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Servicing and repairing vintage valve radios 

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Like most things' years ago and now, these radios were designed and built with a certain life expectancy, which they have well exceeded.                                                      

The type of work required will vary depending on the set's history.                              For a set that’s been out of use for a long period, it would consist of a visual inspection for obvious signs of component failure, over heating and any deteriorated wiring and signs of previous repairs.                                                                                      

Then if all looks ok, the set would be powered up limiting the voltage and current to see if there is any sign of life. It's surprising how many do work after decades in an attic, all be it not very well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      With the chassis removed it's an opportunity for a  good clean including valve bases. 

As a matter of course it is probably best to replace all the wax paper capacitors, which even if still working will undoubtedly have gone leaky and possibly fail in the near future. Also check the resistors are within the tolerances,  and  replace any that aren't, or show signs of overheating (usually caused by a leaky capacitor in the same circuit}. 

 

​ Lubricate any pulleys and tuning gang bearings, replace dial cord if broken or looking weak, clean volume, tone and wave change switches. 

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