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- From: vancleef@netcom.com (Hank van Cleef)
- Subject: Rec.antiques.radio+phono Radio Spares and Services(FAQ: 5/9)
- Message-ID: <antique-radio+phono-faq-5-845766911@netcom.com>
- Followup-To: rec.antiques.radio+phono
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- is over 3 months old, please obtain a new one.
- Keywords: FAQ OLD-RADIO OLD-PHONO
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- Organization: Bluebonnet Firebottle Works
- References: <antique-radio+phono-faq-1-845766911@netcom.com>
- Date: Sat, 19 Oct 1996 23:15:28 GMT
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Expires: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 01:15:11 GMT
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- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu rec.antiques.radio+phono:28616 rec.answers:24814 news.answers:84801
-
- Posted-By: auto-faq 3.1.1.2
- Archive-name: antiques/radio+phono/faq/part5
-
- Rec.antiques.radio+phono Frequently Asked Questions (part 5)
-
- Revision Date Notes
-
- 2.0 11-1-94 Revised version from Aaron Field. (this version was
- previously posted to the newsgroup).
- 2.1 1-7-95 Added some material to Aaron's list.
- 2.2 7-8-95 Removed Aaron Field's address as he apparently no longer
- has an Internet account at the address listed. Our thanks to Aaron for
- having done the work to get this list started.
- 3.0 10-95 Did a whole bunch of work on the list. Added material on
- tubes and schematics.
- 3.1 Nov 19, 95 Move from part 4 to part 5
- 3.2 4-96 Add new sources, tube buyer notice
-
- Part 5 - Sources of materials, supplies, and bibliography for antique
- electronics
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The most frequently asked question is "where can I get vacuum tubes?"
- TUBE SELLERS:
- Antique Electronic Supply
- 6221 S. Maple Ave
- Tempe, AZ 85283
- Tel: 602-820-5411
-
- Contact Daily Electronics
- P.O. Box 5029
- Compton, CA 90224
- Tel: 800-346-6667 (Orders)
- Tel: 213-774-1255 (Tech)
-
- Don Diers
- 4276 North 50 Street #SC3
- Milwaukee, WI 53216-1313
-
- DNF
- 6690 7 Mile Road
- South Lyon, MI 48178
-
- Electron Tube Enterprises
- Box 8311
- Essex, VT 05451
- Tel: 802-879-7764
-
- Fair Radio Sales
- Lima Ohio
- Phone: 419-227-6573
-
- Kirby
- 298 West Carmel Drive
- Carmel, IN 46032
-
- Lippert N61W
- 15889 Edgemont
- Meno Fls, WI 53051
-
- New Tube Co.
- P.O. Box 202
- Middle Village, NY 11379
- Tel: 718-894-2131
-
- Quest Electronics, Inc.
- 5715 W. 11th Avenue
- Denver, CO 80214
- 303-274-7545 Voice
- 303-274-2317 Fax
-
- Steinmetz Electronics
- 7519 Maplewood Ave
- Hammond, IN 46324
- Tel: 219-931-9316
-
- Michael C. Marx
- SND Tube Sales
- 5389 Ville Rosa Lane
- Hazelwood, MO 63042
- 314-770-0119 phone
- 314-770-9448 fax
- email: tubes@i1.net
- (furnished by Dan Schoo)
-
- (Note, this is not a supplier, but a buyer of old tubes. I'm copying
- the posting slightly trimmed down).
- -----------------------------------------------------
- I am the Purchasing Agent for Antique Electronic Supply in Tempe, Arizona. We
- purchase tubes (or valves, as the English call them!) for resale. Anyone who
- is interested can contact me at tubes@crzyone.com, and I can send them via
- email the current bid list for tubes we have a need for and our current bid
- prices.
-
- For further information, email me at the above address or call (602) 820-5411.
-
- If you want to check out the web sites for a couple of tube manufacturers, try:
-
- http://www.svetlana.com for Svetlana Electronic Devices
- http://www.rell.com for Richardson Electronics.
-
-
- Edward C. Bender
-
- -----------------------------------------------------
-
- Q: Where can I get tubes, electronic parts, knobs, dial lenses,
- grille cloth, schematics, literature, refinishing supplies, etc.?
-
- A: The following suppliers carry a variety of merchandise for
- collectors and restorers of vintage radio/phono/TV/jukeboxes. Catalogs
- or inventory lists are available from all of them. Following this list
- is a directory of commonly needed items, with additional sources.
-
- 1. Antique Electronic Supply, 6221 S. Maple Ave., Tempe, AZ 85283,
- (602)820-5411: Great source for tubes, components, restoration
- supplies, books, etc. If you're new to the hobby, start with
- the AES catalog--it's indispensible!
-
- 2. Puett Electronics, P.O. Box 28572, Dallas, TX 75228,
- (214)321-0927: Incredible supply of literature and service
- data, also some parts. Good source for collectors of
- E.H. Scott and McMurdo silver radios.
-
- 3. Play Things of Past, 3552 West 105th St., Cleveland, OH 44111,
- (216)582-3094: Plenty of hard-to-find parts for the earliest
- radios, including rare tubes. (Probably the best source for
- original parts on 1920's sets.) Lots of literature as well.
- Excellent catalog.
-
- 4. Old Tyme Radio Company, 2445 Lyttonsville Rd., Silver Spring,
- MD 20910, (301)585-8776. Tubes, vintage parts, radios,
- test equipment.
-
- 5. Great Northern, P.O. Box 17338, Minneapolis, MN 55417,
- (61) 727-2489: Lots of stuff for collectors of Zenith radios--
- parts, literature, T-shirts, service data.
-
- 6. Vintage TV and Radio Supply, 3498 W. 105th St., Cleveland,
- OH 44111, (216)671-6712: Nice selection of books, tubes,
- knobs, components, refinishing supplies, etc. Much better
- knob selection than AES (#1 above). Good catalog.
-
- 7. Wade's World of Knobs (Wade and Joe-Ann Terrell), 7109 E. Arbor Ave.,
- Mesa, AZ 85208, (602)830-7849: Reproduction plastic knobs and dial
- lenses, etc.
-
- 8. Antique Radio Labs, R1, Box 41, Cutler, IN 46920, (317)268-2214:
- Limited selection of various parts and literature.
-
- 9. Don Diers, 4276 North 50th St., Milwaukee, WI 53216-1313:
- Nice selection of tubes and vintage parts. Tons of caps!
- Fun to read catalog!
-
- 10. Triode Electronics, Box 578751, Chicago, IL 60657, (312)871-7459:
- Jukebox needles, cartridges, tubes, other parts.
-
- 11. A.G. Tannenbaum, P.O. Box 386, Ambler, Pa. 19002;
- Tel: 215-540-8055: Vintage parts and literature, test equipment.
- NOTE: Tannenbaum has moved. New address per their telephone recording
- is PO
-
- Additional sources are contained in the following directory of
- commonly needed items. The list is currently geared mainly towards
- radio, but phono/TV/jukebox collectors should find useful sources
- here as well. The sources listed above are referred to by number.
-
- Books--
- Best source for currently published books on collecting and restoring
- radio/TV/phono etc. is #1! For vintage literature, see "Literature"
- listing below.
-
- Capacitors--
- #1, #6, #10 all have good selections. #10 may be the best.
- Custom rebuilds on single or multi-unit can caps are available from:
- Frontier Electronics, 403 S. McIntosh St. or Box 38,
- Lehr, ND 58460, (701)378-2341. Price list available.
-
- Coils--
- #1,3,4,6,8,9 all have various coils, chokes, and transformers,
- both originals and replacements. (Try #3 first for original
- 1920's and 30's stuff).
-
- Decals--
- Decal reproductions of the following logos are available from
- #1,4,6 (and probably others): Philco, Atwater Kent, Zenith,
- Stewart-Warner, RCA, Stromberg-Carlson, Admiral, Emerson, GE,
- FADA, Garod, DeWald, Belmont, Sonora, Magnavox Lion (for horn
- speakers).
-
- Dials--
- Reproduction tuning dials available from:
- Antique Radio Restorations, 635 S. Lincoln Ave.,
- O'Fallon, IL 62269, (618)632-7423. (AK, RCA, Zenith, Philco)
- Also try #1,2.
-
- Dial covers--
- Reproduction dial covers custom made from broken cover or tracing:
- a. #7
- b. Doyle Roberts, HC-63 Box 236-1, Clinton, Arkansas 72031,
- (501)745-6690.
- c. Old Time Replications, 5744 Tobias Ave., Van Nuys CA, 91411,
- (818)786-2500.
- Limited selections of original dial covers available from #1,2,4,6.
-
- Dial pointers--
- #6 has a few generic replacements if you can't find an original.
-
- Grille cloth--
- a. Good selections from #1 and #6. Sample cards available.
- b. John Okolowicz, 624 Cedar Hill Rd., Ambler, PA 19002,
- (215)542-1597: "Deluxe Replica Grille Cloth" (Philco,
- Emerson, Scott, Zenith).
-
- Knobs--
- Best selection of reproduction knobs from #6 (check here first
- for clock radio knobs) and #7. #1 not bad for Zenith and Philco.
- Most suppliers say "many available, send us your request".
-
- Lamps--
- #1,3,6 and 9 all have good selections.
-
- Literature--
- #2 and #3 have impressive archives of vintage radio literature,
- with titles listed in their catalogs. #1 and #6 have reprints
- of popular service manuals and repair data (AK, Philco, Radiola,
- Zenith). Also see "Schematics and Repair Data".
-
- Periodicals--
-
- a. "Antique Radio Classified" (monthly), PO Box 2-V32, Carlisle,
- MA 01741, (508)371-0512: Classified ads, radio supplier ads,
- articles, meet announcements.
-
- b. "The Old Timer's Bulletin" (quarterly, with membership in
- Antique Wireless Association), dues $12.00. Contact AWA, Box E,
- Breesport, NY 14816. High quality publication chock full of
- articles on all areas of vintage radio, including broadcast,
- communications, telegraph, TV, etc.
-
- c. "The Radio Collector" (monthly), PO Box 1306, Evanston,
- IL 60204-1306, (708)869-5016: published by Marc Ellis, antique
- radio columnist for "Popular Electronics" for many years.
- Regular features include repair and restoration advice, vintage
- book reviews, company chronicles, Q&A, classifieds. $20.00/yr.
- Highly recommended.
-
- d. "Radio Age" (monthly, with membership in Mid-Atlantic Antique
- Radio Club), dues $20.00. Contact MAARC, Roy Morgan, PO Box
- 1362, Washington Grove, MD 20880. "Radio Age" was its own
- publication until its recent merger with the "MAARC Newsletter".
-
- e. Electric Radio (monthly). Box 57, Hesperus, CO 81236. Published
- by Barry and Shirley Wiseman. This is an amateur radio
- magazine. Editorial policy is "Our primary interest is in
- "... vintage equipment/operating with an emphasis on AM, but
- articles on SSB and CW are also needed."
-
- f. There are many radio clubs across the US, each with its own
- newsletter!
-
- Refinishing supplies--
- #1 and #6 supply all manner of chemicals (fillers, polishers,
- lacquers, etc.) for refinishing both wood and plastic cabinets.
-
- Repair and restoration services--
- There is probably a collector's club near you that can steer you
- towards an individual in your area who works on vintage equipment.
- Otherwise, if shipping your radio is an option for you, try the
- following:
- a. For Your Listening Pleasure, 368 Clinton St., Binghamton,
- NY 13905, (607)797-0066. Four levels of restoration are
- available, from "working order only" to "museum quality"!
- b. #3 and #4 do repairs--not sure about cabinet restorations.
- c. Sunrise Services, 2343 Ballycastle, Dallas, TX 75228,
- (214)328-4249. Radio cabinet refinishing, wood or plastic.
- d. Check "Antique Radio Classified" for countless ads for this
- type of service!
-
- Loudspeaker reconing:
- There have been several postings identifying the following as
- rebuilders of old loudspeakers.
-
- Mr. Richard Stamer
- Sound Remedy
- 331 Virginia Ave.
- Collingswood, N.J. 08108
- 609-869-0238
-
- Mr. Hank Brazeal
- 103 N. Lake Point Ct.
- Crossville, Tenn. 38555
- 615-456-2529
-
- Speakerworld
- 2000 Warm Springs Ct. #6
- Fremont, Cal. 94539
- 510-490-5842
-
- Sound Remedy
- 331 Virginia Avenue
- Collingswood, NY 08108
- 609 869 0238
-
- Schematics/repair data--
- Most schematics on vintage radios come from either the
- Rider's Perpetual Troubleshooter's Manuals (earlier sets)
- or the Howard Sam's Photofacts (post-war sets). These are
- available in many public libraries. Otherwise, the following
- suppliers offer schematics at reasonable rates (if you can
- provide them with a model number): #1,2,4,5. If you don't
- have a model number but can provide the tube #'s and layout,
- for an extra fee they can usually find the right schematic.
- See also "Literature".
-
- Howard W. Sams began publishing repair data in 1947. Don't look for
- schematics, etc. of prewar electronics in Sams.
-
- Rider reprinted manufacturers' repair information, and you should look
- for "family resemblances" between the radio you have and radios of the
- same make---Rider may have published repair data for only one or two of
- a large family of model numbers that are nearly identical. Also keep
- in mind that many smaller radios built after the mid-thirties were
- built to standard Hazeltine/RCA designs under license, and you may not
- need a specific schematic for your set).
-
- Tubes--
- A complete list of tube suppliers would be an incredible headache
- to compile. Just about all of the suppliers listed at the beginning
- of this directory have tubes, and it is unlikely that you would
- be unable to get what you need from at least one of them. The ones
- that have their inventory conveniently listed in their catalog are:
- #1,2,3,6,9. Prices vary.
-
- Some other suppliers for various things:
-
- Local sources. Take a look in the Yellow Pages, and check out any
- place that advertises under "radio repair." You may find that your
- area has an old-time shop or two that does repair work on old
- electronics. Don't ignore possible local sources---a few phone calls
- will generally lead you to one, even if you don't identify it from the
- Yellow Page listings immediately.
-
- Mouser
- 2401 Highway 287 North
- Mansfield, Tex. 76063
- 800-346-6873/817-483-4422
- Mouser is a "modern components" distributor with a big catalog. They
- have distribution centers in California and New Jersey as well. While
- they do not stock antique-specific items, they are a good source for
- resistors, capacitors, wire (modern only) and a host of other useful
- items.
-
- MCM Electronics
- 650 Congress Park Dr.
- Centerville, Ohio 45459
- 800-543-4330
- Most of MCM's inventory is oriented toward modern devices, but some of
- their items can be used in old radio restoration. They also stock a
- large inventory of Japanese and Motorola transistors.
-
- The following advertise regularly in Electric Radio (a magazine for old
- amateur radio equipment)
- Fair Radio Sales
- PO Box 1105/1016 E. Eureka St.
- Lima, Ohio 45802
- 419-227-6573
- Primarily military surplus, plus some test equipment and vacuum tubes.
-
- Purchase Radio Supply
- 327 East Hoover Avenue
- Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104
- 313-668-8696
- (Not specific as to what they carry, but worth investigating---they
- state they've been there 60 years and specialize in old items).
-
- On magnetic components (coils, RF-IF transformers, power transformers,
- chokes), you are faced with several choices, depending on what you need.
- Antique Electronic Supply carries a selection of iron core magnetics
- and a few other items, primarily for smaller radios. Several suppliers
- offer interstage transformers for 1920's sets. If you need a power
- transformer you may need to adapt mechanically and/or electrically.
- You will need to know the exact dimensions of mounting holes, chassis
- cutouts, space available for mounting, etc. You will also need to know
- the voltages and current requirements of secondary circuits. If you
- have some idea what substitutions you can make, calling around may
- produce a very good substitute. For a price, there are several
- transformer shops that will build you a new transformer to your
- specifications.
-
- Universal-wound coils (i.e., wound zigzag on forms) are difficult to
- replace. Fortunately, they don't often give trouble---main problem is
- antenna coils zapped by lightning. There are very few shops today who
- are equipped to wind universal-wound coils. Some electrical adaptation
- of NOS (new old-stock) items is possible in some cases.
-
- If you are dealing with a radio that needs magnetic components or has a
- physically-unrepairable tuning capacitor, you may have a parts radio.
-
- Test equipment:
-
- Most test equipment comes from sellers at hamfests. Fair Radio Sales
- has several items of test equipment for sale. One source that
- specializes in an interesting variety of test equipment, as well as
- some old radios and parts furnished the following self-description:
- ----------------------------------------
- W.J. Ford Surplus Enterprises
-
- We have a wide assortment of surplus electronics for sale. Check out
- our electronic listings at:
-
- http://infoweb.magi.com/~testequi/
-
- Our lists are regularily updated as new stock comes in.
-
- W.J. Ford Surplus Enterprises
- P.O. Box 606, Smith's Falls, Ont. K7A 4T6
- phone: (613)283-5195
- fax: (613)283-0637
- email: testequi@magi.com
-
- check out our home page at http://infoweb.magi.com/~testequi/
- --------------------------------------------
-
-
- Bibliography:
-
- The following books are relevant to old radio design, repair, and
- history.
-
- 1. Loomis, Mary Texanna. "Radio Operating and Theory." Several
- editions, 1925-30. Washington D.C., Loomis Publishing Co.
-
- 2. Ghirardi, Alfred A. "Radio Physics Course" At least two editions,
- 1931-33. New York, Murray Hill Book Co.
-
- 3. Terman, Frederick E. "Radio Engineering." Three editions, 1932,
- 1937, 1947. "Electronic and Radio Engineering" was published as a "4th
- edition" in 1956, but covers different topics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
-
- 4. Terman, Frederick E. "Radio Engineer's Handbook." 1st ed. New
- York: McGraw-Hill, 1943.
-
- 5. Langford-Smith, F. "Radiotron Designer's Handbook." Four editions,
- 1934, 1935, 1940, 1952. Sydney, Amalgamated Wireless Valve Company
- Pty. Ltd.
-
- 6. Hund, August. "Frequency Modulation." New York, McGraw-Hill,
- 1942.
-
- 7. Rider, John F., ed. "Perpetual Troubleshooter's Manual." 23
- volumes, 1928-53. New York: John F. Rider Publishing.
-
- 8. Howard Sams "Fotofacts." Issued as folders, beginning in 1947.
- Indianapolis: Howard Sams Publishing.
-
- 9. There are several works available through Antique Electronic Supply,
- either recent items or reprints of old material.
-
-
-