What equipment do I need to purchase for check out and fix these 1930-1950's radios? I know I need a variac, etc., so what else and about how much should these things cost. Also, what is a good set of basic how to books on working on these radios, I am very handy, everything from the cabinets (wood or bakealite), and I have all the equipment for that part, now I need to learn the inner workings.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Steve & Linda

The single most important piece of test equipment for me is my multimeter. Harbor Freight has a fantastic meter for the price (20-30). I have had several, and all worked well within the tolerances allowed for radio work.

If you don't have a soldering iron, you'll need one of those, too. I typically use a soldering gun for most of my work. I have a soldering pen for when I work around transistors, and a massive club-sized iron for those rare big jobs.

After that, you'll probably need a signal generator. This will allow you to troubleshoot, as well as calibrate (align), a radio.

With the above, you'll have all you need to do 90% of the repairs you'll encounter. I had just these three tools for a couple years, and along the way at various swap meets and auctions, I also accumulated a sweep generator, oscilloscope, several tube testers, variac, cap checker, isolation transformer, and so on. None of these were typically necessary for repairs, but they are nice to have, in that they can make a particular job easier.

There are some basic repair books available on Amazon.

It helped me a great deal to find someone in the local antique radio club to turn radio repair/electronic theory into practice. Watching someone for an hour or two who does repairs all the time is invaluable.

I agree with the Multimeter as being the most important thing you need when it comes to determining what is wrong. Of course it does not do much good to determine what is wrong if you can't fix it so would have to have a good soldering gun or pencil. I would say the next most important thing is your eyes. It may sound silly but I can't count the number of times I have just did a visual inspection and saw a bulged cap or a cold solder joint, or and wire that has come off. I think these are the bare minimum and you could fix most radios with just these. As far as Signal generators, variac, tube testers........ These things are great and help make the job of fixing much faster and easyer but I suggest because of the cost you get them one at a time over time. No really isn't a rush until you come across a radio where having these is absolutly nessisary then you can get that item at that time. That way you can usally wait to get something and get it at a better price. I think a lot of people are put off from starting this hobby because they think you have to buy all this expensive test equipment.Just my humble opinion. Good luck!

I forgot about the books. I think a good over explaination of radios and basic troubleshooting can be found in :

A modern look at Antique Radio Repair by Alfred Corbin

You can get this on ebay and amazon

Learning wise, go here;
http://www.antiqueradios.com/archive.shtml
And read "Elements of Radio Servicing".

Equipment wise;
DMM
Pencil type 40 watt iron, and a soldering gun
Needle nose pliers, diagonal cutters, screwdrivers, solder, solder sucker
Isolation Transformer

Later on, a signal generator, analog meter, and maybe a tube tester and O'scope.

I'm assuming you have adequate hand tools, such as screwdrivers and pliers.

For test equipment, first and foremost, a meter. Some will insist on digital, some analog. Personally it's nice to have both. But one thing to watch for, there is a difference between a VOM and a VTVM-DMM. The older design Volt-Ohm Meters are rugged instruments, but they have a problem with "loading" high-impedance circuits. In other words, a certain tube grid should have 60 volts on it; you measure only 40 and when you touch the probe the radio goes silent. This is because the meter's impedance is such that the voltage drops when you touch it. Vacuum-Tube Voltmeters and Digital Multi-Meters typically have a much higher input impedance, and have far less tendency to do this.

Soldering iron: A pencil-type iron is best for most citcuitry, but a soldering gun has the advantage of quick warm-up time, and heavier-duty. While it may be TOO heavy for delicate PCB work, it can come in handy when soldering to the metal chassis, or other applications that require a bit more heat. Best to have one of each.

A signal generator was mentioned and I'll agree. But don't forget the signal tracer. Eico offered a couple of good ones, and you can find these cheap on eBay or at your next swap meet. Heathkit also offered some decent ones.

Some people have variacs and swear by them. That's fine; I personally use a high-voltage power supply. Heathkit, I think it's an IP-17. Remembering I work mainly on car radios, I don't plug them in but I use 6-12 volt power supplies. But I'm talking about one that gives you 0-400 volts. I use this to test the B+ circuit; if it draws current, I know to address the problem (usually electrolytics) before applying main power. If it's fine, i'l apply 6 or 12 volts to the tube filaments to see if it plays.

Tube tester. Nobody has mentioned this yet, and it's less important than you would think simply because the tubes themselves don't often fail. But indeed they may be weak, and it's wise to have the ability to test them. There are two major types of tube testers -- emissions and mutual conductance. An emissions tester checks the basic emission characteristic of a tube; the mutual conductance tests the tube's ability to amplify. Mutual conductance is the most thorough, but either is very suitable for radio work. Seems the holy grail of tube testers is anything bearing the name Hickok; these go for several hundred. B&K and others also have them, but you'll also find testers by Heathkit or Knight. These are emissions testers; much cheaper and as I said, suitable for radio work.

Of course you've already found the BEST tool; this forum. Ask any question and there are plenty of technicians and engineers who are more than happy to assist you.

There are many antique radio clubs and there might be one near you. If you give your location we might be able to steer you to one in your area.

Pete

IIRC a couple of years back someone on the forum scanned one of the better of the radio troubleshooting and training books and had it on here.

I posted the link to it;

I'll add a digital camera to the list-good pics before repair attempts has saved my butt many times, especially if you have kids and a wife around!
Phil

Most important is having someone to show you how to restore and troubleshoot. So try to find someone who can do this for you.

I have read "Elements of Radio Servicing" and other books but still need to have someone show me how it is done. I need the hands on training! Does anyone know where I can get hands on training in Massachusetts?

+1 Numerous high resolution digital photos are indispensable. There have been plenty of times where I have bit off more than I can chew and my pictures assure me that I'm putting things back the way they should be. I also take a good overall picture of the chassis. Then at the end I put any wires I had moved back to match the picture to prevent a lead dress problem.

Also, a good set of dental picks are great to have on the bench, as well as a dental mirror to check the sides of solder joints you can't see.

Oh, and maybe a nice up to date radio for the bench. I have a little Grundig digital radio that I listen to while working on a set.

Go on ebay, snipe the cheap tube sets for $10 and just dive in.

Brett

Hey Brett,

Thanks for the great idea.

I have been buying sets that I like, which means they are relatively expensive. I will get cheapie and work on that.

There's no substitute for just doing it. Most of the radios I have gotten were from people just giving them to me, or selling them for virtually nothing.

Oddly, the only radio I have ever completely hosed and couldn't fix was about the simplest and cheapest AA5.

Brett

Hello Guys,
Yes I offered that cd full of some info

Isolation trans