Restoration Inspection - How Well Did They Do?

Let's inspect another technicians restoration! This is a Stromberg Carlson radio receiver from 1949. Grab a coffee, and let's get started! Click the SHOW MORE tab below for links.
To learn electronics in a very different and effective way, and gain access to Mr Carlson's personal designs and inventions, visit the Mr Carlson's Lab Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/MrCarlsonsLab
#learnelectronics #Restoration #MrCarlson

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

To learn electronics in a very different and effective way, and gain access to Mr Carlson's personal designs and inventions, visit the Mr Carlson's Lab Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/MrCarlsonsLab

[@Daveyk021]

I figured you would have aligned that in this video. Question: I didn’t notice, with the chassis pulled, was there dial alignment marks on that brown back plate?

[@timteecvhn]

I personally think you should restore it and get it fixed up properly.

[@leonardgoodman6360]

I'd like to send you a new solder station from Metcal. If you like to have it please let me know.

[@harrickvharrick3957]

19:56 for someone who doesn't want those components to move around, you sure are touching and wiggling each and every one of them a lot

[@tomstulc9143]

Can you make my families old philo go again. And my dad's ancient 6 vote car battery ran house cabinet am radio. It's from like maybe the 1920 or thirties from rural Montana ranch country where electrical power lines did not exist.

[@mackfisher4487]

Mr Carlson, After seeing all of your videos I know that you will not let this set leave your bench without bringing it back to factory standards and upgrading it to be a higher safety standard.

[@scratchpad7954]

That's why I love watching his channel. His videos are basically ASMR for budding radio enthusiasts like me. I have even dozed off watching some of his videos, delighted by the knowledge that the radios he has featured have or will come back in many ways better than they were before.

[@davidbeard6851]

Yes, please complete the alignment with a video. Although I've done restoration alignments quite a few times now, it's always a privilege to see this work done by a true master - I have so much still to learn and I know the radio will be better than when it left the factory!

[@z06rcr]

I restored this exact radio about 3 years ago with good results but now am tempted to go back in and check some of the resistor values that I may have assumed were ok. One thing I've learned with these old radios after watching your videos is .......never assume .

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I have been doing electronic work for 45 years, and recapping is always a good idea. a cap that is leaking D.C. will cause tube destruction. I did check resistor values and replace only the ones that had drifted out of tolerance, the problem with that idea is the radio is back in your hands a year later due to another resistor that "FADED AWAY", so now I replace all resistors that are carbon composition.

[@christophermarshall5765]

@@gregoryclemen1870 what resistors do you use? I prefer metal film ones.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@christophermarshall5765 , I still use carbon composition resistors, I also use carbon film, and metal film resistors( these resistors will open up like fuses if too much current is passed through them, and look perfectly good)

[@redemptusrenatus5336]

The "never assume" can also be extended to "never trust the silk screening" on PCBs. Always verify, as you'll inevitably find out the hard way if not, that the silk screening shows the negative lead of some electrolytic cap going one way and when you apply power: POP. Always verify!

[@msd2000]

I restored this same model radio about 10 years ago! Fantastic! I still have it on my piano. I definitely have to go back and evaluate my work after watching this. Thank you!

[@thomashowe855]

These videos are incredible. You were the one who inspired me to start fixing radios, and now I have a zenith clock radio that wakes me up every morning.

[@rickn501s]

You are an excellent teacher. Many You Tube tutorials feature hosts that really know their stuff but can't explain it to others. You obviously "know your stuff" and have the gift of being able to explain it as well. Thank you very much for these videos.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You are most welcome Rick!

[@jimsamuels833]

Absolutely do the alignment (easy to state that from my kitchen table while eating a bagel and drinking my coffee).

[@VintageTechFan]

As long it doesn't have old SIEMENS IF filters in there .. I just restored a radio with them and they are a plain PITA. They don't have any screws, they are just two plastic "straws" inside of each other, you shift the inner one until it is aligned (VERY finicky) and then "weld" them together with a soldering iron. To realign, you are supposed to destroy the inner one (which has the ferrite) by drilling it out where it is welded and then replace it with a new one. The radios came with a few replacement "alignment straws" (Abgleichhalme), but they are usually long lost. So you have to carefully free the old ones and make do. I wanted to strangle the guy who came up with this ...

[@tonybeckett3542]

Hi Paul - Previous Geezer did a clean jobbie in there, change-out the line cap & peak-up the alignment & dial tracking. Sweet little AC-DC unit - Thanks for the video there. Best regards, Tony in S-Africa...

[@ko2fjb]

Do the restore. I appreciate your persistence to accuracy.

[@waynethompson8416]

Yeah...what KO2FJB said! WB4RHA

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Paul, by all means, please do your usual thorough restoration, that is, replace the out of tolerance components, add a fuse, align the radio and restore the case to its former showroom glory. I'm still learning the ropes so all your resto videos are very welcome learning aids for me. Thanks!

[@nathkrupa3463]

Mr Carlson's Sir nice Explain About Radio Repair. Thanking You sir.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You're welcome Nath!

[@towerman75]

I love all of your restorations, but I feel like the real interest in this one particular radio, is the fact that it was designed with the help of a friend, and your Grandfather I.E., Carlson. HiHi

[@OleF112]

Such a fine radio, Paul. Of course we want to see the last miles of the road. i bet you will do it, too ;-) Nobody switches off Freddy Mercury at "We are the champions, my " ;-)

[@jetraid]

Carlson radio for Mr Carlson.

[@gns423]

Stromberg-Carlson! Never heard of that brand, but it has your name on it so it should be good!😊

[@markphilpot8734]

It’s fun to see any restoration videos he makes because you get all the details and always well explained in the process. Irregardless of whether you get it or are just curious, you will learn something. That’s a win win!

[@JohnRaschedian]

Thank you Paul! Like always, I learned a lot.

[@jamespaterson7597]

very interesting mr carlson thank you

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You are very welcome

[@codezero6023]

Just watched Shango066 test out some vintage CB radios. Love see what to happens if you connect a CB to that new antenna!

[@jazbell7]

It's always amazing what a good antenna can do for any receiving equipment at any frequency.

[@donniemoore7055]

I think it would be nice to explain to people, thank you for your help

[@simonlawson2236]

Please do the alignment. One of the things I like is the details you explain in a easy simple way for people to understand. Great work.

[@paul-c7541]

Yes Paul give it some goodness, I also recommend anyone to join on the patreon, Paul's even taught me some New tricks, along with different ways of actually doing the job the proper effective way .

[@thomasmoore8142]

I never get tired of complete alignment! this radio has a few interesting issues to get resolved but none of them are as interesting as the alignment tracking--always a cool project. Thanks in advance...

[@DavidTipton101]

Nice radio Paul, odd that the last tech did a reasonable job with caps and resistors but apparently didn't align it. You know if you want to sleep at night you will fix a few things and align it 😉🙂

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

LOL, thanks for stopping by Dave!

[@davidhoppe6996]

I for one, will never turn down a alignment video from Mr. Carlson...of course! Also, this is for me the fascinating part of your trade, its the one that I have been researching and gearing up for as a hobby. I will never be in your caliber, but I would love to soak up whatever knowledge that is coming from you!

[@johnsmiht7776]

Please realign the set. 65 years ago, when I was working on radios like this, I would tweak the screws to get maximum sound out without knowing what the the right way was. I learn a lot by watching you do it while explaining the reason for the adjustment. Many thanks.

[@genestatler2514]

Yes Paul, please do your magic on it. That's a great radio.

[@mcdugalmcstiffy6889]

I think that's good enough. Nice job.

[@russboden5792]

i agree, there are many other videos showing alignment, this video in itself was outstanding.

[@shango066]

For long-term reliability the capacitors in those IF cans should have really been done. We know that style have chronic SMD and it's just a matter of time

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for your input, and stopping by Shango!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I KNOW THE PAIN( THE TERRIBLE PAIN), what really sucks about it, is getting to them, digging them out( without damaging the coils), and then tacking in var. caps to find out what value was used( not found on print), and then putting in the correct value cap for pri./ sec. sides. well you knew that anyway, I stop in to see what your up to on a regular basis, just like radiotvphononut!!!!!!! have a great day!!!!!

[@shango066]

@@gregoryclemen1870 if you carefully remove the wafers you can measure them fairly accurately. Some are impossible to remove without destroying them

[@SIXSTRING63]

@@MrCarlsonsLab Love your channel as well as Shango. What a contrast of him repairing old tv’s that have been in abandoned mining camps for 50+ years with bare essentials to you in your amazing lab/museum of top notch test equipment. Learned a great deal from you both, along with W2aew( Alan Wolke ) and Joe Smith, the master of DMM torture tests and re- engineering ones that didn’t survive to survive 10-12Kv transient spikes. Joe has swayed my purchase choices on many meters I own after watching his tests. So many talented people on here to learn from there isn’t much you can’t accomplish if you pay attention. Unfortunately there are a few hacks too that shouldn’t show people anything to do with lethal voltage.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@shango066 , thanks for responding back!!!!, the "I.F." transformers that I have problems with are the ones that have the" LARGE RIVOT" in the center of the base, holding the caps together. years ago, when one went bad , I would go to the electronics store and buy new ones, that was 45 years ago!!!!. now "REPAIRING" them is the only way to go, and your repairing something that really was not designed to be repaired!!!!

[@bevonxavier9529]

Hey Mr Carlson love your work...i have been watching your videos and I learn a lot... Watching you from Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹🇹🇹in the Caribbean...

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for watching Bevon!

[@rádiosantigos1958]

Yes! We want to see the restoration. Thanks.

[@weekendwarriorweldingdiypr4604]

I know a lot of people want to see the details on fixing this, but personally, I'd like to see you restore more test equipment. Preferable an old oscilloscope, maybe a big tektronix tube scope like a 555, with lots of discussion about the theory of the scope, the awesomeness of tektronix, and the uses of the various plugins.

[@mikemiller4838]

Yes Definitely want to see more test equipment restorations

[@JxH]

Tuning across the AM band = me driving at night. :-)

[@jjsradioman4876]

Gotta love the Robertson fasteners.

[@danielmarek4609]

I used to work at the old Allen-Bradley. I spent 30 years there and started in 1979. I recall when I first started there they still had the old resistor machines that ran day and night. I can recall walking by those machines every now and then. Eventually they moved that part of their operation down to Texas, right at the Mexican boarder.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for sharing your story Daniel!

[@danielmarek4609]

@@MrCarlsonsLab thanks. I happened to find your channel a few months back. When I was in high school I had my senior year of electronics cover tube technology. Cool to see someone like you so well versed in fixing old tube equipment. I always thought that tube radios sounded different than the newer transistor or even newer radios. Almost like tube radios sounded warmer (not even talking heat). One thing my one year of tubes in HS allowed me to do is fix the tube radio from my 1957 Thunderbird way back in the mid 80's. The hardest thing I had was finding a DC power supply capable of powering the radio up out of the car. Have you ever tackled an old AM car radio on the channel?

[@5cloudwalker]

Restore!!!! I am an artist an architectural artist, I am fascinated not only by the inner workings of electronics but I appreciate your wealth of your knowledge in this area. It all sounds like Gobley goop to me LOL But I find it very interesting and intriguing….Listening to your program I think I know about 1% and I’m being generous of what you’re saying perhaps the rest of it will sink in but still you keep me entertained I enjoy your show

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

As I have the same radio .it's a no brainer Mr C lol Regards from over the pond

[@opus1952]

😎👍 Yes please, go for a restore.

[@seanbryant2848]

It could certainly use your magic touch! I wish I lived closer to you, I'd be one of your best customers!

[@bobvines00]

Paul, as long as either the Customer will pay for the work needed _OR_ you want to make this as more content for your channel, please go all out with tuning/aligning this radio, along with implementing the needed & recommended safety modifications, and refinishing the Bakelite body and straightening the clear plate, along with removing the excess glue. I'm sure that _your_ standards make you want to make it as perfect as you can, but either the Customer or KZbin must pay for your time & efforts.

[@RGB06084]

Thanks again Paul! I'd say go for it on the restore!

[@radiotvphononut]

In the past, I've seen (and, I'm sure you have too) "restored" radios that were actually a butchered up hack job, with some of them being downright dangerous. In many cases, only enough was done to make the radio play weakly on the strongest local station with the volume wide open. It's for those reasons that I rarely buy restored electronics, unless I know who did the work. Even though there were some things that should have been done to this radio before you got it, I'm glad to see it wasn't a total "hack job."

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thanks for stopping by, and taking the time to write!

[@ligametis]

Isn't exterior plastic restoration is the most important thing when talking about ancient tech?

[@thomashowe855]

@@ligametis for me that comes second, radio 1st

[@ligametis]

@@thomashowe855 who would still use it unironically? It might be nice as a decoration and then exterior look is the priority. Even non working but beautiful ones are probably worth more than working ones but rough looking. I am new to this Channel and it looks so foreign if interior is prioritised.

[@Cooper_42]

@@ligametis It’s entirely possible to have a low power a.m. transmitter in your home that transmits to a vintage radio. If it looks nice but the radio part doesn’t work then it’s kind of pointless in that case. If all you want is an attractive object, then by all means polish the case and put it in a physical location and call it done. It depends on the point of having the radio, in my world having both the inside and the outside fixed is the best case.

[@glenncarr2121]

Yes fix it again ! It really does deserve it !

[@JohnSmith-yl6dn]

Yes please restore it again. I have the exact radio.

[@blitzroehre1807]

The job was done reasonably well by the looks, a fuse inline and a properly rated across-line cap should at least be added though. And alignment by the master tech ought to be obligatory because its always a pleasure to watch :-)

[@PelDaddy]

I always do a full alignment on any radio receiver or transmitter I work on. So long as you don't break tuning slugs (only once) it is pretty non-destructive ;-) Thanks for sharing. So my point is, yes, align it!

[@MrRepeters]

Yes, by all means, please let us enjoy a further restore and fully align this little jewel.

[@bignaughtydog]

Dear Mr Carlson. When you ask the audience if we would like to see you do something then you can count us in. No need to ask really but I guess you need a headcount. Great video as usual. Steve, Cornwall, UK. ,⚡🔌🧑‍🔧💡

[@nelsonjoaquim5918]

Great one Paul. I love this tech videos. You are great. I was hoping for a complete episode....maybe the next one 😊. Thanks and peace 🌈

[@WilliamAndrewPhilipBodie]

Changed it from Stromberg Carlson to a Carlson's high quality Radio 😃

[@paul-c7541]

If the previous tech is watching this, he could be doing lots of face palming, having the master of Electronics looking at his work.

[@ariedekker7350]

Thank you for making this video and letting it see me.

[@tfm55x]

Paul, thanks for featuring this radio. I have one like it in my collection that needs to be restored, and I appreciated a preview of what work I may be undertaking.

[@sumplais]

Hot damn! After I started watching your videos I started to notice when a tube radio would show up at thrift stores. The second such radio I bought was this model of Stromberg Carlson. I blame you for this. I would love to see this restoration spruced up.

[@VolkanTaninmis]

Master at work.. fun to watch and informative as well.

[@kenzuercher7497]

Another great carefully described video answering questions I've had since I started fooling with this wonderful avocation in the 1950s and a kid! Thank you again and I'm looking forward to seeing how you "unstretch" the tracking of the dial.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You're very welcome Ken!

[@Stevie_D]

PERFECT timing Paul! I recently received an RCA Victor 8-x-541 in very good cosmetic condition. Just this week I went through and came up with my parts list and ordered my first round of them. I did not power it up as I found a completely dead B+ supply cap and a bad Detector/AF/AVC tube. As always, you gave me a few things to consider! Looking forward to your sharing more on the Stromberg Carlson and other vintage gear.

[@n6vcw]

I used to have that model radio. Loved it. Wish I still had it.

[@mikeclare883]

Go for it Restore IT!

[@hestheMaster]

It needs the across the line capacitor replaced with a safety type one and do a full alignment.

[@VintageTechFan]

Funny thing is that they did use X2 rated 47nF caps as coupling caps ;).

[@marka1986]

When did the line safety cap get paid more attention? Before the internet brought this to my attention the most acceptable thing to do was to use the correct value in a 1kv mylar cap of good quality. Sprague, Mallory etc. Reasoning is in US line voltage is around 340 v pk to pk. So was best to go to 1 kv. Now that I know of course is to use the right part.

[@gregorywest2029]

Always restore, thanks keep them comming.

[@jimgargani]

Keep going with this Mr. C.!!!

[@brianwood5220]

Yes, align this please. Thanks for sharing Paul.

[@darkwing4475]

yup,,, I would enjoy watching the re-alignment of the Stromberg Carlson radio,, :-)

[@stephensams709]

Yes Paul, complete alignment : )

[@raymondlewis2055]

Paul, please complete the build. I learn so much from your videos!

[@hayseed5467]

Very nice, as always.

[@salliemorrill2671]

Did you make another vid restoring this radio? Hope so. Will search for it. As a side note...My dad was born in 1921, & he passed in '87. He was an electronics engineer who loved vacuum tube circuits. Among other things, he designed/built EEG & EKG amplifiers for the USN. I remember he designed a very quiet, but powerful SS mic preamp & housed the power supply separately, outside of the preamp. Got watch him restore a couple of Altec mic preamp, one w/ a compressor. He would have loved your channel.

[@mickward2775]

Yes please do the alignment video always look forward to your videos Mr. Carlson

[@diogeneslamp8241]

Love your videos!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank you!

[@mbak7801]

Please realign as this always makes instructive viewing.

[@radiorexandy]

Yes! Please align. It's 1/2 Mhz off at the low end of the band.

[@soonersciencenerd383]

i have that same radio (the knobs are baklite brown). it works fine. excellent work.my tubes do not have a wire coil around it, like yours.

[@billysharp5894]

Always interesting.

[@towerman75]

I have always enjoyed any of the projects that you chose. And I still believe that you are from the future. As a retired Electrical Engineer with NASA, I worked with many professionals, but never one that knew everything about different aspects of the trade. Mr. Carlson seems to know all aspects, whether it be tube type or SMT, and it just doesn't jive with his age. What's going on ???

[@derekloudon8731]

It's a neat little radio that works well so I think that it deserves an IF tweak.

[@xuolihp]

Alignement Video 👍👍👍👍

[@tgr131]

Mr. Carlson, I definitely want to see you finish this out. It doesn't feel quite right for that radio to pass through your lab and go back out in the wild in less that "Mr. Carlson's best" condition. :)

[@Bill23799]

I remember when i was a boy if you walked into a Salvation Army resale store you would found lots of old Table Top Tube Radios. I think the old tube radios seem to have a richer more mellow sound compared to the new transistor models.

[@thomashowe855]

Absolutely

[@Bazzawombat]

I agree you should do your restorations, especially, no, Essentially the safety aspects- the fuse and AC rated capacitor. Thanks for sharing.

[@madscientist5969]

Yes, Paul...Please tweak and peak this fine old Stromberg Carlson radio receiver. Regards!

[@8alonzo8]

Great video! I vote for restoration and realignment.

[@egomezmx65]

yes, I vote for the alignment

[@WolfgangMahringer]

+1 for the alignment

[@jimrecord6505]

Go for it!

[@2010stoof]

This makes me want to send you my 70s Technics audio receiver that I bought that was restored. It came with a rather large bag of old caps and I saw the new ones inside. But who knows if they did it right. Seems to work great!!! But seeing your videos I doubt any of this was done besides recapping lol

[@roycarlsen3335]

I'd like to see what it takes to get the dial to track again. Please continue.

[@chrisetzel1809]

Mr. Carlson, Years ago I learned resistor color code mnemonic that starts “black zero the midnight hour…brown penny one among many…red cherries grow in pairs….?….yellow dog has four legs….” Have you (or anyone) heard of this? I’ve forgotten a few but would like to relearn as it keeps me from counting on my fingers. Thanks from a huge fan!

[@IanSlothieRolfe]

My physics teacher at school back in the 70's taught us "Bad Boys Ruin Our Young Girls But Virgins Go Without" which was a bit racy for the time, but I confess I have never forgot it!

[@brucepickess8097]

@@IanSlothieRolfe We learnt the resistor colour code by the this little ditty. Buy Buy Rosie Off You Go Birmingham Via Great Western. And the other one - Better Be Ready Or Your Grid Bias Voltage Goes West.

[@jackpreston8762]

Thank you Mr Carlson, so much useful information in all of your films.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

You're welcome Jack!

[@tonybusa40]

Mr Carlson, appreciate your meticulous work and would definitely want to see the tracking correction. I have completely restored a Philco 42-322 with all new wires, caps, and even rewound the oscillator coil transformer. The radio tracking is way off, and came to a conclusion of mismatched capacitance of the oscillating section. So, hope to see your work.

[@pd1jdw630]

It might be nice to see this radio perfectly aligned.

[@teddine7366]

That's my favorite beverage too.

[@electropuff6098]

new vacuum tube radio,nice CLASSICAL RADIO RECEVER

[@funhaveatutti]

I have absolutely no doubt that you will go on to restore that thing

[@6A8G]

Another brilliant teaching video & I thank you. Err..... have you ever considered getting a sidekick named Stromberg?????

[@KubotaManDan]

Yes, please do a complete restoration , and bring back the luster to the bakelite and dial

[@jamesmann1243]

Paul, after being a Radio hobbyist, and restorer, for many years, I could not leave the radio as such. It would have a complete alignment and all the little things you found corrected, not only to make it safe, but also to satisfy not only yourself, but the customer.

[@ianbutler1983]

Paul, That new FLUKE is a man-machine, isn't it? Thanks for the video, I enjoy all of your work. WIll you show us more about your new antenna?

[@Zone1242]

With regard to breaking the neutral rather than the live, I noticed this after restoring a number of European sets. They all had it wired this way. I asked around in my local forums and was told that back in the day the view was that running the live so close to the volume control introduced hum in the set so best to keep the live wire away from that pot. Health and safety it seems was not such a big thing back then.