Q1. I
have cleaned out my grandparents' house and found an old
valve radio with a wooden case, is it worth saving and
what would be its value?
A1. The value of old radios
can vary significantly depending on the age,
manufacturer, model and of course their condition. Old
radios appeal to a limited group of people: knowledgeable
collectors and electronic specialists and those who have
no knowledge but would like an old radio to fit their
house decor. Check on-line auction and sale sites for
details. These usually provide an image to illustrate the
item and possibly identify your radio.Q2. I have been given an old
cream radio by a neighbour who said that it doesn't work
and made a "bang" when he last switched it on.
What could be the problem?
A2. The problem could be one
of many components that might have failed. The
AVRS strongly recommends that you have the radio checked
for safety before proceeding any further with making an
assessment. Many old radios can be unearthed or
poorly earthed and many components may have defective
insulation leading to a live chassis and knobs. The
repair of an old radio to bring it back to satisfactory
operating condition is unlikely to be as simple as
replacing a couple of valves as many other components can
have failed or be out of tolerance. The AVRS often runs a
"fault finding workshop" for its members during
its monthly meetings.
Q3. Does the AVRS
provide circuits for old Australian radios?
A3. The AVRS has a collection
of circuits and alignment details for many old Australian
built and some overseas radios. These are not generally
made available outside the AVRS. However AVRS members
have access to the library, circuits, handbooks etc. A
request on an on-line auction or forum may provide a
circuit and tips to assist you.
Q4. I think one of
the valves in my radio is defective. How can I test it?
Does the AVRS sell new (old) valves?
A4. Access to a suitable valve
testing equipment is desirable in the first instance to
ascertain the condition of the valve. Note that a
component in the radio circuit may have failed causing
the valve to be overloaded and subsequently fail.
Therefore it is desirable to confirm that the rest of the
radio components are all OK before plugging in a new
valve. The AVRS has a collection of new and used
"old" valves plus other new components. These are only available to AVRS
members through the AVRS Parts Service.
Also try a search on-line or one of the vendors listed
on the Links page.
Q5. I have been given an old
transistor radio from the 1960's. It appears to be in good condition
but I can't find a battery that will fit to try it out. Can
another battery be made to fit?
A5.
Probably yes. In many situations a replacement battery can be
constructed using smaller commonly available cells. A reputable
radio electronics repair specialist should be able to do this.
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