Welcome to Dave's Antique Radio & TV Restorations, where radio restorations start at just $49.99*. I restore Antique Radios, Antique Automotive Radios, Antique TVs, and Antique Musical Instrument Amplifiers (guitar amps). Generally speaking, I think of antique electronics as containing electron tubes, also known as valves. An antique type collectable is also defined as being over 25 years old. So an antique radio can contain transistors, which started to appear as early as 1954. Except for the picture tube, many tvs were fully transistorized by the early 1970s. Many people prefer the sound of tubes to transistors in an amplifier. They give a richer warmer sound. So tubes are still being used today in guitar and high end audio amplifiers.
* plus sales tax (NY State Residents) and return shipping

I define an antique electronic restoration, in its most basic form, as the replacement of all paper and electrolytic filter capacitors. Then if there are any other defective components, they are replaced. Back in the early days of radio, certain capacitors weren't made very well. These are the paper types used in consumer electronics. My guess is that they were built this way to save money. The paper used as an insulator in these types of capacitors wasn't acid treated. So over time, the paper would deteriorate the capacitor. Even when they were in use, if they dried out or took on moisture, they would be ruined. There were better types of capacitors that could have been used. But they weren't.

In order to use one of these radios now, all those old style paper and electrolytic capacitors must be replaced. If any are not replaced, they fail a short time later, once the radio is put back into use. The electrolytic capacitors that were used back then and even through the 1960s and 1970s seem to have a shelf life like a battery. These work like a battery, in the way they hold a charge. After a while, they no longer hold a charge and a loud hum is heard through the radio's speaker. In addition to not holding a charge anymore they can leak electronically, causing them to act as a resistor or a dead short circuit, capable of doing extensive damage to a radio. So the best thing to do is not plug it in until the paper and electrolytic filter capacitors have been replaced.

Most of the time a basic antique electronic restoration, replacement of all paper and electrolytic capacitors, brings the antique electronics back to life, with better than new performance. But sometimes, symptoms appear that were masked by the defective capacitors. So more work has to be done to troubleshoot and replace other defective electronic components, such as transformers, coils, resistors, tubes, and other types of capacitors.

Also, because the antique electronics may have not been used for many years, some parts will need some mechanical work. Volume controls get dirty and scratchy sounding. Dial cords in radios are difficult to move or snap. Cleaning and lubrication of mecanical parts is included in the restoration. So is alignment of radio tuners, if necessary.

Now you can listen your your favorite Oldtime Radio Shows. Visit the Oldtime Radio Catalog (OTRCAT). Please tell Jon that you saw his link here.

I have moved my old Borg Web site to this web site. Click here to see it. There's a link on my Borg Home page and on most of the other Borg pages that will bring you back here. If you prefer the Borg pages, they are there for your convenience. If anything changes on my new web pages, it will be reflected on the old pages. Soon I will be leaving those Borg Web pages and I'd really miss them if they were gone. So it's a convenience for me too.