Staying Busy at Texas Vintage Audio

[Texasrocker]

Just completed full electronics restorations on a Philco model 49-1611 AM/ FM chassis ,and a Silvertone model 2014 bakelight set for my customers. Next up for customers full electronics restorations here, a 1941 RCA Victrola "Anniversary Model" V-215 chassis with separate push button tuning assembly via wiring harness with loose field coil mounting on the 15" speaker, then next up, a 1935 Airline model 62-150 with a very cool airplane style dial pointer. It is always interesting the different old electronics we receive for restoration here. Staying busy is a good thing here at my shop, where we service all brands and scratch our heads alot. And I can remember when I thought rebuilding muscle car engines was fun! When I get in a bind here working on old radios, I will need some moral and technical support in the future. The Best friends I ever met are on forums like this one!! And there isn't a vintage radio chassis out there that can't be problematic to restore. That's where the "fun" begins!! Working together, we can overcome anything?.. (hee hee),.. And it's really all about all the nice people we meet along the way that makes this hobby so much fun!! Restore all them old Radios friends!! ol' Tex
http://www.texasvintageaudio.com

[Doug Houston]

Just be thankful that the RCA V-215 isn't a V-225 with changer troubles.

[Ron Ramirez]

Tex, you are staying busy...and that is a GOOD thing!

I'm finishing up a 5-band 16B chassis for myself, and will soon be tackling a 41-616 which is going to be a huge project. Literally!

"Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together." - Red Green

[Texasrocker]

After finally getting time to closely inspect this RCA V-215 chassis, it is a real basket case! All the wiring is crumbly, tube guide bases broke off underneath one of the 6F6 tubes, and the 5U4 rectifier. Static tests proved the ac trans is fried, ac trans burnt inside with winding shorts. This 9 tube set uses a hefty current power supply ac trans in a small package. AES replacement ac trans to handle replacement on this chassis costs $ 76.85 + shipping in addition to all the hours labor involved in 99% new point-to-point wiring, all new caps, replacement tubes needed, any resistors needed etc. I notified the owner by phone to talk to him about the massive expense to restore, haven't heard back from him yet. He could purchase a new small screen HDTV for the same money it will take for me to restore this set working at minimum wages to get it safe and provide many more years of dependable service. I do NOT cut corners here. I stand behind my work 100%, I don't do patch work on any vintage electronics repair(s). If the customer passes because of my price to restore his bad flea market purchase on this V-215, I will move on to the next job here in my shop.
@ Doug... I do not service phonos here, I suggest customers send them to west-tech, I do way too much vintage radios chassis' & other tube amps, etc. electronics restoration work here to be slowed down messing around with old phonos. I have restored several old phonos in the past in my old sets. I prefer restoring chassis' only. Most of my customers do not care if their old phonos still work or not.
@ Ron, Congrats on restoring your Philco 16 B !! Know you will do an Awesome restoration indeed! , And like Red Green says: "if the ladies don't find you handsome, make sure they find you handy" !!... or somethin' like that. ( hee hee)
Glad to hear you guys are stayin' busy also!!