A few words about myself and Vintage Radio Sounds.Com

My interest in all things radio started way back in the mid 1950’s having passed the 13+ exam I was given a choice of schools that I could attend, Openshaw Tech or err Openshaw Tech, I chose the Latter!

When we got settled in a few of us found we had a common interest in radio and formed a club swapping circuits and ideas. We built the usual kind of thing crystal sets, one valvers, two valvers, and then one day someone (G’day Peter) got hold of a “red spot” and a “white spot” transistor and the world was never quite the same again.

On leaving school I served a five year apprenticeship servicing and building Admiralty radar and communications equipment, all to military specification and all (in those days) valve, no semi-conductors.

From there I joined a large British semi-conductor manufacturer building and commissioning test gear for a wide range of power semi-conductors and also for smaller stuff like the G.E.T XXX and A.C XXX range of transistors.

After 42 years in the electronics industry which including some years working on millimeter wave equipment I finally retired. This gave me plenty of time to devote to my radio collection.

Bringing an old radio to good working condition be it valve or transistor takes many hours of what is sometimes quite intricate work. The sets have to be stripped down, faults diagnosed and any faulty or vulnerable components replaced with new. Once the set is working (electrically) work on the cabinet can begin. Again all metal/plastic trim is removed and cleaned; speaker grilles are replaced where necessary. The covering on some transistor or early valve radios is often damaged or lifted and has to be sympathetically repaired. Similarly wooden cabinets sometimes have to have all varnish stripped and a new coat applied. All work is carried out to a high standard and all the sets I refurbish sound as good as they ever did. Their physical appearance is also good as can be seen from the photo’s, however one must bare in mind that most of these sets are the best part of 50 years old so there may be some slight visible imperfections. If there are any more serious problems they will be mentioned in the write-up on each particular set. A full “soak” test is carried out on each set when refurbishment is complete.

Health and safety is an important issue with old valve radios. The high tension voltages in these things can be LETHAL. If you are new to the hobby here are some rules that MUST be adhered to at all times:

1.DO NOT poke any object metallic or otherwise into any part of the set at                any time. Even if the set is switched off and unplugged from the mains.

2.DO NOT operate the set in a confined space. Some of these old-timers run           quite warm!

3.DO NOT leave the set unattended while it is in operation.

4.DO NOT operate the set near water e.g. Kitchen sink or pint of beer

5.ALWAYS unplug the set from the mains when not in use.

The design of many smaller valve radios is such that it is possible for the chassis to be “LIVE” (240V A.C) if this is the case all fixing screws that could be of a hazardous nature will be replaced with non-conducting types If the screw head is in a recess the recess will be sealed, do not remove this seal.

All mains powered radios will be fitted with new 2 core brown (live) blue (neutral) mains cable OR a 3 core brown blue yellow/green mains cable if the set is of the type that requires an earth connection. Appropriately rated fuses will be fitted.

I know there are quite a few “DO NOTS” but its only common sense and lets face it, its better to be safe than sorry.

All my mains powered radios will have warning labels discreetly placed on the back and underside. Purists might not like this but as the song says: “That’s just the way it is”

Each radio will be issued with simple operating instructions and a list of “Do’s and Don’ts”.

Transistor radios that are powered solely by batteries are quite benign and can be treated like any modern battery powered radio. Another type of radio, the battery valve type of the 1940’s and 50’s sometimes referred to as “picnic radios” do have quite high voltages in them (up to 120V D.C) and must be treated with due respect . The battery life of these sets tends to be shorter than with transistor types.

Anyway enough about me and the site. I hope you find the first batch of sets interesting, more, including valve types will follow in due course.

Postage will be via Royal Mail for small items and Parcel Force for larger.

Prices as per the current Royal mail/Parcel force

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