Echophone EC-1 Tube Radio Restoration with Alignment Procedure

[@BruceBoschek]

Seeing that Knight VTVM just caused me to tear up. When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s I would take the train into Chicago and walk from the station all the way out to 100 N. Western Ave. to Allied Radio, passing Newark Radio on the way. I would spend all day Saturday in those two meccas of electronic heaven, mostly in the ham radio department, but also buying little components to build various SW meters, pre-amps and antenna tuners. I had various pieces of Knight kit test equipment, including the VTVM. I bought my Hammarlund SW reciever from Allied and my used WRL Gloibe King 500 watt transmitter. Needless to say, I did not carry them home with me. My dad had to drive in to pick them up. Sixty years later I think back to those days of enormous pleasure in building and using electronic equipment. That is the reason I so love and appreciate your channel and all of the excellent videos you produce. Know that you bring a great deal of joy to old K9BYI.

[@burlingtonbill1]

LOVED looking at Allied catalogs in the 60's, living in Omaha. Built several of their Knight kits as a kid, alongside Dad and his help (sometimes.)

[@cobrasvt347]

👍 73’s

[@dondesnoo1771]

10 $ dig multi meter harbor freight (cen tech.) Better than Ben's as they said 🤗

[@ricklett1688]

Was there anything that could not be found in an Allied Radio catalogue in the 60's? The Sears catalogue of electronics.

[@BruceBoschek]

@@ricklett1688 I remember filling out order forms with 1 15k ohm resistor, 2 fuse holders, a 0-500 mA meter, etc. when I was building my 75 watt CW transmitter. Money was scarce, but some things just had to be.

[@distantlands]

i must say you are the king of the old radio restoration videos.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Percy!

[@MickLBrad]

I have been building, repairing and enjoying Ham radio and related projects since I was a kid in the mid '50s. Today, at 70, I haven't lost the passion, however I have slowed down a bit and this is where your KZbin channel (and others) come in to play by keeping me mentally fit as I follow you and your projects. I HIGHLY recommend your channel to anyone of like-interest and especially novices. Your in-depth analysis of a circuit and it's functions can be easily followed by the viewer. I don't think I have ever seen a shop/lab with so much test equipment! It must certainly not be used exclusively for a hobby. Whatever your endeavor is I wish for you nothing but success! Thank you for the time and effort required of you to produce such outstanding content!! Kind regards, 73 -- de Mick, WB4LSS

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Mick Bradford Thanks Mick for the very nice comment! I'm glad your enjoying the video's, stop by the channel any time.

[@drteeth7054]

OMG! I have just found my niche in amateur radio is restoring radios. These videos by Mr Carlson are the best. He has such a natural presenting manner it is a pleasure to watch them.

[@bryanbrowning5746]

I just unpacked one identical to this one that my late Dad restored not long before he passed. It works wonderfully, but I think I’m just going to primarily display it. I learned so much watching this video, and appreciate the amount knowledge and skill it takes to properly restore these historic radios! My Dad was an amazing electronics tech, and you are, as well! I think it is a dying art, and I’m glad to see that you are not only carrying it on, but sharing your wealth of knowledge with these excellent presentations!

[@michaelholton3448]

WOW!!!! This is BY FAR my FAVORITE video of yours!!! You have answered so many of my questions. I now know what "loosely coupled" is and WHY it is needed. I know how and where to inject signals and why, and I now understand what the negative voltage does in the AVC section. I have self taught my way thru WW 2 military repair manuals for several types of WW 2 radio sets and, frankly, I'm surprised I did as well as I have in restoring those radios. Much of what I didn't quite get in those manuals I learned by logical trial and error. Just figuring out what outcome I was looking for and working out way to get it done. I hade a good vintage VTVM and vintage signal generator as well as a modern digital signal meter and field strength meter. But with what you have taught me here I now know I could have done better. THANK YOU.😎

[@rjkejk57]

A timeless journey back into the past. It brings memories of electronic repairs and failures, but then we didn’t have so many test equipment that Paul has. If you going to get into repairs and restoration the various test equipment is essential. Great video Paul.

[@MrPatdeeee]

The same for me! The ONLY thing we had was a multi-meter and a scope. NOT "triggered" or multi trace; and I am talking about being an RCA technician and later an instructor for 33 yrs.

[@mhillvo]

Man, this was an awesome restoration video, Mr. Carlson. Thoroughly enjoyed every detail you explained on it's original condition and could hear the huge difference in the audio gain once capacitors had been replaced and the IF frequencies, BFO alignment and other key adjustments were completed. This was far better than any cable or commercial television program I think I've ever watched and as someone who dabbles in electronics and minor repairs a real thrill where my mind just grows thinking of these old radios designed with the point to point wiring they were built with. God Bless you and yours for the love you have for electronics and helping so many understand the raw theory of circuitry that you've acquired over many many years of loving what you do. I have subscribed and plan to support you continuing in this wonderful teaching type of endeavor. Take care and again, thank you, so much. We all thank you, sir. Good night from Cali...I have a US GROL and love electronics as well. I'm sure a lot of us are like this...total curious souls...always learning and tinkering in our garages or workbenches on something or another. That receiver sounds amazing now, such clarity and sensitivity anyone can enjoy hearing. The cleaning alone, had tips well worth remembering to make note of. Lubrication especially, I think. Too many have ruined gear by not being attentive to just where to and where not to apply it. The tape idea on the tuning capacitors, great idea just so avoid having to have that spring and cord not separate from the pulley assembly. Real time saver as well.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your kind comments, and taking the time to write Michael!

[@emanuelmifsud6754]

Mr Carlson, you are simply MAGIC, I can listen to you all day, your knowledge , delivery, mannerisms and voice, are just superb. Take this compliment from a former electronics teacher, metalwork, woodwork, and construction teacher and Material Scientist.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your kind comment Emanuel.

[@MrPatdeeee]

Amen, amen and AMEN! He's the best in my 88 yrs on this earth. I only wish he had been my prof when I went to technical school. It would have saved me untold wasted hours when trying to diagnose and repair electronic's gear.

[@kharakim]

Much appreciate your "production values"-camera angles, lighting, close-ups, clear audio, etc.

[@thomasnewbery7449]

I second that!

[@SteveReevesvlogs]

I would say that this was one of the best repair videos I've seen. You have a great way of explaining how the various circuits work. Top notch job on this repair! Thanks again for taking the time to make this. I know that it's a lot of work to film and edit. Great job!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

***** Thanks for the great comment Steve! Lot's of time in filming and editing this one!!

[@JugSouthgate]

During WW2, replacement parts, particularly tubes, could be hard to find. Having a working radio was a very big deal then; it was most people's main link to the world. It became common to modify sets to use whatever tubes and parts could be found. Changing tube types to get a set working was par for the course. Sometimes such changes were made in the factory, to use available parts.Using headphones with the EC-1 isn't dangerous because the 'phones are fed from the secondary of the output transformer, which is completely isolated from the chassis and cabinet. The tube lineup of the EC-1 changed over time - some have 12K8 for the mixer-oscillator, others have 12SA7, and that's just the ones I know. Probably others.It's just wonderful to see a piece of history brought back, both cosmetically and electrically. BRAVO!!Hogarth would definitely approve.

[@kevinstonerock3158]

I can’t help recalling my dad’s heathkit tube tester whenever I see tubes still in a chassis. After all these years it sits upstairs waiting to be used. The only thing that’s been sacrificed is a number of old tubes in the effort to understand how tubes function in the circuits. Increasing and decreasing the voltage of the plates to see how it affects output voltage, etc.. It was a learning experience for an early to mid teenager. The mad scientist at work, ha ha. I watched the first third now I’ll wait and savor the rest of it when I get more free time.

[@BoboLaTuque]

Fascinating video! I was an electronics tech over 30 years ago and love tube radios. Unfortunately, my career took a different turn and now I couldn't tell a paper cap from a baseball cap. Keep up the great work.

[@philipchandler330]

This is the first radio I had from my dad who had served in WWII. I would love to come across another one. My mother God rest her soul, sent my dad's one to a church sale and it went to a new home without my knowledge.

[@chanrich61]

This is an excellent video. I thought that Carlson's lab goes into depth about everything which allows the viewer of the video to really appreciate what he talking about.

[@mrjason9382]

wow fantastic littel thing. what fm radio with fine tuneing

[@maxpower78-15]

I have one of these at home. The world war 2 vet who raised me gave it to me before he passed. Im so happy to learn about this item. Its proudly displayed in my home theater rack, even though its not plugged in.

[@harrystevens3885]

Watched this yesterday and if KZbin videos won awards this would get a gold one, just superb. Thank you sir for letting us in your world........Just brilliant.

[@aav4bz]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the S-41g Hallicrafters that was a clone of the Echophone when Hallicrafters bought out production. I haven't watched the whole video yet, but I am always impressed with your knowledge ,ability, and the professional production you present, Paul. No I's left undotted or T's left uncrossed! Thanks for all of your efforts!! Have a happy and prosperous new year!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@onefootinthegroove39]

These were made by Hallicrafters from the get-go, done so in the Echophone name because Bill Halligan didn't want to sell a cheaply made radio under the flagship brand. The prewar Hallicrafters entry-level sets (Sky Buddy series) are built like tanks and x-former powered. After the success of the EC-1/A/B, he decided the design was fit for the Hallicrafters name and so the Skyrider Jr. was born. With the postwar restyling it became the S-38.

[@Seeker43]

As a child I was exposed to and fascinated by all my Ham Radio relatives. My first short wave receiver was a Eldeco similar to that one, only mine was larger than the one in this video the bandspread scale had 5 rows of numbers to cover all the bands from AM to 10 meters. MANY long weekends and late night hours were spent in the little shed Dad gave me to do my thing in. The radio is now long gone, wish I had kept it. But in later years I got my ham ticket WA7ZYW and more other calls. We have lived in Europe and I have had Ham calls from England G4vxg, Germany DA2QI and Da1WB and Italy WB4WHU/I7 and Greece N5EQY/SV. I still have a OLD radio with a sandwich tuning capacitor 2 tubes and a S-38 rcvr that needs refurbishing.

[@RUfromthe40s]

ham or AM?

[@jasoneyes01]

Amazing how a simple radio from long ago is not boring and full of surprises.

[@markd.nightingale4266]

Excellent job of explaining details of WHY things are done a certain way...and what pitfalls to avoid when working with this type of radio. I have wondered for years how a proper alignment was achieved and now I know. Thanks again for the magnificent presentation.

[@w.rustylane5650]

I just gotta say I sure do love your videos, Mr. Carlson. I love the old equipment that you bring back to life and I like watching you as you work and explain things. I learn a lot. That would not only be a great CW receiver but a 10 meter receiver as well. I'm getting my Technician HAM ticket next month. I'm really excited about it even though I don't have any HAM radios. I do have a modified CB radio though.

[@paullesho]

The Hallicrafters is my favorite radio manufacturer. I have an EC-1 that I recapped years ago. This makes me want to do it again your way. Great set up you have and as perfect of diagnostics and restore work that I have ever seen to this day, Hats off for your efforts sir. Thank you !

[@miked.4738]

I've taken as much work as Mr. Carlson on SW and old ham radios. My worst project I did was to repair my rained out SB-102 100 watt transceiver world bands. It sat on a picnic table while the 800 volts supply was on and the rig was on. The whole thing blew up, It took a month to repair it, including rewinding all the if coils , band coils and fried wiring. A smoking mess, but I did it as a labour of love, the way Mr. Carlson works, as a labour of love.

[@nathanokun8801]

This radio has about the sharpest, crispest, low-static sound I have ever heard on one of these older radios. A gem!

[@N6MKC]

For reference, in your Hammarlund video, you begin talking about the importance of, and how to find the capacitor's shielded side, right around 37:45. Such a valuable tip!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Jason Atkin Thanks Jason! I guess I should probably dedicate a video to just that topic. I have some even more alarming finds about orange dip and brown dip capacitors!

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Mr Carlson's Lab Yes!! I would love to see it! There is so much that I don't see in books. I haven't seen that in the new Art of Electronics book either, but I haven't studied the whole book yet.

[@erin19030]

I love all that vintage equipment. In my working life I worked in a shop that saw all of it. The Instrument Center of RCA Labs. We repaired, upgraded and calibrated 10000 pieces of test equipment.

[@6A8G]

Hello Mr. Carlson, thank you for a very thorough & clear explanation of this receiver. The icing on the cake for me was during your test sweeps, at 2' 30" 50s there's a burst of reception from the shortwave station "RNZ Pacific." I work for the RNZ company & it's so nice to be heard in your part of the world.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your comment, " Mr mixer tube" :^)

[@chuckvanderbildt]

I'm studying for my ham ticket at the moment, and learning lots. Your videos are simply superb. Thank you.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Glad you're enjoying Chuck! Good Luck with your HAM licence.

[@mAz0888]

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[@woodywoodlstein9519]

In just a few weeks of watching. I’ve learned an enormous amount Nd refreshed what I’d long forgotten about electronics thanks to Paul

[@keithjordan7545]

This is an extraordinarily useful video, especially for a newbie like me. I'm working on a S-38 Hallicrafters, which is a 1946 version of basically what you have on your bench, the restoration was fairly simply and most of it was very straightforward. I decided to do an alignment on it and let's just say that things went from bad to worse, basically because of the very elements you point out in your video. SO tonight, I will add in the resistor's and build the dummy antenna that you have on the back of your set and watch this video again and follow the steps exactly. Yes, the alignment procedure for the s38 uses full volume and is ANNOYING as all get out when trying to align it. I was doing 3 of the 7 steps wrong per your video, so let's declare this a do over. :) Really well done video and VERY instructive. Let's try this again and try it the way you did it and see if it's easier on my ears. Thanks! Keith

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Keith Jordan Glad your finding the video helpful Keith, good luck with your alignment!

[@audiododd]

@@MrCarlsonsLab - I can't quite make out the value of the inductor. Is that 20 micro henrys?

[@austinalbright9837]

You sir, are a national treasure. I don't think I've ever hear a better presentation. Even a laymen such as myself could understand. Great Job!!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Austin Albright Thanks for the very kind words! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@bilhep]

You are amazing! Over two hours and I only got sleepy on the heterodyne theory! The story makes me want to get my shortwave receiver(by Radio Shack and similar to a Sony ICF-2001), which I have not done in thirty years. I would love to do this kind of renewal, hands-on, but I have no test equipment except VOM. I used to have an RM-545 scope but had to give it up for lack os space and loss-of-interest in carrying it around when I was not using it anymore. Thanks for your great teaching! Your material is sure to keep me coming back to your page for a long time.

[@mikekvale3919]

Pp

[@TheRadioShop]

Paul. Simply outstanding. Honestly, I watched this video 3 times already. Why? Because this is stuff you cannot find in a text book. This kind of stuff comes from study, experience, and more time spent listening instead of talking. I really enjoyed this tutorial. Great stuff Paul. I posted this one over at QRZ in our Technical Videos, Info, Skills, Equip Etc thread.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+The Radio Shop Glad to read, your enjoying the video's! Lately I have been finding it hard to build video's like this due to time, but I have one coming that's been in the works for a while. I will check out QRZ, thanks for the kind words!

[@TheRadioShop]

+Mr Carlson's Lab Same with me Paul. I am only up to 21 videos now. Just need more time. Keeping up with you and Peters videos is beginning to be a full time job :)I cannot post links here so the thread is under Rag Chew central II. Title of thread above. This video is in post number 218. Sean and myself is making sort of a technical library there. Keep up the great work Paul and have a happy New Year.

[@jwag869]

You explain so well even Mongo understand some and Mongo just pawn in hobby of radio. Seriously though you do have a gift for explaining what and why you are doing as much as your gift for working on radios. I don't know why it has taken so long to find your channel but I've subscribed and now am playing catch up. Excellent job and if you keep making them we will keep watching and hopefully learning. I really enjoy your work with modern ham transceivers. Through the YT channels of AllAmericanFiveRadio and Joernone I have gotten comfortable with early stuff but I still freak out if I have to install a filter in my Kenwood. Its nice to see you dive into an FT-1000 and guys like me can say "Well that makes sense" and "so that's whats under there".

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

jwag869 Thanks for the nice comment! Many more video's on the way, now to find the time!

[@W-733_KWX]

Again a fantastic video. Besides the tech side, as a French born, I do really appreciate your nice and quality talking English. It's like learning on 2 different fields at the same time. Thank you so much !

[@V109FM]

This is a really well done video and has been very helpful for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything and how these old radios work. There was a lot I had forgotten. I love your renovation of this radio too, very well done! Cheers

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Vickey!

[@stephenmoore2754]

I watched this the day it came out but I wasn't able to post at that time. Great video. I have seen articles on these little radios. In the day that they were built, they were quite something. It appears that the receiver is no slouch for sure. It might have been a bit overwhelmed back in the day that there was lots of CW and AM signals in the Ham Bands, but never-the-less, it is still performing well today. I must keep my eye out for one of my own to add to my collection. Great work. Great video. Thanks again for sharing the lesson.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Stephen Moore Thanks for the great comment Stephen! Glad to share.

[@ThePapa41]

Another OUTSTANDING restoration and added classroom technical explanation of radio operation. Louis

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Louis!

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

Nice video. Love your set up. The final seconds where you sit with all your gear surrounding you looks like your sitting in a metropolis of hardware, What a great receiver that tiny thing is. They don't come much simpler than that, baring the cat's whisker that is. but I was talking about Superhet receivers. I once worked on a TV from the 60's that was all Tag strips and point to point like this, it was a nightmare. Nice point about the capacitor values, things were not really worked out then were they, it is more straight forward today. uF nF pF and the like, you mentioned uuF. On the whole, electronics has got a lot more standardised hasn't it. I liked the point about the use of an Isolating transformer when you work on these, Dave from EEVBlog has done a good video on 'How not to blow up your Scope' Thanks Mr Carlson..........

[@tommybewick]

I finally got a Echophone EC-1 and it's in great condition! It will be arriving soon and I'll be using your video as my guide to restoration, thanks so much and 73!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Great! I wish you success in your restoration.

[@davidallen2573]

Like a good book, I couldn't put it down. I watched through the procedure and I was thoroughly entertained and educated. I will mark this as a favorite so I can return for an encore viewing. Fascinating technique and I appreciate your effort. Thanks for all your work. A new fan.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+David Allen Hi David. Thanks for the kind words! If you like this video, you may also like my Hammarlund HQ-120 Video as well. Take care.

[@AntiqueRadioandTV]

I had to watch the video over several times during the day because I had stuff to do. What a saga of a video that you have done Paul! I love sagas. So much useful information that we could ALL use in our small community of antique radio & TV restorers. So many wonderful tips. Also, you have explained the "Super-Het" functionality in such a concise and easy to understand fashion to us all that have different levels of expertise. There's information here to even the most skilled of us. Bravo my friend and 73s Thanks for the great video, Tom

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

***** Thanks for the great comment Tom! Glad to hear your enjoying the video's.

[@MrsG7swr]

really well made video, love that little radio and how you worked on it, using the safety capacitors was great safety move (with added rif suppression benefit ). I feel a trip to the junk shops in Prague to find a nice old radio to play with that and get my old Dx100 out and get a heat sink on the transistor that makes it drift so much.

[@goosnb]

I'm loving your videos so much and have watched many but this video set me on a search and now I got 3 of a kind The EC-1 , an Echophone Skyrider Jr, and a Hallicrafters Skyrider Jr S-41G. I have been working on the EC-1 but I don't have it working. The Echophone Skyrider Jr is still in the box that it came in I looked at it and put it back till I learn something. The third radio the S-41G is more similar to the Echophone Skyrider Jr and it uses a slug pulled on a string thru the coil to adjust the Bandspread tuning. It was bought as a working radio but it works very poorly so I am about to explore the wonderful world of alignment. This is going to be fun.

[@ianbutler1983]

I never watch anything twice......except Paul's videos.

[@tonytiger75]

I've not only watched more than twice but also taken screen shots.. I'm restoring an EC-1 that was severely electronically butchered by someone.

[@BruceNitroxpro]

@@tonytiger75 , If you have the time, please make a video to show your Echophone, thanks! de KQ2E

[@GEN066]

you wasted 5 hours my friend i only got here beceause of autoplay

[@ddddd651]

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[@ddddd651]

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[@philipchandler330]

My first radio was this one inherited from my day from before I was born 1951. My mom gave it to church for a yard sale. Looking for a replacement. Thanks for the expert training in repair and analysis.

[@TRXLab]

What a great, thorough and comprehensive video Paul !!!! I know how much work it is to produce such a video, my respect! best Peter

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

TRXBench Thanks Peter! Always look forward to your video's as well!

[@billcrowell5096]

Thanks so much for explaining SuperHet to the rest of the class . This is an excellent video that I will be recommending to my colleagues in the amateur radio community. Many times, the theory of mixers and IF chains is simply a schematic. By taking the time to put equipment into play, we can actually SEE what's happening. By having my friends see this video, it will reduce the amount of time that I spend teaching theory!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Bill Crowell Glad you enjoyed Bill!

[@loughkb]

Excellent vid. I'm starting on one of these today and you've saved me a bunch of time. Thanks. Also, I think you warned about using headphones due to voltages and shock risk on this old set, but I noticed in the schematic that the headphones switch and output are on the secondary side of the audio transformer, so there should be nothing but audio there and no shock risk.

[@phillipyannone3195]

That's an amazing little radio. Very happy again.

[@exogarwinoputt4257]

Truly a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Thanks Mr. Carlson!!

[@TefCom12]

John(GeoJohn) helped me with my very first tube radio,.. An EC-1.. Without his help it would have never been possible..

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Stan T. John seems like a very nice fella!

[@RUfromthe40s]

i have 1941 am radio from philips ,AM tube receiver with a huge woofer inside a big wooden cabinet with some metal apliences ,now it´s silent no transmition at all ,maybe with internet it get absolete ,the national transmiters are closed before tv, it was the main device on the living room, neighboors would came to my house to listen to, this before i was born, but national t.v only had 10 years when i was already around, i still live in the same house it was my grand parents house it´s an incredible good house no infiltrations or humidity, and when in summer with temperatures around 40 degrees celsius ,everybody´s house is burning hot and the electricty bill is over the roof because air conditioned is needed ,mine is fresh ,old people knew how houses should be built, nice video ,mine works but it ´s so full of dust inside that i don´t let it on for more than a few seconds, regards

[@edcardinal5434]

In 1944 I was in the United States Maritime Service stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida. I was serving on the training ship American Sailor. The manager of the service exchange obtained some of these Echophone EC1A receivers. I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase one of these receivers. As I remember the price was $15.00. This receiver was in use for about ten years and I lost track of it. The sound quality was not very good but I enjoyed using it. Lost in my travels.

[@BruceNitroxpro]

One extra step you may consider is to do a black and white scan of the tuning scale while it is clean and out of the receiver. You can always edit the scan to resolve any oddity that you may find on it. Printing is recommended at the highest scan you may find on the scanner that your printer can handle.

[@lfowkes11]

Paul - Another fantastic restoration video. The quality of your work is impressive!! I posted a link to this video over on the Antique Radio Forum thread from earlier this month. Keep up the great work.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Larry Fowkes Thanks Larry! Glad your enjoying the video's. Already working on the next.

[@100chuckjones]

this video is a gem. a lot of helpful info for newbie's like myself. I learned a lot from this video. I really appreciate your thorough explanations. subscribed and looking forward to watching more of your vid's.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

chuck jones Thanks Chuck! Glad you enjoyed.

[@PeterDrewVoiceovers]

I finally really understand how a superhetrodyne receiver works. Excellent tutorial. Thanks!

[@keefebaby]

Loved how you did the strain relief on the mains in, excellent work

[@FixIt_Felix55]

Here I am, August of 2020 in a worldwide pandemic watching a 5 year old 2 and a half hour restoration video on something I have not the slightest knowledge even existed, Blasted out of my mind. This is my life RN. Who would've thought 🤷‍♂️

[@Partsocaster]

Please keep videos like these coming. Very inspiring. I just bought my first old radio to restore. A Hallicrafters S-85. Hoping to set up a '50s era ham station in my man cave, desk and all! I build tube guitar amplifiers, so I'm a little bit prepared, but the RF part will a bit different. 73 de N4RMT!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

ShooterReady Great to hear! Ya, RF is a different world alright, understanding it is key though. Good luck with the S-85. Thanks for your comment!

[@steveyoth1]

A very nice video. Mr. Carlson knows his stuff! He must have worked with some old guy with a lot of knowledge. It's great to see a younger fellow so knowledgeable about old radio restoration.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Steve Yothment Thanks for the nice comment Steve!

[@SuperCarver2011]

Vintage tech . Intimidating hodge-podge wiring restoration project. Lot's of "customizing" on this one. You are such a perfectionist Mr. Carlson! Very brave to attempt this project even for KZbin. Reminds me of the 5 tube superhet radio we had to build as a school project back in the 60s. BTW..I have seen large filter caps explode..go off like a gun! Good to see your ballast light isolaton transformer setup. Good to see your IF alighment procedure.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

SuperCarver2011 The result of a few people giving up I think. Thanks for the comment!

[@jean-baptistelasselle4562]

Ow great ! So thank you there exists people like you posting on work on unexpected technologies!

[@DubDado]

your reparied radios are better than the original 50 years ago! master Carl :-) greetings from austria

[@philipchandler330]

Finally found one of these for $30 last Saturday at Blue Ridge Hamfest in original condition, ran some tests supervised by an experienced technician in our YCARS Ham Club. There is some humming sound probably from bad capacitors 47PF will review your video repeatedly for training. Learning to use the old Type 453 oscilloscope I picked up at CLT Hamfest earlier this year. Thanks so much your thorough expertise.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Hey, that's Great! Looking forward to hearing your success with the Echophone!

[@greggaieck4808]

Mr Carlson you are good at electronics restoration of vintage shortwave radio Receivers and Alignment

[@kevingray707]

Excellent video. I hope you keep doing these type of videos showing the details. So helpful and well done. Yes it is long but that is exactly what is needed to help people watching the videos learn so much. Very well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Kevin Gray Thanks for the kind words Kevin! I have another video like this coming soon.

[@michaelpfister9273]

yes I must say your knowledge and presentation is by far the best I've ever seen. good work and keep em coming.thank you.!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks Michael!

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

Thank You Paul,, this is the best on youtube great !!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

***** Thanks for the nice comment Dennis!

[@matthewgilbert8813]

Mr Carlson's Lab 🔬

[@matthewgilbert8813]

Yes you did you get

[@matthewgilbert8813]

Yes but I’ll do a little more time later this evening evening I have

[@matthewgilbert8813]

Ok p👍people in

[@k8ble]

fantastic in all my 67 years I never enjoy it so much, it makes everything my instructor s tried explaining to me. much clearly . thanks again..73's.

[@greggaieck4119]

WAT KOOL LOCKING ECHOPHONE EC _C_1TUBE RADIO FROM THE 40S TEX ME WHEN YOU HAVE TIME

[@greggaieck4119]

MR CARISON YOU DO GOOD WORK YOU DO GOOD WORK YoUR RADIOS WORK GOOD AND WHEN YOU DO ALIGNMENT THE RADIOS WORK GOOD TEX ME WHE YOU HAVE TIME

[@greggaieck4119]

MR CARISON I LIKE YOU VIDEOS TEX ME WHEN YOU HAVE TIME

[@jorgeargerich1091]

Wonderful! Clear & Professional, as usual. I wish you a Happy New Year full of videos !!!

[@bsodmike]

Amazing, watched the whole thing in one go. Loving it!

[@hollowneedles]

This made me realize how well hearing someone flip around on a radio works as ASMR.

[@nathanokun8801]

Not having a dynamic tuning coil system in the radio for the antenna input that changes along with the local oscillator tuning, which is true in some very simple, low-end radios, can be a real pain in places with low station signal power (being "way out in the sticks"). A radio repair/restoration KZbin channel had one of those radios and it had a large diamond-shaped, do-it-yourself wire antenna hooked to the radio with a manual adjustment control at the base of the antenna. Every time the station tuner was changed in the radio, the restorer had to get up and go over to the antenna and move its control to get an acceptable signal -- every single time! This shows how important the antenna adjustment circuits are to a radio in many cases.

[@jerrypeal653]

Gotta give these folks back in the 30;40 and prior a lot of credit pretty ingenious.

[@CH_Pechiar]

Excellent video! Thank you! Encouraged by your videos I did some restoration on a low budget tube radio. I cannot find schematic and it was originally built to a price. Some years ago, when I bought it on a flea market for 5 US I managed to make it work, but last weekend I replaced all caps and some wiring (used your technique to see which way to solder the caps) and it works much cleaner and nice, although less sensible. I need to make the alignments now. Some comments on your videos. For these videos that are so long maybe at the beginning you can put links to the different parts (like restoration, alignment, testing, etc.) so that one can go directly to each part. Anyhow, all parts are interesting to me. Other comment is that you could test using your camera with fixed exposure because sometimes (when there is a lot of white on the image) the camera lowers the gain and relevant parts get too dark. Charlie.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Charlie Pechiar Thanks for the nice comments Charlie! Keep us posted on your success with that radio. The camera is now replaced. That old one was getting pretty touchy in the end. If you watch some of my more current video's, you should see the difference. A new one is on it' way in a day or two :^)

[@marioxuereb5125]

GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS !! I DON'T MISS A THING FROM YOUR EXPLANATION. KEEP IT UP, THANKS, MARIO.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Mario Xuereb Thanks for the nice comment Mario!

[@TonyButchT]

Fantastic adventure within a super repair! I do believe that you have "The Knack"!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Tony T. Thanks for the kind comment Tony!

[@petersvan7880]

Awesome video, this really is content of a very high quality. And with a touch of humor: "So ehh, this is just the beginning" after showing half of the components dismantled ;) Lovely little radio by the way!

[@rich1051414]

Oh jesus. A knot formed in my stomach when you flipped that over. Where do you even start?!

[@thomasnewbery7449]

One capacitor at a time and take it from there!

[@jerdobi]

Great tutorial. You're the best on KZbin for old tube restorations. Just wish you would restore a Hallicrafters SX-100. I need to align, but this tutorial is real close.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+jerdobi Thanks for the kind words jerdobi!

[@freddiemortos8519]

Thank so much for such a long but very informative and very entertaining video. I know it's not that easy to produce a video like this,and I appreciate much your effort. I watched also some of your other videos and I must say you really love your profession as a technician,and as a great teacher to your subscribers :). God bless you.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Hi'gak Iya Thanks for the Great comment! Glad your enjoying the video's.

[@frankkoslowski6917]

Very good. Enjoyed being taken down memory lane. :) Used to play with TV sets using UCC, UF type tubes and similar life chassis issues, long after the VDE had introduced worthy electric standards.

[@Homer19521]

Well done! I have one of these a friend gave to me. Although I haven't done everything you have, I did a fair bit of work on it. It is a surprising performer. Given what you showed here, I'll go back thru it. 73 Bob

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Bob Ograv Thanks Bob!

[@frankowalker4662]

OMG!! You did a fantastic job on that! After seeing the underneath I would have used it as an ornament! :)

[@keithjordan7545]

PS...it doesn't technically have the BFO but has a CW, which is understand is the same thing, to listen to morse code. I would say at this point, with out the alignment my radio is about as far out as it can get. Thank you, much needed instruction. I will try it all and let you know how it goes.

[@johnbecker8768]

My God you are some kind of Wizzard! So amazing sir!

[@gregf9160]

Such a pretty little receiver. Well worth trying to restore! Thanks.

[@Ed-ty1kr]

To get scratches out of plastic you can use a MAP gas torch, and pass the flame over the plastic quickly without stopping. A propane or butane torch is not quite hot enough. You do this after the 1000 then 2000 grit sanding and polishing. You can do this with plexiglass and lexan as well. Which is basically what that is. Actually after any polycarbonate is cut, this method is used to get a nice finished edge anywhere the pieces are cut. And it gives it a nice pampered glass edge look. Just be sure to dry the surface by blowing warm air such as a blowdryer over the surface on both sides. This prevents small bubbles from forming inside the polycarbonate in case it is acrylic based such as lexan. Unless it happens to be a more modern form which is called PETG, that does not need drying. It also happens to be less expensive than lexan. Both have a very strong molecular bond unlike plexiglass which is brittle. In any case, unless you are heating the entire piece in an oven, to lets say vaccu-form it, drying is really not necessary. Its just a simple scratch buffing, then MAP gas flame to get the cloudiness out, repair.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for sharing that info Ed!

[@paulporter2885]

Great job Paul . I always said you very smart on old radio for a young guy ........ 😉

[@mnewman36cme]

Great stuff Mr. Paul. I so enjoy watching your videos!!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks!

[@XPFTP]

just picked one up. after watching video. seen it online auction. wasnt even looking for it. was looking for a singal gen. lol got the ec1 for 15 bucks. underside. yeah total rebuild. wires caps resistors. face is in good shape. dial plastic is in good shape. main tune cord is snaped. shouldnt be to bad. think ill try and make it a winter project. this video will sure help .. good work as always.

[@Stromis_Hobbythek]

Wow, that was the longest video I've seen. That was also very informative. A really nice receiver. I am from Germany, sorry for the terrible English. I have this google translated. which is really dangerous to the receiver, in Germany, we could not operate the without isolating transformer 230V to 110V. And we have personal protection switch that we could use in addition. I myself have 2 tubes radios, where I soon Swap the capacitors. This wax / tar (paper) capacitors and Wima capacitors. Also, the electrolytic capacitors. These are very often failures in the radios. Unfortunately, I have no frequency generator to 16 MHz only to 2 MHz. Since I can only the intermediate frequency matching. But not the Scala Match. Germany has no local stations on AM. I like listening to the etc from America or China, Mexico, India ;-) We still have a SW Amateur stations as weekly is at different times yet Posted. Channel 292, the Internet address is www.channel292.de/ Maybe they can this indeed receive. :-) Frequency 6070 KHz I wish you much success in all the radio restorations, and I am looking forward on new videos. Warm greetings from Germany

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

+Strom Speicher Thanks Strom! Has your AM broadcast band gone digital? Thankfully, it hasn't here yet.

[@Stromis_Hobbythek]

unfortunately have here end 2015 turned off the last AM transmitter, and build the now all for digital. Also FM should be probably until the end of 2025 way. You is maintaining too expensive and rather build it digitally from. I find Goofy otherwise the digital receiver Expensive are the cheapest costs about 40 € Many sites have no reception. and they do not release the frequencies. Private stations may be operated only inductive and with very little power. Some teams get frequencies which then are however very expensive, and may only certain times Send. Thus a tube radio works almost always and everywhere, you just need a wire lengths and can listen to the radio, stations worldwide And the digital radios are very modest by the quality. As for the tone and durability. The hold no 50 or 100 years. Ca 2 years and then the defect, as long as the warranty is. Repairing can be also very rare. The controller can not be replaced often.

[@greggaieck4808]

Mr Carlson you are good at electronics restoration and alignment

[@ivanpolik2782]

what an amazing receive capabilities

[@Gaeill]

Your command of the language is noteworthy. Now on to the next project, an Icom-71A! Thank you

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Gaeill LOL, as soon as I come across one. Thanks for your comment!

[@ferdgreenblatt6011]

@@MrCarlsonsLab I have an R71A. Methinks it needs a bit of work. Let's discuss.