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A Structured Approach to by Bill Fizette, W2DGB |
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Bill Fizette needs little introduction because he is the president of our organization. For some time Bill has been interested in doing something to help the AWA reach out to newcomers to the antique radio hobby. This open-ended series of articles is one of the things he has come up with. It will continue as long as he has new material to contribute, or as long as folks continue to support the effort by sending him appropriate material to include. The articles in the series will appear as they are developed, but its important to point out that "A Structured Approach...." is not a regular column. There will not necessarily be a new one in each issue of The OTB. Those interested in contributing material for an article in the series--or even contributing a whole article to appear under their own byline--should contact Bill directly. He and I would also be pleased to hear from an individual would might like, eventually, to take on the assignment of contributing a regular column for beginners. --MFE Let's start this article with some basic assumptions, the main one being that you have somehow gotten the bug and really want to fix up some old radios that you have acquired, wisely or otherwise. Let's also assume that you know someone who does this, or have heard about it, and want to do the same. Also, it is a given that your knowledge of how to proceed is rudimentary at best, even though you may know a few of the basics, like the difference between solid state and vacuum tubes. Maybe you also feel that you are a klutz with tools. But you really do want to work on some old radios. So why not? Let's do it. The idea for this series of articles came to me at our informal members' meeting held at the AWA Conference last September, One of the suggestions was that we should be more proactive in bringing newcomers into the hobby and providing guidance to get them started. If you are a beginner, then, I will take you back to Course 101 in radio repair. If you already know all the answers, then the only reason for you to continue reading is to locate and correct my errors. For while I have "fixed" lots of old radios over the years, I have begun to realize that the subject is totally open...there appears to be no end to the learning. Comments are always welcome, as are contributions of techniques, information, and parts sources. At any rate, let's get started. One of the very first concepts that I want to get across is that the book work...the reading and the research...is all important. There is the occasional person who can just look at an old radio and instinctively know what is wrong with it, but these folks are rare, and definitely not beginners. Furthermore, since most old radios have not worked in a long time, they are very likely to have multiple problems. Included in this list are components that have failed from age or abuse, compromises to the circuit made by incorrect service work or attempted redesign, and corrosion and changes in parts values as the result of less than ideal storage conditions. You should try to build up a library of reference sources. One of the best buys that I made years ago was a set of Riders Manuals which, while they don't have diagrams of all the old sets, have an awful lot of them. These are large books and take up almost six feet of shelf, but they are well worth the cost and the space. Odd volumes (usually not whole sets) usually show up for sale at the AWA Annual Conference and other radio meets. Also keep your eye on the OTB classified ads. Antique book dealers can help you locate that elusive manual needed to complete your collection--though the cost may be higher. You'll often find such dealers in the OTB Business Card Ad section and you'll definitely come across them at most radio meets and our Conference Book Fair. There are 23 volumes in all. The ones in approximately the first half of the set are those most needed by collectors because they cover the radios built up to the beginning of World War II--which most of us think of as the classic period of collectable radios. Rider's volumes are also available on CD ROM from various dealers--though clarity on the computer screen can't rival that of the printed page. Start collecting now and over a period of time you'll be able to accumulate what you need. When I get a radio, the first thing that I attempt to do is find the circuit diagram. At the same time I can establish the year it was made. Then I make a working copy of the Rider's or other material, and set up a file folder on the set. Into this goes everything that I can find out about the radio, the circuit, the alignment information, the history of the set, where I got it and when, how much I paid for it, any manufacturer advertising, and so forth. Another useful, and inexpensive, reference source is the series of "Most Often Needed" schematic of books by Beitman. Volume 1 lists the most-often-needed 1926-1938 radio diagrams. However, t a mere half-inch thickness or so, it will never rival Rider's. This Beitman volume is often found at radio meets, usually as a reprint. For amateur gear I also reference my own files of QST and CQ magazines, although these are secondary sources. And one of the best reference books that I have located is by Ed Romney, entitled Fixing Up Nice Old Radios (Where do you think I got the title for this series of articles?). Its 186 pages contain a wealth of basic information about the subject in general as well as techniques for fixing specific popular. It is well illustrated, and is a must reference source for any beginner. Finally, the novice restorer/fixer should avail himself of the numerous specialty periodicals that are available. One is Antique Radio Classified, a monthly, and another is the quarterly publication you are reading right now. Through these you can link into where to buy materials, parts, books, etc. Also, don't forget the Internet, which is listing more and more reference material all the time. The above list does not mention specialty reference sources such as the various amateur handbooks and basic radio books, and all sorts of listing books and price guides, all of which have their uses. But it is a starting point. And, if you can't find the diagram for a particular radio, individual schematics can be purchased from dealers who advertise in the above publications. Also, an old tube manual is a must...you can usually find one at a hamfest or perhaps someone in the local radio club has an extra. Which leads me to one more point that can make a very big difference in how you succeed. Join a local vintage radio club if there is one available to you. You've already made a good move by joining AWA, which I assume you have done because you are reading these words. All sorts of avenues will be opened for you this way. Try to find someone who is willing to help and can guide you over the rough spots. In ham radio this person is known as an "Elmer." You'll find some real experts in some of the clubs; a note to the club president will identify them for you. Also, don't be reluctant to use E-mail. The AWA has its own reflector as well as a web page, and you can get the answer to most questions by simply using your computer. A good information source on the Internet is the ongoing column "On the Internet" in this publication. In the next installment I will get into some basic philosophy of "restoration" (fixing up) of old radios and also discuss the physical set-up of the work area. You can do a lot of good work with some very inexpensive tools...all you need is the interest and the time. NOTE: This material was originally prepared for the newsletter of the Carolinas Chapter of the AWA and is reprinted here, slightly amended, with the permission of Ron Lawrence, the CC AWA president. Our thanks.
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