Hint & Kinks 20 Year Compilation PDF
This is the Twentieth Year Anniversary Issue of the Journal of the California Historical Radio Society. The focus of the techical material is the preservation and restoration of old radios, which is CHRS' corporate purpose. The Compendium starts out with…
RCA 4-A-1 Condenser Microphone – by John Staples W6BM
The RCA 4-A-1 condenser microphone was the mainstay of studio microphones starting in the 1930s in the NBC network. RCA 4-A-1 Microphone
Kilbourne & Clark Radio Kit Box – by Bart Lee K6VK
A century ago, Kilbourne & Clark of Seattle sold enourmous amounts of wireless gear up through World War One. By 1922 it was out of business. In about 1919 it entered the market for kits of parts to be assembled…
The Daystrom / Weston CA-1630 Electron Tube Analyzer – by John Staples W6BM
The colorful CA-1630 is more than just a drug-store tube tester, rather, it is a precision laboratory-grade equipment to accurately measure the transconductance of a wide variety of vacuum tubes. Its vintage is late 1950s or early 1960s. The tester…
Seth Arp Restores a Zenith H-845 AM-FM Tabletop – by Thomas Bonomo K6AD
The Zenith 8-tube H-845 AM-FM radio was built in 1964, and is a popular set thanks to its “high fidelity” sound. This tabletop truly does provide great sound. It is well made and even features permeability tuning for some of…
The Heathkit Laboratory Generator – by Arden Allen KB6NAX
If it weren’t for the wealth of kit makers in the 50’s I doubt I would have followed my interest in radio to a life long career in electronics. One of the Heath kits I was fascinated by was their…
Airline Midget Restoration – by Bart Lee K6VK
Bart Lee presents the restoration of a 1939 Airline Midget all-American 5 tube (AA5) bakelite AM radio. Read Full Article
1948 Meissner 8C FM Tuner Restoration – by Bart Lee K6VK
Bart Lee restores a beat-up 1948 Meissner 8C Fm Tuner known as the "Receptor." The unit was made by Maguire Industries. A war-profiteering wheeler-dealer named Maguire started the firm in order to get into the radio business after World War…
Sinclair MTV-1 Micro-TV Restoration – by John Staples W6BM
After restoring the world's largest B&W TV, the monumental 1952 30 inch DuMont Royal Sovereign, I restored the world's smallest TV, a 1978 2 inch Sinclair MTV-1 pocket TV. This hand-held TV, produced in England, features both European and American…
DuMont Royal Sovereign Restoration – by John Staples W6BM
The Dumont RA-119 Royal Sovereign, the 30 inch TV with the largest direct-view screen ever made, was presented to the public in 1952 at price of $1800. It was found in hotels, bars, and the homes of the very rich. …
Hallicrafters SX-28A Reconstruction – by John Staples W6BM
I say “reconstructing” instead of “recapping” because in my youthful ignorance, I took a perfectly good receiver, stripped it and rebuilt it to my fantasy. I was gifted this receiver at the young age of ten by a friend of…
Automatic Radio 613X Cabinet Restoration – by Jim Bradt
This was one of several radios donated to CHRS. Although most collectors would pass on this radio, I believe Steve Kushman has a mission in life to save all radios and asked me to see what could be done. It…