced those melted buttons pretty easily too,. they look reasonably standard.

Lets have a moment of silence for your poor GF-7400 and the hellish abuse it is about to receive, for the rest of it's life...

It gave so that another could live.
Amen.



Rock On.

 

[floyd]

i love that radio , i have some of those round speaker mounting screws can you post a pic so i can see if they will work?

 

[Terry]

Well done Retro Addict, just a little more work and it should come up shiny and new. Nice job getting all the grease off. What are you going to do about that burn?

Also, do you have any cleaning tips for a newbie like myself, with my Sanyo I have just used a generic window cleaner (the blue stuff). It was covered in dust and nicotine, nearly made me vomit from the smell.

Maybe there should be a cleaning tips thread (with pics)......

 

[el cad]

Great clean up job. Those first pics were way scary.

 

[redbenjoe]

nice work ,RA--
is that one of the models that hifitom posts about as a true hi fi box ?

like a rotel # 10 .etc

 

[monchito]

wow what an awesome cleanup

 

[floyd]

look

http://cgi.ebay.com/JIL-CANDLE-JTR-1303 ... 548wt_1026

 

[floyd]

damn i love the vu meters on that box.

 

[redbenjoe]

how did you fix the ciggy burn hole ???

 

[blah blah]

holy crap that was a wreck :'-( but not now, killer job, the box looks awesome

 

[Retro Addict]

Thanks for the comments!

how did you fix the ciggy burn hole ???

I didn't, it's still there!

i love that radio , i have some of those round speaker mounting screws can you post a pic so i can see if they will work?

The only pic I have so far is this. You can just see it at the side.

 

[Retro Addict]

Some more pics.

Here's a shot of both speakers showing before and after cleaning.

And here's a pic for Jens.

nice work ,RA--
is that one of the models that hifitom posts about as a true hi fi box ?

like a rotel # 10 .etc

I didn't know it was one of the hi-fi boxes, Ira! It's definately one of the best sounding boxes I've ever heard!

damn i love the vu meters on that box.

Yeah Floyd, the VU meters are awesome!

Lets have a moment of silence for your poor GF-7400 and the hellish abuse it is about to receive, for the rest of it's life...

Now you make me feel guilty, Rick!

 

[sony_apm_fan]

Awesome cleanup, good job!!

:ls-duel:

 

[nz boom]

its cool when you can bring it back from the brink.

 

[MasterBlaster84]

Great rescue RA, that box was filthy enough to make all but the hard core run in the opposite direction.

 

[Retro Addict]

Great rescue RA, that box was filthy enough to make all but the hard core run in the opposite direction.

Then I guess I'm just the hard core type!

I just wanted a box with a removable walkman really bad so I took the risk... and it paid off!

 

[retrogeezer]

Hi all, old thread resurrection alert! I found the forum after googling the Amstrad 8090 as I have been looking for one for almost 30 years. I saw someone selling them at Blackbushe Market in the early 80's but it was a bit out of my price range at £130 odd quid. I ended up with a Saisho from Dixons at £99.99 but that detachable walkman was always in my mind!

I've been casually collecting old ghetto blasters and hifi stuff for about 15 years and have a fair few nice things but it is always great to find something you really wanted and today I was lucky enough to find one. I'll take some proper photos tomorrow but here are a couple taken on my phone for now:

 

[Retro Addict]

Hey congrats on finding one after all that time! And welcome to the forum. My 8090 still needs work doing. Both cassette mechanisms don't work and I need a speaker cabinet connector. I was just happy to find one too!

 

[retrohead]

luke this is an awesome post.just been given a rare alba with removable walkman.....it has a few problems that will take some time for me to fix sadly but once i get some parts sorted i will begin with the restoration,but it woulnt be easy sadly still it sounds good for an alba and has led meters etc so its ok-its smaller than your amstrad too-do you still have it,and how does it sound?