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This was in a guy's woodshop. Bad filter capacitor, but it seems to work otherwise.

This was in a guy's woodshop. Bad filter capacitor, but it seems to work otherwise.

(post is archived)

[–] • 1 pt

You made Mr Carlson's Lab cry.

[–] • 1 pt

You have to start somewhere on these old devices. There's really nothing that can do much in these, even if the filter is shorted. They just hum.

The things were stupid simple and could run on AC or DC.

[–] • 1 pt

If you decide to turn it on, use a variac (variable transformer for power input); also, almost all of those old tube radios are chassis grounded and you can get a nasty shock if you touch the metal chassis. There are a couple of companies, "RadioDaze" is one of them which sell parts including "old-new-stock" components. I restored an old Hallicrafters Barn radio a few years ago that one of our VFW guys found in his late father's tobacco barn.

[–] • 1 pt

lol, no. With an AA5 I just plug the damn thing in straight. I'm not digging the iso trans and variac out for this thing.

There's no transformer or anything, if the filter is shorted (and it is) it just goes "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR." It did exactly what I expected. Need to clean it out and check the grid caps and get a filter in there, I suspect it will work fine. The tubes in this thing are so baked I think I'll have to sell the guy a set out of my stock, I've literally never seen the getter on a 50C5 that black.

[–] • 1 pt

You've definitely got a handle on the repair job, Patriot.

[–] • 0 pt

This type of radio doesn't need any special handling. Plug it in and see where the smoke is.

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Awww man, most of my barn finds are in non working and borderline non-restorable condition. The worst is when someone tries to plug it in with all that dust/hay/poop up in the chassis and something starts smoking.

Plus the veneer on the wooden cabinets is almost always destroyed.

What's your favorite/best find?

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I had someone tearing down a house and found an Eico HF-81 stereo tube amp. I used it for a long time but did some work on it and eventually sold it off.

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Oh nice! I currently have a fisher 500-c for my audio setup.

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I've been looking for a nice example of Hallicrafters S-38x. I want a tube AM radio, but the ones in the mini tube era (The All-American-5) are starting to develop silver mica disease.

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Bakelite?

[–] • 2 pts

The circuit board is, yes. The cabinet is pink plastic, it looks to be a late 50s / early 1960s unit. Wave solder circuit board with a couplet.

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Nice.

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Did a little research. It's a GE T-125A in Carnation Pink. Made sometime between '61 and '63. There are plenty of pictures of that model out there.

This one is in pretty decent shape for being in a shop. Cabinet is stained, but intact. No chips, cracks, etc. Tubes are completely baked out. Will try and get a picture of it tonight.