Is it better to use vintage cloth covered wire or the new plastic-coated type... stranded or solid? What's the typical guage for most replacement wire in old radios?
Wire is wire. You can use modern wire of equiv gage. Most point to point wiring is solid, some bare. I use what I have. If you're going for an original looking restoration, you can buy repro looking wire. Most newer radios (post WWII) have cloth over plastic insulation that's usually OK as is. Power cords always need to be replaced. I use modern cords that look similar to original or you can buy reproduction pwr cords and plugs.
This is going to sound stupied...but did you have to get a specific size of electrolytic capacitors? I was looking into restoring a 1920's radio..(i know they are years and years different) but I was just curious. :)
What model radio? You will need to replace some or most caps with the same size as was installed (high 200-600 volts). To determine the size you might read it off the capacitor. You can usually find the schematics and parts list, a big help. Web sites have free schematics and parts list. One site is nostalgiaair com. Replace all Electrolytic caps, usually for the power supply. Also replace the non polarized wax paper caps. Just radios com is a good source of caps. Good luck!
Is it better to use vintage cloth covered wire or the new plastic-coated type... stranded or solid? What's the typical guage for most replacement wire in old radios?
ZmajSnoshaj 1 year ago
@ZmajSnoshaj
Wire is wire. You can use modern wire of equiv gage. Most point to point wiring is solid, some bare. I use what I have. If you're going for an original looking restoration, you can buy repro looking wire. Most newer radios (post WWII) have cloth over plastic insulation that's usually OK as is. Power cords always need to be replaced. I use modern cords that look similar to original or you can buy reproduction pwr cords and plugs.
RadioDaze com
JustRadios com
tubesandmore com
gmcjetpilot 1 year ago
I love old radios and that is a fine example of the work they did in the past
if you don't believe it buy a new radio and see if it can keep up on the am band
also, sound quality from vacuum tubes and bigger speakers are superb
I guess the good times are really over for good. everyone needs to save all
electronics from the past that they can because china cant compete
in performance new radios are junk
jgant2008 1 year ago
This is going to sound stupied...but did you have to get a specific size of electrolytic capacitors? I was looking into restoring a 1920's radio..(i know they are years and years different) but I was just curious. :)
fritzerrupp 1 year ago
@fritzerrupp
What model radio? You will need to replace some or most caps with the same size as was installed (high 200-600 volts). To determine the size you might read it off the capacitor. You can usually find the schematics and parts list, a big help. Web sites have free schematics and parts list. One site is nostalgiaair com. Replace all Electrolytic caps, usually for the power supply. Also replace the non polarized wax paper caps. Just radios com is a good source of caps. Good luck!
gmcjetpilot 1 year ago