Follow these general steps to restore your radio:
- Do not power on your radio. ...
- Find a service manual. ...
- Replace all electrolytic and paper capacitors with new ones of similar value and same or better voltage rating.
- Examine closely and replace anything that looks damaged, such as burned up resistors.
Full Answer
Can you repair or restor my Radio?
We have performed thousands of repairs and restorations on radios of all shapes and sizes. From the priceless heirloom, the very rare antique to the very basic radio, we will work on them all. Let us show what we can do for you!
What tools do I need to restore a radio?
It's entirely possible to do a full radio restoration with nothing but a multimeter, a soldering iron, and your standard assortment of screwdrivers, pliers, and clippers. If you're working on a "hot chassis" radio which lacks a main power transformer, you'll want to use an isolation transformer.
Can I get a 30's vintage radio working again?
Nothing like getting a 30's vintage radio working again. You may even get Lum and Abner or Little Orphan Annie again. I've been looking for a good starter description and this one is great.
Can you buy old radio parts at the RadioShack?
While you can't pick these parts up in your local RadioShack anymore, there are a lot of options for finding an old stock or a new functional replacement. Consult the Antique Radio Forum for some crowdsourced help if you run into trouble or need a part because someone will almost certainly have one.
How do you fix an old radio?
1:5313:49How to Fix Antique Radios - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor especially heavy or valuable radios it's best to remove the chassis from the cabinet. And packMoreFor especially heavy or valuable radios it's best to remove the chassis from the cabinet. And pack it separately.
Why is my old radio not working?
Most antique radios will work once the capacitors have been replaced. If it does not work then signal trace through the circuit by injecting a signal at the IF or RF, replacing resistors or occasionally a tube where needed. Old resistors have a tendency to increase in value with age.
How much does it cost to restore an antique radio?
Estimates – We charge a flat labor rate for antique radio restorations of $18.00 per tube (i.e. labor for a 5-tube radio is $90). We also charge a 5% labor surcharge to cover the cost of small parts (nuts, bolts, springs, solder, wire, dial string, etc.).
How do you disassemble an old radio?
0:004:16Epic Vintage Radio Revamp Project - Part 2: Disassembly, Fabrication ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd after removing those the interior comes right out original speaker board was held in place byMoreAnd after removing those the interior comes right out original speaker board was held in place by five screws one of each was placed behind the speaker itself. So I had to undo a few more. Nuts.
Can radios be repaired?
Most modern radios are built on printed circuit boards that can't be repaired by anyone but trained technicians. However, there still are tests you can perform and parts you can replace.
Do vintage radios still work?
Even if the radio has been sitting unused for years, some components, notably capacitors, will deteriorate with age. Even a radio that looks "factory fresh" may still be unsafe or unreliable to play. This page gives some tips on how to check out your radio before turning it on.
How do you clean an old radio cabinet?
0:404:17How to use Hand Cleaner to Clean Wooden Radio Cases. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBasically just a hand cleaner. It has non abrasive. So you want to get the kind it doesn't have aMoreBasically just a hand cleaner. It has non abrasive. So you want to get the kind it doesn't have a pumice stone in it. So it's got its that real smooth.
How do old tube radios work?
Vacuum tubes operate on the principle of thermionic emission, where certain metals heated to white-hot in a vacuum will give off electrons. The flow of these electrons can then be controlled by charges placed on the tube's internal elements.
How much does it cost to fix a radio?
Repair rates run from $185 to $300, depending on the make and model. That may seem high, but new factory replacements can run almost twice that price.
What are old radios called?
A foxhole radio is a simple crystal sets radio receiver cobbled together from whatever parts one could make (which were very few indeed) or scrounged from junked equipment.
How does a radio valve work?
A valve is an amplifier. Its output signal is much bigger than its input signal. So in principle a simple radio receiver could be made from a single valve with an aerial connected to its input and a set of headphones at its output.
What were old radios made of?
1920s radios were typically housed in wood, although some tabletops came in rather plain metal cabinets. Bakelite and Catalin were the most popular synthetic materials during the 1930s and 1940s. Other early plastics, such as Plaskon and Beetle, predated the flood of new synthetics that came along during the 1950s.
How do you test a radio to see if it works?
6:307:39How to test a car radio without installing it at home - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFind out which one is positive and negative from the adapter. And then connect the two positivesMoreFind out which one is positive and negative from the adapter. And then connect the two positives from the positive side and then the negative to the negative side.
What would cause radio to have no sound?
If your radio is lighting up and seems to function but you have no sound. The most common reason for no sound is speakers or speaker wires are grounded or shorted to a metal point. Speaker wiring cannot be wired together. Two speakers can not share the same connections.
How do you know if a radio fuse is blown?
2:443:34How To Check Car Fuses-How To Tell If They're Blown - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut it is completely separated so the metal piece on the inside.MoreBut it is completely separated so the metal piece on the inside.
Why does my radio work but no sound?
If your radio is turning on but there is no sound. First check radio functions, be sure you have an audio source selected like Radio. If using AUX, USB or BT AUDIO be sure you have a device connected to the correct input. Be sure the radio is not Muted.
What happens if you plug in a radio without refurbishing it?
This generally means a burned out transformer and a dead radio , and is one of the most common outcomes if you plug in a radio you've found without refurbishing it first.
When did radios start to grow?
Radio's listening audience grew rapidly in the early days (Radio Retailing, March 1928 via "Radio Manufacturers of the 1920s" by Alan Douglas). Stacks of batteries disappeared and radios went from being pieces of lab equipment with many controls to adjust independently to the format we've retained today.
What is an isolation transformer?
An isolation transformer will interrupt the current path to earth ground and provide safety in these circumstances — both for yourself and your equipment. Most isolation transformers are 1:1, although tapped models with provisions for slightly adjusting the line voltage (i.e., 120:115-120-125) and continuously variable models do exist. Don't use a variac, though — they're not isolated and won't provide any safety benefits — unless you have a separate isolation transformer to go with it.
How much DC does a tube radio use?
Even an entry-level radio from the '20s or '30s might have as much as 500V DC (with 50-100 mA of current available!) on the tube's plates in the circuit.
How many tubes are in a project radio?
Finally, if you've found a project radio to start on with more than six or seven tubes, you might want to find a smaller model to practice on before diving in — especially if the radio has any sentimental value to you.
What clock radio was on fire in 1931?
This 1931 Westinghouse grandfather clock radio which was previously on fire wouldn't be a good starter project.
How do vacuum tubes work?
Vacuum tubes operate on the principle of thermionic emission, where certain metals heated to white-hot in a vacuum will give off electrons. The flow of these electrons can then be controlled by charges placed on the tube's internal elements. The first practical vacuum tubes were invented in 1907 by Lee DeForest, who developed the "Audion" — the world's first triode capable of amplification. This ushered in the radio age, but it wasn't until about 20 years later that radio finally left the lab and made it to consumer's homes.
Editorial Reviews
Joseph J. Carr was a leading electronics author who has written scores of well-reviewed books and technical articles. An electrical engineer and experienced electronics bench technician with CET and CCE certifications, Carr is a former winner of ISCET's Technician of the Year award.
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How long is a restoration warranty?
All restorations come with a 30 day warranty on parts & service, 1 year warranty on new tubes installed. Pricing for restorations varies greatly from radio to radio. Some units are very basic and have very few parts while others are complex with many parts.
How long has FYLP been in the repair business?
While FYLP has been in the electronic repair business since 1962, we have been specializing in antique radio, repairs for over 35 years. Repair and restorations are services we perform every day and we love doing. Utilizing today’s technology married with yesterday’s craftsmanship, we are confident you will find no other restoration facility of equal value to you. We have performed thousands of repairs and restorations on radios of all shapes and sizes. From the priceless heirloom, the very rare antique to the very basic radio, we will work on them all. Let us show what we can do for you!
