The most interesting radio?

8/4/2009 8:06:27 PMGary W. Prutchick

What is the most interesting radio you ever restored?
Interesting in terms of the electrical design, layout, mechanisims, dials, knobs, cabinet, number of tubes, types of tubes, strangest component etc.

I'm just suggesting these topics as a conversation starter.

Gary

8/5/2009 11:14:13 AMWarren

I repair/restore a lot of the Hallicrafters radios. The SX models can be a bear to restore. I just finished an SX-88 Like this one http://www.qsl.net/la5ki/sx88.htm
Have to take your time when doing something like that. It took almost 6 months to finish it all. Have to be in the right mood to work on it. Even the final alignment took two days. This radio is now tops in performance. it even warms the room with 20 tubes glowing.

8/5/2009 1:46:27 PMEdM

:
:What is the most interesting radio you ever restored?
:Interesting in terms of the electrical design, layout, mechanisims, dials, knobs, cabinet, number of tubes, types of tubes, strangest component etc.
:
:I'm just suggesting these topics as a conversation starter.
:
:Gary

8/5/2009 4:52:15 PMG. Berg How about a RCA Radiola 32

How about a RCA Radiola 32...For those of you not familiar with this set you can also see it at this guys site (I am not affiliated with him in anyway..just a reference) radiolaguy.com you can see pics there. I bought this set from the original owners son. It was made in 1927.... Cabinet is in near perfect condition with large doubble wicker back doors (cane is like new)..VERY well cared for. It has a 1927 RCA radiola 28 chassis, RCA 104 speaker, RCA's AC LARGE power supply, LARGE separate filter bocks, and huge rotatable antenna all inside an enormous cabinet...It weighs over 500lbs. Only 3089 were built and was RCA's most expensive set at the time costing well over $900.00. All I did is replace the filter caps and left the rest alone..and it works perfectly. I slowly bring it up on a variac to 90 volts ....The set uses 7 ux199 tubes, 1 210, 2 281, and a large glass tube 886 to break down voltage...WOW WHAT A SET ..PLEASE DON'T ASK HOW I GOT THIS INTO MY HOUSE LOL HA HA...and yes I am not married yet...ha ha

8/7/2009 11:25:00 AMMike M

Mine is the first one I attempted, a Sparton Junior that came to my wife and I from my father-in-law. It was interesting because because I had to dust off my memory about tube equipment. It had been about 30 years since I had worked on any type of tube equipment but, I was surprised how much I remembered. With a lot of help from this forum I recapped it, fixed an open in a winding of the power transformer, replaced the audio output transformer, some of the tubes and repaired the on/off switch. It now sits in our living room and plays very well.

:How about a RCA Radiola 32...For those of you not familiar with this set you can also see it at this guys site (I am not affiliated with him in anyway..just a reference) radiolaguy.com you can see pics there. I bought this set from the original owners son. It was made in 1927.... Cabinet is in near perfect condition with large doubble wicker back doors (cane is like new)..VERY well cared for. It has a 1927 RCA radiola 28 chassis, RCA 104 speaker, RCA's AC LARGE power supply, LARGE separate filter bocks, and huge rotatable antenna all inside an enormous cabinet...It weighs over 500lbs. Only 3089 were built and was RCA's most expensive set at the time costing well over $900.00. All I did is replace the filter caps and left the rest alone..and it works perfectly. I slowly bring it up on a variac to 90 volts ....The set uses 7 ux199 tubes, 1 210, 2 281, and a large glass tube 886 to break down voltage...WOW WHAT A SET ..PLEASE DON'T ASK HOW I GOT THIS INTO MY HOUSE LOL HA HA...and yes I am not married yet...ha ha
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::What is the most interesting radio you ever restored?
::Interesting in terms of the electrical design, layout, mechanisims, dials, knobs, cabinet, number of tubes, types of tubes, strangest component etc.
::
::I'm just suggesting these topics as a conversation starter.
::
::Gary
::
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