1965 Sears Silvertone AM-FM tube type radio repairs

[Monza62000]

good work hard to find parts i know

[DOLRED]

Thanks for this video. My parents bought Silvertone B&W TVs and we had a Silvertone portable 1940s radio with an appearance of being inside a cosmetic luggage piece. They are all in dumpster heaven now.

[stormsirens2]

I really want to make an FM tube radio, were can I find a good schematic?

[isethaitchison]

nice radio, 2-way speaker system.

[SuperSmasher97]

woot silvertone nice

[harley10030]

I like the fading on and off effect on the power light

[jefferyb304]

I purchased some Consumer Reports Magazines from the 50's & 60's. I was reading where they tested table radios and with some models they said they noted a hum. Could those old filter caps have really been that nasty ?

[schepler2]

@jefferyb304 I don't think so.  Keep in mind that they were testing brand-new radios. The thing is, almost all consumer-grade tube radios from this era have some kind of very low-level hum, even if the electrolytics are brand new. Most of the time, it's very, very minor, and not audible at all when the volume is turned up even a little bit. I'd venture to say that CR was being very nitpicky in its review of these sets.

[MusicMike1285]

I have a radio similar to this, it is a Sears Silvertone. I just don't know the year.

[DieselsAndDiodes]

wow. that's some serious old school electronics work. I was lucky enough to grow up watching a hardcore electrical engineer take care of and restore radios and tvs like this. I don't think we ever bought a brand new radio or tv my entire life. just restored or fixed all we ever owned. vacuum tubes always bring back memories.

[NardDogz]

Sounds good!

Nice restore.

If only the new caps would filter out the trashy AM programming and obnoxious commercials that are broadcast today.

[Kyocera234]

That's very cool, I did the same thing with an old Ampeg B12XT, which also had completely discreet components, the circuit board was similar to the one in your radio, basically just something to attach the components to, no etching. it's very fun to listen to the end result. You just don't see radios that are made of wood anymore.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Beautiful radio, nice repair! It's always fun getting them up and working good again. Everyone is just a little different, that keeps it interesting. Sound really good.

[retrochad]

Thank you! This one actually has 2 unusual features:

A 100 ma filament string for the RF and IF tubes using 18FW6, 18FX6 etc.

and a push-pull output with 2 50C5's and the 12DT8 FM converter tube in a separate filament string. I have never seen a push-pull transformerless table radio before.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Wow, that is unusual. I have not seen anything like that either.

[schepler2]

@retrochad I have a Motorola transformerless table set with push-pull output. I believe it uses a pair of 35C5s. The set is from the late '50s or early '60s, like your Silvertone. As you know, push-pull is rare in sets of this vintage.

[Lashon3D]

What's with the funky FM band light fading off and on. Is it supposed to do that?

[retrochad]

I'm not sure why it appeared to do that...it seemed to look OK when viewing it in real life. It may be something weird going on with the camera but it appeared OK on the radio itself when I played it this morning.

[wilkes85]

Cool radio! Something like this would be set on top of the TV eh?

Haha imagine a big huge giant version of this radio, like the size of a full size console, complete with the mega size dial and knobs.. LOL im strange haha

[retrochad]

Thanks! We actually have it on top of the piano at home now.

RCA actually made a 9" b/w tube type TV in the style of a large console! This is kind of reverse how you are thinking though hehe!

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

I Love those High Fidelity radios especially the ones that looks like a piece of furniture! Nice job on the restartion and sounds great too! Did the old silicon diode had the metal casing?

[retrochad]

Thank you! Actually the old diode was a plastic case type but I definitely have seen the metal type. I always replace these old diodes as I have seen several of them short out.

[Durken316]

did you say arvee?

[batterymaker]

Arvin--manufacturer in Columbus, Indiana.

[IDIDieselJohn]

Nice old Radio! Love the styling.

[retrochad]

Thank you...these 1960's tube type radios are some of my favorites.

[coolbluelights]

Do you just order bulk caps from mouser? seems like a good idea, it saves you money in the long run. I love the styling on that old radio!

[retrochad]

Each time I have ordered from Mouser I ordered some special values for some things I knew needed them like for the Rockola jukebox and then I ordered a bulk amount of real common values like .022, .047, and .1 at 630 volts, 22 and 47 uf at 450 volts and 47 and 100 uf at 160 volts. I need to make another order as I have used up almost all of the 160 volt electrolytics on the table radio repairs I have done.

[pickupman1995]

She's workin great now!!!

[retrochad]

Thanks!