• If your old radio looks good but works bad, or not at all - I can remedy that problem.
• If your old radio looks bad but works good - I can remedy that problem.
• If your old radio looks bad and works bad, or not at all - I can remedy that problem.
• If your old radio looks good and works good - you don't have a problem...

Electronic Repairs

The electronic repairs I do are of the "complete restoration" variety. I don't enjoy doing, or recommend a half hearted effort when it comes to the restoration of these vintage radios.

When I complete a restoration on a radio, I do not want to have to warn you against using your radio for anything beyond a few minutes for fear of "stressing the old components" Once restored, you should, and will be able to listen to your old classic radio on a daily basis if you so desire...

About the only choice I'm going to offer you when it comes to my electronic restoration efforts will be whether you want the set to look untouched in an electronic sense once I'm finished with it. This will involve the disguising of all replacement electronic components by placing them within the hollowed out shells of the original ones. Since this is a more labour-intensive task, the end price to you for this type of restoration will be higher than that of a conventional restoration.

Cabinet Repairs

As with my electronic repairs, cabinets will be given a "complete restoration".

The amount of attention your cabinet will require is dependent on its condition..

Bakelite Cabinets

• Surface will be stripped of all paint, grease, smoke etc using a water based solvent.
• Cabinet/fragments will be oven dried to remove any moisture introduced during stripping process
• If the cabinet is broken, cabinet fragments will be reassembled - steel pins will be inserted at stress points.. All broken surfaces will be machined to allow for maximum surface contact with the bonding agent.
• Missing areas of bakelite will be reconstructed using a compound of the same composition as the bonding agent to ensure compatability with the bakelite in the surrounding areas. If deemed necessary, the backing material (aluminum plate) used during the reconstruction process will be left in place for added strength/stability.
• The cabinet will be oven baked.This will activate the bonding agent, and relieve any stresses within the cabinet that may cause future joint failures.
• The now-restored cabinet will be sanded, primed and painted.
• The painted cabinet will be mechanically polished to restore a mirror shine.

As well as it sometimes works, I do not use auto body filler when doing my restoration work - my earlier attempts at bakelite repair using this material have over the years, become unstable to the point of being useless.

Here's How We Do It!!

Wooden Cabinets

Wooden cabinets can present their own set of nasty ills.
A wooden cabinet will be restored using some, or all of the following techniques:

• Surface will be stripped of all paint, grease, smoke etc using a solvent.
• If the cabinet is veneered, any loose, but salvageable veneer will be reattached. Unsalvageable veneer will be removed.
• All cabinet joints will be reglued and any missing internal blocking will be replaced.
• Missing/removed veneer will be replaced - I will not attempt to replace partial panels since few people are pleased with the end results.
• A visually appealing and economical alternative to replacing veneer is to apply a painted faux wood finish over the usually bland cabinet base wood. This option can be discussed.
• Once completed, the cabinet will be resurfaced using your choice of finishing agents. Glossy, satin or flat finishes are available in polyurethanes, varnishes or lacquers.

Here are a few things I don't work on...

• Catalin cabinets.... too much trouble matching colours and translucency
• Those big multi band European sets ... too many difficult to obtain parts and literature required.
• Battery sets...no interest to me
• Floor model cabinets...shipping is a pain

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  Do you want to ship me a radio? Heres how....