17-04-2014, 03:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 17-04-2014, 04:05 PM by Radio Fixer.)
Both videos were interesting ... the first just fascinating for the sheer beauty of the finished model. I had never come across swash plate motors before.
Must be a strain on the eyes and brain turning the crank with the off centre parts 'wobbling' around.
Model making and old radio restoration do have a similarity in that both don't have much use afterwards the joy being in the doing. But fortunately, for me, I have mainly ones that I like the look of and they do get swapped around and played as the morning radio. Another thing I did was not to just go for Brits but sought out radios from Europe and worldwide. This makes the designs much more interesting both in restoration and sitting on the shelf. Adding a gram feature (EMI and Columbia playing decks) and owning good 78's also helps as many of those are far better than the "digitally re-mastered" CDs which often means mucked up!
Oh! and another thing that takes time and extends the pleasure of restoring old radios is writing an article about them including finding out company history and people who have circuit techniques named after them.
If I could do lathes then perhaps I would enjoy that but after you have restored them what do you do? There must be a limit to how many fruit bowls you want to make. A friend does clock repairs (has a mini lathe) and charges a small sum with proceeds going to charity; not a bad idea.
At the end of the day if you can afford it and enjoy whatever you restore or make it is better than sitting around reading a paper from front to back as some retired old boys do.
Nice job Colin.
Gary
Must be a strain on the eyes and brain turning the crank with the off centre parts 'wobbling' around.
Model making and old radio restoration do have a similarity in that both don't have much use afterwards the joy being in the doing. But fortunately, for me, I have mainly ones that I like the look of and they do get swapped around and played as the morning radio. Another thing I did was not to just go for Brits but sought out radios from Europe and worldwide. This makes the designs much more interesting both in restoration and sitting on the shelf. Adding a gram feature (EMI and Columbia playing decks) and owning good 78's also helps as many of those are far better than the "digitally re-mastered" CDs which often means mucked up!
Oh! and another thing that takes time and extends the pleasure of restoring old radios is writing an article about them including finding out company history and people who have circuit techniques named after them.
If I could do lathes then perhaps I would enjoy that but after you have restored them what do you do? There must be a limit to how many fruit bowls you want to make. A friend does clock repairs (has a mini lathe) and charges a small sum with proceeds going to charity; not a bad idea.
At the end of the day if you can afford it and enjoy whatever you restore or make it is better than sitting around reading a paper from front to back as some retired old boys do.
Nice job Colin.
Gary
