Making money from vintage repairs - is it possible?

[Nowhere-Man]

{Split from http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/...p?tid=5051}

On a serious note, one of these days we ought to discuss making some cash out of this hobby. I'm told hardly anybody ever does but there must be ways and means. I even went to a meeting yesterday where I discussed my tube radio activities as a business venture but it was kind of hard-going as most of the others there were real business-people and I felt a bit of a plonker.

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Well I can assure you that it's difficult to make money out of Vintage Radio & TV repairs/restorations.
You can charge a lot of money like Steve Ostler did for many years but the quality of repair was totally top notch, chassis completely stripped and rebuilt with new components, CRT's regunned by RACS (before closure) and all work done to the highest possible standard.

Then there are a few like myself that does a good quality repair with a guarantee, new components where needed all valves checked and above all safety taken into account with no bodges!

Down the bottom of the list is those with limited knowledge, spares and skills, some of the work I've had that is unsafe, botched up and unsafe  is appalling, plus these people often charge more than I do with a guarantee

There isn't a huge amount of vintage work out there, i would say that if anyone decides to do chargeable work they must realise that its preferable to have at least have some grounding and know what your doing, being familiar with valve circuitry, know the the pitfalls and above all knowing the relevant safety issues, component ratings ETC is vital.
If in doubt don't consider it as it could land you in very deep water.

[Nowhere-Man]

I had a friend who bought, collected and sold vintage clocks. There is a lot of money in it, although he was naturally a good businessman.

With radios I don't know why they seem to have low commercial value by comparison. With organs it's even worse. I recall in the eighties when a 3 keyboard layer electronic organ would cost well over 1000 pounds. I recall seeing an expert play one as a demo in a shop and I was totally in awe. Now, you barely give them away on EBay.

I agree with you totally on the comments above. No, I don't have the skills to do repairs as a commercial venture as I work too slowly and would be baffled by the wide varieties of design. Also, it would be an awful amount of hard work for virtual peanuts.

By comparison a friend of mine has just paid 1,500 K for a cover for his boat and I was stunned. The canvas material probably cost 200 quid max and then it was skilfully stitched and sewn and finally clamps attached so it went over the stern and the bow. Must have taken the guy a day's work or so. There wasn't even a frame used.

However, I do believe there is a healthy market for classic car radio. Personally I don't have the skills to seriously tackle a classic car wireless  but wish I did. It's a niche market and people will pay decent money for a wireless that may suit their vintage car.

Other than that, possibly HAM equipment is still a niche market.

[Murphyv310]

Hi NM.
Can you explain where this healthy market is for classic car radios? Most of the many classic car collectors seem to want existing radios modified to accept mp3 players as their not interested in medium wave.
Actual repairs on car radios has dramatically dropped over the years.
Your other idea with Bacon slicers isn't for the man with an Avo and a 40 watt bolt.
This equipment is specialized and needs the correct equipment to align, check power, harmonics and other parameters. Most new amateur radio gear is only serviced in the manufacturers service departments.
Very very few people starting now in consumer electronic servicing will survive these days, anyone having a go would need to invest a lot in test equipment, spares, and advertising.
It's a mugs game now.

[Old Sparky]

I can confirm that it's difficult to earn money doing vintage radio repairs, having run a workshop, which i started over 20 years ago after being made redundant, ironically in view of 'Nowhere man's' comments above, when an auto electrical firm where I worked as I.C.E. (Car Audio) service engineer, closed down. At one point I took on a part-time job for 5 years to supplement my income. Now retired, I run the workshop part-time, but, despite having a fair amount of work, the income from this barely covers the costs involved. One of the few things which does make a profit is repairing vintage car radios, no doubt due to the relatively large number of people who own/restore classic cars.

[Murphyv310]

Hi Sparky.
Yes it's all about gone now. I started in 1970 and did about 20 years worth of audio culminating with minidisc with Sony and winning the UK Sony service competition in 1997 and going on to 4th in Milan. I advertise vintage car radios repairs and have done so for about 15 years now but recently they have tailed off, in the main due to retro copies now coming in from China with mp3, FM and Bluetooth.

From my records so far this year I'd be lucky to have made £350 clear profit.

[Nowhere-Man]

Hi NM.
Can you explain where this healthy market is for classic car radios? Most of the many classic car collectors seem to want existing radios modified to accept mp3 players as their not interested in medium wave.
Actual repairs on car radios has dramatically dropped over the years.
Your other idea with Bacon slicers isn't for the man with an Avo and a 40 watt bolt.
This equipment is specialized and needs the correct equipment to align, check power, harmonics and other parameters. Most new amateur radio gear is only serviced in the manufacturers service departments.
Very very few people starting now in consumer electronic servicing will survive these days, anyone having a go would need to invest a lot in test equipment, spares, and advertising.
It's a mugs game now.

That's a tricky issue. I think I mentioned before how a friend of mine paid £1500 for a cover for his boat! This was just a big canvas with buckles and stitching so it fitted snugly and kept the rain out. So, sure, I couldn't help thinking why on earth I'd be spending so much time and effort to try and learn a dead trade for such little reward?

Having said that, I do have a conviction there is definitely some money in German radios. I don't know why but I think you'll find the German sets go for far bigger sums. Especially the wartime ones.

Still, point taken. If I wanted to just make money I'd be selling mobile phones.

People who know me think I'm kind of crazy when they see me carrying some old radio about.

[Murphyv310]

Yes I agree the WW2 German radios are worth money, why I've no idea as technically they are rubbish. Our civilian wartime set even though a short superhet are far superior.
One thing to remember is the Germans weren't good at everything and still aren't!!

[Nowhere-Man]

The German "no-frills" radio used in wartime Germany was the Volksempfaenger pictured below. This radio literally bombarded the German people with speeches made by Hitler. It was forbidden to attempt to tune into foreign broadcasts accounts of the war by using larger aerials or mechanical adjustment. To be caught could mean you'd be shot as a traitor.

I think huge amounts of technology emerged out of from Germany after the end of WW2 as many scientists were snapped up by the U.S., especially with regard to the V2 rockets. I'd imagine some of the more upmarket radios were very high quality.

Maybe the high prices has something to do with the historical context of these radios. It reflects a very dark period of history.

[Nowhere-Man]

Hi Sparky.
Yes it's all about gone now. I started in 1970 and did about 20 years worth of audio culminating with minidisc with Sony and winning the UK Sony service competition in 1997 and going on to 4th in Milan. I advertise vintage car radios repairs and have done so for about 15 years now but recently they have tailed off, in the main due to retro copies now coming in from China with mp3, FM and Bluetooth.

From my records so far this year I'd be lucky to have made £350 clear profit.

Maybe you need to try a totally new market? There could be a demand in other countries for genuine vintage car radios such as the ones you restored. I'd imagine there would be interest in Russia or possibly America? For example, in some ways, I myself find American ACDC Bakelite radios more exotic than the home-based sets I can get over here. I have a friend in North Carolina and tried before to twist her arm a bit to see if she can get me some vintage American sets. Some of these are called "hot chassis radios" as you'll have heard elsewhere.