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Category Archives: Radios and Tubes
1937 Westinghouse WR 226 Vintage Radio Repair
This 1937 Westinghouse radio was the second highest in their tabletop line-up for ’37 and featured 7 tubes and a large, eye-catching dial for easy tuning. After a full overhaul including capacitors, resistors, an eye tube socket rebuild, new power cord, dial cord re-string, line input addition, and a full alignment it sounds great and pulls in stations across the dial. This model had the alignment trimmers all on the underside which was annoying, but peaked up nicely nonetheless. Read more for photos of the rebuild!
1969 GE Model C2504B Transistor Clock-Radio Repair
This iconic late ’60s GE clock radio came to the shop with loud, low humming when turned on and no radio reception. That’s a familiar problem! Time for new capacitors. This particular used a 100 uF main filter and several 200-400 uF secondary filter capacitors around the boards, along with three electrolytic coupling capacitors in the signal chain. They were very tired and as shown by the hum had started to short out; if the radio continued to be run with the loud hum it could have been badly damaged so it came in just in time. Some new components later, she’s good as new and sounds surprisingly good for such a small radio. There’s a mystery switch inside, too – do you know what it might control? Read more for more photos of the repair.
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1935 Silvertone 1827 Antique Radio Repair
This Silvertone 1827 with an artistic finish came to the shop for an overhaul. It had been kept running for about two decades by its original owner before being put aside, and ended up getting all new capacitors and a new #85 tube which had shorted out. It had been well loved as the quality of the historical repairs was very high, and it had all Silvertone brand tubes, so could even have been dealer-maintained at Sears its whole life. After component replacement and an alignment, it really sings and has spot-on dial tracking and even pulled in a shortwave station. Read more for details and more repair photos of this Silvertone 1827 vintage radio.
1959 Magnavox AM-80 Companion Transistor Radio
This little 1959 companion transistor radio came through the shop for a tune-up. It, like most of the others, was in good shape except for the capacitors being dried out and no longer performing their functions. One was badly cracked, even, but the radio still worked after a fashion. With new parts installed it’s good as new. Keep reading for detailed photos of the tear-down and replacement parts.
1958 Zenith Royal 500 Portable Transistor Radio Repair
This 1958 Zenith Royal 500, an early 8-transistor portable AM radio, came into my shop for a complete overhaul. I replaced several badly out of spec capacitors, added some insulation to correct a short circuit in two of the batteries and gave it an alignment. This is a perfect radio to take to the beach or the park while listening to a ball game, just like they’d have done back then. Many tear-down photos inside!
1962 Coronet 6 Transistor Shirt-Pocket Radio TRN-6
This rare early shirt-pocket transistor radio, the Coronet TRN-6, needed a few new capacitors to sound its best. It delivers surprising performance from such a small package! Plenty of tear-down photos in this article.
Posted in Radio, Radios and Tubes, Vintage
Tagged 6 transistor radio, capacitor, capacitor replacement, Coronet, coronet 6 transistor radio, coronet transistor radio, coronet trn-6, photos, portable transistor radio, repair photos, seattle vintage radio repair, shirt-pocket radio, transistor radio, transistor radio repair, trn-6, vintage
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1936 Zenith 5-S-29 Electrical Restoration and Alignment
This 1936 Zenith 5-S-29 was in the shop for a complete overhaul with all new resistors and capacitors, a new dial lamp socket, tube testing and alignment. After all that service, it looks and sounds fantastic and is going to last for a long time to come in a local collection.
1937 Detrola 139E Vintage Radio Repair
I just finished a new project over at Rain City Audio – 1937 Detrola 139E Vintage Radio Repair
This Detrola 139E chassis was on my bench recently while the cabinet was being refinished. It’s a striking 1937 radio with an art deco stationized dial with a very large tuning area, and even though it only has 5 radio tubes, it’s a great performer. I replaced the rectifier tube and rebuilt the electronics of the radio followed by testing and an alignment; now it’s very selective and will be a safe and reliable appliance for someone’s home.
Check it out at http://www.raincityaudio.us/blog/1937-detrola-139e-vintage-radio-repair! Continue reading
Posted in Radios and Tubes, Vintage
Tagged 139E, antique radio, capacitor, capacitor replacement, Detrola, Detrola 139E, old radio, repair, tube, tube radio, tuning eye, vacuum tube, vintage, vintage radio
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1938 Zenith 7-S-363 Repair
I just finished a new project over at Rain City Audio – 1938 Zenith 7-S-363 Repair
This Zenith radio was brought in by its second owner after original parts catastrophically failed. It took a while, but after an extensive electrical overhaul and locating some replacement parts, it looks and sounds fantastic and will play beautiful music for many years to come. “Zenith, the quality goes in, before the name goes on.”
Check it out at http://www.raincityaudio.us/blog/1938-zenith-7-s-363-repair! Continue reading
1950 Crosley 10-139 Vintage Radio Repair
I just finished a new project over at Rain City Audio – 1950 Crosley 10-139 Vintage Radio Repair
This classic 1950s All American Five, the Crosley 10-139 just came through the shop. It was an estate sale find that had some damage from careless handling, but despite a rough past it fixed up nicely and will do a great job bringing in the Mariners games and oldie’s radio for many years to come.
Check it out at http://www.raincityaudio.us/blog/1950-crosley-10-139-vintage-radio-repair! Continue reading
Posted in Radios and Tubes, Vintage
Tagged 10-139, AA5, All American 5, All American Five, antique radio, capacitor, Crosley, Crosley 10-139, repair, tube radio, vintage radio
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