TUBE RADIO REPAIR | ANTIQUE TUBE RADIO REPAIR

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Amateur Radio Repair, Yaesu, Icom, Kenwood Transceiver Amplifier Repair

Antique Tube Radio Repair

We restore, repair, and align antique tube radios. We provide repair services ranging from simple maintenance tasks to major overhauls and alignment. If you have a vintage tube radio in need of repair, we will take a look at it. Obviously, we cannot give you an estimate until we place the radio on the bench and check it over to find what the problem is. Do bear in mind that an estimate means exactly what it says. We can only give you a rough guide as to the total repair cost because, once the radio is on the bench for repair, we might discover that it needs more work to bring it back to working condition.

Turn-around time to repair a vintage tube radio depends on the current work load, and how long it takes to get hold of a tube or other part that we may not have in stock. We have thousands of spares in stock, including thousands of tubes, but we don't have every part for every make and model of vintage tube radio. Each repaired radio is given a burn in test, which means leaving it on all day every day for up to a week. The reason is that a radio of fifty or more years old, which might not have been used for many years, may develop other faults. So, be prepared to leave your radio with us for a couple of weeks, or longer.

Electronic restoration of antique tube radios is separate from cabinet restoration. In other words, an estimate to repair or restore your radio will not include the cost of repairing or restoring the cabinet - unless otherwise stated. During a radio repair or restoration, we will give the cabinet a quick clean and polish as part of the service procedure. However, full cabinet restoration, including speaker cloth replacement, is a separate issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are you qualified to repair my antique tube radio?

Yes, we have been repairing vintage tube radios for for over 20 years. We have repaired over 1000 tube radios during that period. We can repair any antique tube radio from the Admiral 4A1 to Zenith Zenette. It does not matter how old or new the radio is. We can handle it.

2. Why an authorization is required to ship my radio to you for repair?

This is the most efficient and responsible way to run a repair shop.

3. What work will be done on my tube radio?

If we agree to provide a full service of your vintage tube radio, we will do the following:

Dismantle the radio, clean the chassis and interior of cabinet;
Locate and repair the fault(s);
Replace all wax coupling and decoupling capacitors;
Replace mains filter and aerial capacitors using Class X or Class Y capacitors for safety reasons;
Check all resistors for signs of burning or deterioration;
Replace electrolytic capacitors where necessary;
Check all rubber grommets and tuning gang mounts and replace where necessary;
Check internal wiring and replace where necessary;
Check earth tags and connections and tighten where necessary;
Check connections to, and safety of, mains dropper if applicable;
Replace dial lamp bulbs if blown;
Replace dial drive cord if worn or broken;
Clean and lubricate dial drive pulleys, tuning capacitor bearings, all switches, and potentiometers;
Test and replace tubes as required;
Carry out full RF & IF alignment;
Check loudspeaker for cone damage and sound quality;
Fit new mains lead and plug if not up to Canadian standard;
Test insulation on mains transformer (where fitted);
Clean cabinet, knobs, etc;
Reassemble radio;
Burn in test the radio for several days.

4. Is the work done on my vintage radio warranted?

All repairs are warranted for a period of 90 days. In the unlikely event the radio should develop the same problems within 90 days. We will repair it free of charge and pay all shipping charges.

5. How long will it take for me to get my vintage radio back?

In case of vintage tube radios, turn-around time depends on the current work load, and how long it takes to get hold of a tube or other part that we may not have in stock. We have thousands of spares in stock, including thousands of tubes, but we don't have every part for every make and model of antique tube radio. Each repaired radio is given a burn in test, which means leaving it on all day every day for up to a week. So, be prepared to leave your radio with us for a couple of weeks, or longer.

6. How much will it cost for me to get my vintage radio fixed?

We charge Canadian $75.00 per hour for our services, including diagnosis, repair and shipping of equipment in question. Cost of parts, tax (if applicable), and cost of packaging and return shipment are additional. All antique tube radio repairs require a deposit for the estimated cost of authorized work and parts that need to be ordered. Do bear in mind that an estimate of repair cost means exactly what it says. We can only give you a rough guide as to the total repair cost because, once the radio is on the bench for repair, we might discover that it needs more work to bring it back to working condition.

7. What do I need to do to ship my radio to you?

Detailed instructions on engaging our repair services are available here. Shipping the radio by UPS or FedEx is the preferred method. The radio should be at minimum double boxed (heavy radios preferably triple and quadruple boxed) and have at least 6 inches of soft packing around it. Detailed packaging and shipping instructions are available here.

8. How do I pay for the repair of my tube radio?

After all approved work is completed an invoice is prepared and sent to you by eMail for payment. Payments are made online through a secure payment processing gateway administered by PayPal. You can use your PayPal account to pay or your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card. Once the transaction is completed you will receive an eMail receipt.

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