radio – Forths.com https://forths.com Family - Friends - Projects Sat, 07 Apr 2018 21:07:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://forths.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/cropped-1219225-32x32.png radio – Forths.com https://forths.com 32 32 Update: Soldering & Wiring https://forths.com/update-soldering-wiring/ Sat, 28 Dec 2013 23:11:41 +0000 http://192.168.50.23/wordpress/blog/?p=2399 With Christmas behind me, I’m making some progress with the radio restoration project.  I’ve replaced about 3/4 of the 73 year old components, but still have about 6 hours of wiring work left to do.  Out of curiosity, I’ve tested each original component that I’ve removed to see how close to spec it is.  Roughly half of the capacitors were no longer in spec, and most resistors were well out of the 20% tolerance margin.  A few resistors had infinite resistance, so this radio would not have worked had I simply replaced the tubes.

I’ve also encountered parts that do not appear on the manufacturer’s schematic diagram.  Judging from the solder joints, it’s clear that the radio was modified earlier.  Considering the age of the extra parts, it was probably modified in the late 1940s or 1950s.  Most of the non-original electronics are electrolytic capacitors, and based on where they were placed in the circuitry, I’m assuming that they were added to eliminate the “hum” that aging capacitors can cause with old radios, but that’s just a guess.

I wasn’t expecting a surprise from the vintage power cord, but as I removed some cloth insulation, it was clear that this cord was covered with felted asbestos.  This was common in the old days for power cords that were used for devices that made a lot of heat or used a lot of power, such as irons.  I disposed of any loose asbestos and cleaned the wiring.

Still have a lot of work ahead, but it’s fun and certainly an ongoing education.

]]> Update: Parts Begin to Arrive https://forths.com/update-parts-begin-to-arrive/ Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:38:10 +0000 http://192.168.50.23/wordpress/blog/?p=2375 Replacement parts have begun to trickle in for the Hallicrafters radio restoration project. Meanwhile, I’ve been working hard to research the proper restoration techniques, and to study the functionality of the ancient electronic components that I’m less familiar with.  This radio was built 14 years before the first transistor radio was sold, so I’m dealing with tubes and higher voltages than I’m accustomed to.

Since this radio was modified several times over the years, with holes drilled in the case and chassis for non-original switches and sockets, it can’t be considered to be in ‘original’ condition.  However, that frees me to fill the holes, re-paint the case, and apply reproduction lettering to restore the case to a near-original appearance.

I have hours of soldering work ahead of me, but I’m in no rush.  I’m still waiting for the replacement tubes to arrive, and to maintain the proper vintage appearance, I’ve ordered new cloth-insulated 16 gauge wiring to replace some broken or cut wires.

]]>