How to prepare a Tube Radio Restoration, and how to keep a record of the project.

I have received numerous requests from channel viewers to describe some of the steps that I take when preparing to start a new Tube Radio restoration project. This video is my response. I'll show you how I decide on the viability of a project, where to get service manuals and other info online, and also how I keep a digital record of my restoration process using commonly available free software.
Hope this helps you on your journey.
Here are some links to the service manual sites I mention in the video:
www.nvhr.nl
www.doctsf.com
www.radiomuseum.org
elektrotanya.com
www.electronica-pt.com
You can now support the channel:
/ mcaldeira
paypal.me/macaldeira
#tuberadios #antiqueradio #radiorestoration
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[@Druidor]

Enjoying your videos, they are turning into a full compendium of information for someone looking to get into classic radio restorations. This video is priceless, knowing where to get diagrams and manuals is imho the biggest hurdle. next is where to get components.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@anandarochisha]

You have a great channel, Manuel..you are doing a great service for the technologically oriented crowd that love these specimens of how the world heard itself expressed through the airwaves...like magic. Thanks for keeping the magic alive.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

It’s my pleasure. I just wish there were more people posting videos on this hobby because I love watching others do the work too 😊

[@richardbrobeck2384]

for sure !

[@ricardoaliasdelatorre6836]

Thank you, the info is always a treasure. Give us a clue about next week project... One of those big as a wardrobe,😮😮 hi-end pick up, radio+amplifier+speakers, that promises so much fun 🎉🎉😊😊

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Just one clue - no gramophone 😊

[@billmartin1591]

Just bumbled into you KZbin page. I’ve a a slightly sick Normandy table radio I brought back from Germany as a flea market or garage sale item. I’ve been a valve nut all my life due from the heat, red glow and that memorable hot valve smell. Thank you for lots of info I need. From Bill Martin, aka KA1TIU from Beautiful, downtowne Luverne Minnesota. ‘73 and cheers!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Welcome. Hope you get your radio working.

[@RocRizzo]

Great video. I like the way you keep organized. Personally, I also like to take many photos of the radio, before I take things apart. I don't do videos, so the still photos will have to do. It has proven helpful many times.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@nazeerabdulrahuman9526]

As always thank you for sharing the very useful informations

[@electronicsoldandnew]

My pleasure

[@josephmagedanz4070]

Thanks for all the tips...very generous and helpful.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

My pleasure

[@markdunstan8277]

These are great videos I love them and always watch

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@Michlag]

I use also Elektrotanya, they are a great resource for service manuals, for everything

[@SpinStar1956]

Great video, great ideas and grateful that you shared with us! Thanks & 73... 😀

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Pleasure 👍

[@markbrownfield437]

This is very helpful, as always! Cheers

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@ianbutler1983]

Thanks. I appreciate your channel.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@mackfisher4487]

Thanks for passing on some good info and insides into of your process Manuel. My guess for the big reveal is the Saba Stereo 1 SRI-16 or Grundig SO 302 Stereo Console (This one is so big it wouldn't fit in the elevator)

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Nope … not that one 😊 close.

[@mackfisher4487]

Size does matter you now

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊 so she says

[@pibbles-a-plenty1105]

Oh, huey! Never having taken a gym class is not good preparation for entering the Olympics. Having seen this over and over again the only way to be successful at restoring old radios is to be damn good at studying to learn AND be be able to overcome failure without regrets piling up. Good luck, DIYers!

[@prutser132]

Thanks for this information. I bought an Blaupunkt Florenz radio. Maybe i give it a try. It powers on but one channel is bad and it plays not very loud. I have many capacators and resistors as well as tubes.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍 good luck

[@BjornV78]

13:50 When you come across a protected file, like a pdf in this case, you can try this trick : Open the pdf and choose to print again to pdf, and then choose only the page(s) with the schematics that you want. The result is a pdf with only the schematics, and this pdf should be editable. Personally i use Windows, and i have CutePDF installed to print to pdf. Another solution would be to open pdf with the schematics on full screen, and make a screenshot. Nice video about the step by step to start a project. Grtz

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@erin19030]

Most of the vintage equipment information I work on comes from my 50 years of experience. I use an iPad to search what I need to know and photograph any and all data from internet data. I do like to study schematics before I begin and I make and keep notes on each phase of restoration. I like those black and white speckled composition copy books for written hand work.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@maartenschapendonk6345]

Enjoy the trip

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks Maarten

[@prutser132]

I found out if you right click and select screenshot, you can select a part of the scematic. Then if you open it in paint you can turn it and magnify it. Then you can make notes and all you can do with paint. I took the transformator part out of the scematic and it is more easy to understand.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@ericklassen742]

Thank you for well-done video... things I never knew. Would you consider make a video to help beginners stock their shelf with common parts and not waste money on things that just take up room. The common items, like caps, and the number of units for each makes the restoration hobby more fun and lessfrustratiing. Amazon has cap kits and resistor kits but there are items that rarely get used. Thanks for considering this request. Btw, your source for obtaining circuit drawings is fantastic!!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I have considered this, but decided against it as the scope of this hobby is so broad, that it’s impossible to stock everything you’ll need. I built up my “stocks” gradually by always ordering a few more components than I needed for a particular project. In this manner I slowly built up my current supply of parts, which means that everything I have is probably something I’ll need, and that is quite daunting: if I listed all the components I have right now and did a rough estimate as to its cost, I think a prospective hobbyist would think, “Hmmm, not for me. I think I’ll take up a cheaper hobby instead. Like golf or formula I racing”. 😊

[@mattking4267]

Hi Manuel! First thank you for providing such high quality, educational content! Your channel has been a valued resource for my introduction into the vintage radio hobby. I have a question for you if you don’t mind. I’m working on a Grundig SO262 U. Currently I’m getting power to all filaments and dial lamps but no sound output whatsoever. Not even static or a hum just dead silence. It had 4 shorted EL95s which I’ve replaced. I’ve cleaned all of the electrical contacts. I’ve also run a signal through the output transformer which came through all speakers successfully. What would be my next logical step here? Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Check everything sequentially: power supply, then audio amp.

[@OIE82]

Manuel, to un-secure it just Print to PDF and save it as a new name. Also, can print just the page/s you want in the new file.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Doesn’t work … I’ve tried it 😊 however, as per a previous comment, it will work if you print directly from the browser, have yet to try that.

[@michaelkern4030]

I hope the monster project is a Saba Freiburg 125. I am waiting for you to restore one so I can learn and start on mine.😅

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@Friendroid]

Tenho um Philco 46-250, ando desde 2005 a brincar com eletronico e só recentemente comecei a reparar aparelhos mais complexos. Já tenho esquemas e vou lendo, mas ainda nao tenho coragem de lhe mexer :)

[@electronicsoldandnew]

O que custa é começar 😊

[@gerardcarson2779]

First rate advice!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@neddi0]

~ 14:00 : You can get the one Site from a PDF even faster, by Printing the Page into a PDF-File. Btw. GREAT Channel, so Thanks ;)

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Just as I thought, but no. That’s been protected against as well 😊

[@neddi0]

@@electronicsoldandnew You're Right, tested it ;) But if you Print the Page from the Browser into a PDF it will work.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Got to try that. Thanks

[@criageek]

@@electronicsoldandnew I do this all the time. Load up the pdf in whatever pdf viewer you use (e.g. Adobe Reader) and print it to a pdf file. Protection is removed. Thanks for another great video!

[@criageek]

Actually, I misunderstood the original comment. What I do is download the schematic to my own machine into a pdf file. And then load it into the pdf viewer, print it to a pdf file, and finally, delete the file I downloaded.

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

I have a vintage V-M Courier 725 reel to reel tape recorder and I would like to add an AUX input to it. Would I connect it at the volume control? Tape mechanism does not work.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That would work.

[@f.k.burnham8491]

I have a question for you: In all my servicing years I have never seen parts that look like the ones at 20:21. They are just to the right of the Bakelite terminal board on the left, next to the tube socket. They have a yellowish body and color stripes for the value. Are they single ended resistors or capacitors? I will assume they are not an early version of a tantalum capacitor. Thanks!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Those are capacitors.

[@f.k.burnham8491]

@@electronicsoldandnew Thanks. I had a feeling they might have been, but with European parts I am never sure when you have never seen a type before. I think I have only worked on 3 European ( All Grundig) radios in my 55+ years of servicing.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@user-eg3yv3xr7s]

What source do you use for obtaining new tubes/valves ?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I normally search on eBay, but recently found a supplier that I am very happy with: www.electrontubes.nl/Voorraad/stockset.htm

[@tanveernaeem1157]

Where do you normally buy replacement tubes from? Thanks.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

U used to search on eBay, but recently found this: www.electrontubes.nl/Voorraad/stockset.htm

[@tanveernaeem1157]

@@electronicsoldandnew Thank you so much. This will help.

[@shawncrowley5102]

Where can I order the bulbs for these radios. The current bulbs look like a small light bulb. Ty

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I get mine at a local electronics shop

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

One ☝️ of your concerns is having to open this radio 📻 up. Not that this is the concern, but the electrolytic capacitors are usually bad. If ya hear 👂 LOUD electrolytic capacitor hum, that’s the telltale sign that the electrolytic capacitors are on their way out. They will give considerable warning ⚠️, even up to a few years, before complete electrolytic capacitor failure. The fact is, ya have to open up the radio 📻 to get to the electrolytic capacitors. I’d also check the vacuum tubes, and speaker 🔊. Sometimes, there can be an open circuit in a field coil speaker 🔊 (if the radio 📻 does not work at all). Ya also need the radio 📻 to be opened 🆙 to determine if the speaker 🔊 is field coil or permanent magnet 🧲. I’m also an old radio 📻 buff 💪. Just give me a shout if ya need help. I may not know much, but I like 👍 any vacuum tube radios 📻 or there. Your friend, Jeff.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊 thanks 🙏

[@erin19030]

In a vintage radio i typically change all caps first as a rule. Once you do that you are on your way. A Tube manual is a must even if you don’t have a tube tester. Even an emission tube tester is useful. I have found the tubes last longer than any other parts. I test them , but not as a preliminary procedure. Visual inspection reveals a lot of potential problems. Even without the 60 cycle hum of a filter Capacitor I know its git to be replaced, that is if it has never been replaced. Having a good supply of tubes most used is a good investment , if you can afford a good tube tester its worth it, but it requires frequent calibration. Time, money and parts.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@bobkozlarekwa2sqq59]

Can you share the service that unlocks the PDF document?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I shouldn’t as it may cause issues with me being accursed of encouraging copyright infringements. However, if you google “unlock pdf online” you’ll find lots of sites offering the service for free.

[@davenone7312]

Do you do restorations for people? I have one that needs restored

[@electronicsoldandnew]

I sometimes do if it’s a radio I particularly want to work on, but the problem is that I live in Madeira, so shipping is very expensive.

[@lacemi]

What models is It?

[@JoseHernandez-md8tv]

Was there not a sticker inside the case?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Nope

[@a2phil]

I have a Tempo one transceiver (aka Yaesu FT 200, Sommerkamp 250) and wanted to know what to do about those multi value filter capacitors in the power supply, I replaced a 3 value one (which I couldn't find ANYWHERE online) for a 2 value one plus an additional axial one for the extra value. I got everything soldered in, but still too scared to try it out, because of my limited capacity of reading schematics, I THINK I got it wired in right, but the LAST time I thought that I almost started a fire!!! Also, do you have (or know of) any videos on troubleshooting the transformer on a tube transceiver power supply??? All I can find were for stereos... Thanks for the video and the help!! A2PHILIP KE8NFK

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Search for those specific videos on KZbin, and you’ll find a few guys who specialise in that.

[@__Dude_]

Probably no need to mention, but still: when working with a computer, save your files often and regularly.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@davids8449]

Valves old chap

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Valves indeed 😊

[@Lilzsnr]

The waiting great radio ... the monster radio .... please God let it be either a 1960/61 Nordmende Tannhauser E330 or a Philips Uranus 54.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@muhammadrafique3903]

Sri nice video RAFIQUE MASTOI DG Khan Pakistan 🏝🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks