#1  
Old 02-09-2020, 07:32 PM
lucky1 lucky1 is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Laurel Md. 20723
Posts: 362
Default Tube radio repair ?

Hi, I have a tube type signal seeking radio from the early 50’s

Can anyone advise of repair facilities in the Baltimore metro area ??

Tks.

  #2  
Old 02-11-2020, 09:50 AM
ELKHORNAOG7 ELKHORNAOG7 is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: DRUMORE,PENNA.( LANCASTER COUNTY )
Posts: 956
Question

Ask around some tv repair shops as they still carry tubes if that is whats needed , as transisters never came out until the 50's and only took the place of a tube that was used as a trans. just look in the yellow pages.---BOB

  #3  
Old 02-11-2020, 05:51 PM
Tim john Tim john is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,879
Default

www.turnswitch.com would be a good place to reach out to. Excellent quality, excellent service.

Tim john---

  #4  
Old 02-12-2020, 03:46 AM
Jack Gifford's Avatar
Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
formerly 'Pontiac Jack'
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phelps, NY 14532
Posts: 10,176
Default

A "TV repair shop" in 2020?

__________________
Anybody else on this planet campaign a M/T hemi Pontiac for eleven seasons?
... or has built a record breaking DOHC hemi four cylinder Pontiac?
... or has driven a couple laps of Nuerburgring with Tri-Power Pontiac power?(back in 1967)
  #5  
Old 03-02-2020, 02:31 PM
dataway's Avatar
dataway dataway is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Saratoga NY
Posts: 8,921
Default

Might have better luck at a vintage guitar amp repair shop. They still deal in a ton of tubes and lots of 50-60s vintage electronics. Probably can't help much with the actual receive circuits but they could spot bad components like tubes, caps etc.

  #6  
Old 03-02-2020, 03:08 PM
Stuart's Avatar
Stuart Stuart is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 7,938
Default

I found a listing for this place in Baltimore: https://www.just-audio.com/vintage-audio-repair/ They advertise as a vintage stereo repair shop so they may or may not touch a car radio, but it's worth a phone call.

If you are willing to ship the radio to Minnesota, Tim John's suggestion of turnswitch.com is good.

  #7  
Old 03-05-2020, 04:24 PM
Two_70_Converts Two_70_Converts is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Philly, Pa. area
Posts: 66
Default

Tubes are usually not the problem but can be easily bought from

https://www.tubesandmore.com/

The first thing that needs to be addressed is the mechanical points vibrator. This is usually always bad. The original unit can be service by carefully opening the can and burnishing the contact points. or they make solid state ones now as well. Next would be replacement of the Vibrator ballast capacitor. Once these are done you may have a good chance it will work. All the capacitors should be replaced or it's just a matter of time for them to fail one by one.

  #8  
Old 04-24-2020, 09:43 AM
Rincon Rincon is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
Default

Keep in mind that it takes time for a tube type radio to warm up. That means all the tubes must come up to operating temperature before the radio begins to operate property. That could be as long as 5 minutes in cold weather. Dont ever power up a radio with out hooking up speakers or some sort of load to it. That goes for transistor type radios of the 60s and 70s as well.

  #9  
Old 06-13-2020, 01:59 PM
1968GTO421's Avatar
1968GTO421 1968GTO421 is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Travelers Rest, SC
Posts: 1,285
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Two_70_Converts View Post
Tubes are usually not the problem but can be easily bought from

https://www.tubesandmore.com/

The first thing that needs to be addressed is the mechanical points vibrator. This is usually always bad. The original unit can be service by carefully opening the can and burnishing the contact points. or they make solid state ones now as well. Next would be replacement of the Vibrator ballast capacitor. Once these are done you may have a good chance it will work. All the capacitors should be replaced or it's just a matter of time for them to fail one by one.
Great referral. They have everything, even solder and solder iron parts, unreal. Thanks.

__________________


"No replacement for displacement!"

GTOAA--https://www.gtoaa.org/
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:30 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017