[Brockkrak]

Hey all, I am in need of a full restoration of my model 87 chassis. I thought i had a guy for the job but turns out i don't. I don't want to do it myself. I see a lot on the philco repair bench for people in the radio business offering services. I want to the raw reviews of whos the best/ problems or issues you have had. in other words who do you trust shipping a 80 year old family heirloom to for restoration? Thanks gang

[klondike98]

Welcome to the Phorum!!
Can't help with any personal reviews as I have not used any but others will chime in I'm sure. To be clear, you are looking for electronic chassis restoration only, not cabinet restoration?

[Brockkrak]

Welcome to the Phorum!!
Can't help with any personal reviews as I have not used any but others will chime in I'm sure.  To be clear, you are looking for electronic chassis restoration only, not cabinet restoration?

yes sir electronic restoration

[morzh]

Are you looking for

- faithful to factory looks restoration of underchassis, with restuffed caps, molded dogbone resistors etc, or mid-way, or simply for it to work with new parts installed and not hidden?

[Brockkrak]

Are you looking for

- faithful to factory looks restoration of underchassis, with restuffed caps, molded dogbone resistors etc, or mid-way, or simply for it to work with new parts installed and not hidden?

Not sure what you mean new parts installed new hidden. 

[Brockkrak]

Restoration to me means make it like new how ever the expert goes about it is why there the expert. I know no radio technical terms. Just make it like it was new fully functioning and operational taking no shortcuts

[Radioroslyn]

I'd do it. I'm very familiar with the 87. But I'm a bum.
Have to much projects going on.
Sorry OM.
Terry

[morzh]

Explaining:

New parts look very different from old ones.
For some people it does not matter, they care only about functionality, the parts are under chassis, so no one sees them.

Some folks want old parts, like capacitors, restuffed with new parts. And using cloth covered wire. This way it looks more authentic.

A few people like it authentic looking under chassis all the way, that is if a resistor gets replaced (you cannot restuff od resistors with new, unlike capacitors) a new resistor is molded over with epoxies, or gets otherwise inserted into something, and then painted to the oiginal specs to look exactly like the old one did.
Then chassis itself may need or need not to get cleaned in such a way that it looks factory fresh.

This last one performed by very few folks.
Russ is one of them, he does museum quality restorations. I am sure this should cost quite a bit more than functional restoration. Which is good enough for many, after all the radio will operate to original secifications.

[Brockkrak]

Thank you for the explanation. In my situation I'm going for new parts and objective based solely on functionality.

[Ron Ramirez]

The home page of Russ' website states that he is no longer taking in radios for restoration. He is one of the best, his restorations look outstanding from the photos I have seen.

I might mention that the better radio restoration people stay booked up for a year or two in advance. If this is something you need done yesterday, it simply isn't going to happen. With some patience and searching, though, you should be able to find someone.

Some are listed here:
http://www.philcoradio.com/resourceb.htm#s

[klondike98]

In addition to the resource list Ron mentioned there is a Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club that has a couple listings of folks that do repairs. Since you are just looking for restoring functionality rather than a museum type restoration I suspect they would be competent if listed on the MAARC site and they would be in the Maryland area.

[simplex1040]

I am booked for a few months yet.

[OldRestorer]

I am not booked up.... but I suck at electronic work, lol

Kirk

[morzh]

If you were local to NJ or within driving distance I could try to help but shipping those chassis' is a bear.

[Mondial]

Brockrak, whoever you decide to use to restore your radio, make sure they use polyester or polypropylene film capacitors for the power supply filters. 

Many so called restorers will try to use tiny modern electrolyic capacitors for the original low capacitance paper filter caps. Todays 1 and 2 microfarad electrolytics caps were not designed to withstand the high ripple currents they would be subjected to in this service and will fail in a short time. Film caps on the other hand are designed for such conditions and will last almost indefinitely.

In fact, in discussing restoration of your 87 with prospective restorers, mention the original paper filter caps and what they plan to replace them with. If they say electrolytic caps and do not understand the potential problems, look elsewhere!