What To Do With Vintage Radios Since LW & MW Are Now Finished

[bobhowe]

Hi as per title (1) keep them as exhibits (2) Sell them and hope for a good price ( Even high end Radios prices are falling ) (3) Use a Pantry Transmitter far from ideal even for a good design one to much modulation noise and EMF (4) Use a Bluetooth Module through the Radios Valve Amplifier stage (5) Fit a DW FM Converter that uses the Tuning and Valve Amplifier stage what do you think ? 73 Bob

[Radio Fixer]

Most of mine are now just look at treasures. I wouldn't want to be without them although a few could go to make some space, but what ones? Given up wrestling with that and they will all stay. I enjoyed restoring them and they owe me nothing: I' m well payed back. Learnt a lot along the way and in writing articles for the BVWS and the now deceased Radio Bygons.

You forgot adding a DAB module Bob and the set that gets played the most has one. I needed lots of stations to show off the Philips all mechanical motor tuned radio (753).

Gary

[BusyBee]

I think any demand for them will keep going down as there are less and less people either interested or have the knowlege.

Looking toward current and future trends I suspect that the only real working (and purist) answer, as everything is going to online streaming, is to have a dedicated quality Pantry Transmitter (or similar in wired connection) linked to the computer sound output. This may use FM conversion for better quality but I think the core process should not really alter the basic radio (thoughts of a 'Borg' like creeping assimilation of radio circuitry - it really has to be kept original in my view). A bluetooth adapter could follow similar lines (not a system I have really used or know much about).

Some will be kept as exhibits although how to pick and choose?

It's maybe a time to put a price on them and hope someone snaps them up but that passes the issue on to someone else - too many radios for a small market and use so in the end they all go but it does give them a chance and at least raise a few pounds.

The FM angle looks good on principle but is it a short term fix? Although FM is often rumoured to cease transmission it hasn't yet but it's a rocky path. For instance, car connectivity to the Internet may make FM radio a luxury no longer required.

Just a few thoughts. I don't really have a definitive answer.

Tracy

[ppppenguin]

Wasn't there a device or software that could send a whole band full of stations, as if were a load of pantry transmitters?

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Just chuck them out, load of old clutter, full of woodworm, rust, low emission valves, leaky caps and off value resistors. Hardly worth the effort in restoring them.
These days even alleged retro reproduction radios are out of favour, most sets are not collectable and even the prized round Ekco's have dropped massively in price.
The days of vintage radios have gone, time to move on to something else.

[PerdioPal]

My SSTRAN (fed from a car dab thingy) still performs marvellously as a transmitter and there is still Radio 4 on LW.

[radioman]

I hope Trevor isn't being serious...... however LW & MW aren't dead yet but are admittedly heading that way !
I still think that 'pantry transmitters' are a good idea - as for multiple channels, can't see the point as you can only listen to one at a time !
In saying this, I don't think I'll be restoring many more radios - just keep the good ones as original as possible and stop any further deterioration.
The common and/or 'beyond restoration' ones could be re-purposed into something else which is still useful e.g. as guitar amplifiers ; otherwise stripped for spare parts, especially mains and output transformers (have you seen the price of new ones ?)
Another example :- using as a powered speaker, either wired or with a BlueTooth module fitted.
Cabinets can be re-used to house other projects because making or buying cases can be expensive and a lot of work.
I've got plans to use an old radios' case for a music synthesiser project I've got in mind.....

Andy

[Murphyv310]

Hi Andy.
Just testing the water to see if all sense of humour is devoid in vintage radio or not these days, perhaps too much old man syndrome is floating around.

I do have a point though. As a radio amateur I often feel we do little to encourage the young generations, we also criticise newbies saying they are clueless and don't know how to solder, fit a fuse to a plug or interpret a voltage reading. This type of attitude will never gain new blood. Very few young folk are interested in dark brown dull old radios, perhaps I have a young head on a decrepit old body but I tend to agree with the young, perhaps it's because I raised three kids and have grandchildren which are a pleasure to be around.
The issue is of course the perceived death of AM broadcasting, here there are only three usable stations with Caroline coming alive just before the grey line. While I agree with Andy re pantry transmitters two things come to mind, firstly with all the racket of QRM a flea power pantry transmitter is a waste of time then if you rump up the power you get modulation hum due to the RF entering the mains cables. Many might not be technically able to understand or able to resolve the issue. The same goes for fitting Bluetooth modules or repurposing a radio into a guitar amplifier. This of course is the criteria for the big drop in value of AM only radios. One advantage though is now very rare sets are cheap, a recent purchase by a friend of an ultra rare set (make evades me) for £40 was mind boggling as ten years ago they were valued at over £2000.
Things change and we need to accept that.

[bobhowe]

Hi Andy.
Just testing the water to see if all sense of humour is devoid in vintage radio or not these days, perhaps too much old man syndrome is floating around.

I do have a point though. As a radio amateur I often feel we do little to encourage the young generations, we also criticise newbies saying they are clueless and don't know how to solder, fit a fuse to a plug or interpret a voltage reading. This type of attitude will never gain new blood. Very few young folk are interested in dark brown dull old radios, perhaps I have a young head on a decrepit old body but I tend to agree with the young, perhaps it's because I raised three kids and have grandchildren which are a pleasure to be around.
The issue is of course the perceived death of AM broadcasting, here there are only three usable stations with Caroline coming alive just before the grey line. While I agree with Andy re pantry transmitters two things come to mind, firstly with all the racket of QRM a flea power pantry transmitter is a waste of time then if you rump up the power you get modulation hum due to the RF entering the mains cables. Many might not be technically able to understand or able to resolve the issue. The same goes for fitting Bluetooth modules or repurposing a radio into a guitar amplifier. This of course is the criteria for the big drop in value of AM only radios. One advantage though is now very rare sets are cheap, a recent purchase by a friend of an ultra rare set (make evades me) for £40 was mind boggling as ten years ago they were valued at over £2000.
Things change and we need to accept that.

Hi some interesting comments from everyone the problems where I live I can only receive 1 MW station Talk Sport and that is very weak due to interference . I purchased a 1W Pantry Transmitter and it is useless and without going OT Even with a 30FT wire as an Antenna is side there is no way it would be picked up from outside my home you stand more chance in getting a visit from Offcom for RFI from a LED light Bulb or switched mode power supply . Hi Trevor like your humour lucky I only have 1 Woody set so no worry about woodworm plenty of leaky capacitors to replace on my other sets . I totally agree with you about Pantry Transmitters and there is a lot of sets now on the market now over priced and unsold and as you say things change not just in the radio and TV interests 73 Bob

[ppppenguin]

Has anyone experimented with a leaky feeder loop (think rubbish quality co-ax!) run around the outside of the property. Decent signal inside the loop, very little outside.