New And Confused

[Broken Arrow]

Hi All, I tried to upload some photos right now they are to big. I picked up a 1948 Stromberg Carlson cabinet radio/record player from the side of the road on spring cleaning day. I’m thinking of maybe doing a little restoration, I haven’t plugged it in. How hard is it to get tubes and replacement parts if it doesn’t work and when do I plug it in? also what is the chassis?
I’m not worried about getting the record player to work just the radio.
The finish on the wood in some spots is peeling and blistering off to due age, what is the best stuff to use to strip it to the wood?
any help would be appreciated thanks

[Rogers flipdial]

HI – there are many people reading this forum that could fill you in on what to do – There are a lot of steps involved – but its all been covered many times before for other people. I would suggest you go to this site https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php – and use the search function to go through all the previous discussions on this same topic – schematics can be found here https://www.nostalgiaair.org/ in Canada – tubes can be had from Pacific tv and capacitors/resistors and schematics can be obtained from Justradios. There are many books on radio repair – even several for first timers – just do a google search for those – you may even find them at your local library.
Parts can be obtained through the internet also – or depending on where you live – from club members and radio/swap meets – nothing on your radio is either rare or expensive.
If you don’t have electronics training – then basically – don’t plug it in until your done restoring it electrically – and don’t work on it with the power applied – replacing the paper and electrolytic capacitors (google search will help you identify what they look like) any out of tolerance resistors and obviously physically defective components WILL fix 90 percent of the radios – but if it doesn’t that’s where the people on the forums will be able to help you out.
Including your location- (not the exact address) will help get people near you to offer their assistance.
Good luck – Steve

[Ed Stone]

Of course the other good source of schematics is the CVRS! – for a paltry $15 annual membership fee you get the following benefits:

Schematic Service: The CVRS offers a free copy service for Radio College of Canada (RCC) schematics to members currently in good standing. A pdf file of an RCC schematic can be obtained by emailing with the manufacturer and model number of a radio made in Canada between 1927 and 1980. Members wanting a printed copy of a schematic should send a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope, Canadian postage) to the CVRS Membership address: 10271 Algonquin Drive, Richmond, BC, V7A 3A5, CANADA. If you wish to make sure that an RCC schematic for your radio exists before sending a SASE, email Don White () or write to him at at the above address.

Newsletters: An 8 page bi-monthly newsletter is distributed to members either by mail or electronically. This publication is packed with technical articles on receiver restoration, diagnosing faults, making repairs and member news. For calendar years previous to the current year, electronic copies of the Newsletter can be accessed (where available) and downloaded by current members in good standing. Passwords to access this section will be sent annually to those members taking out membership in the current year (starting in 2010).

Networking: Opportunity to network with like-minded folks—radio restorers, collectors, repairers, historians etc.— by joining local chapters, attending member-organized swap-meets and local meetings to chin-wag about radio-related topics.

Website: The CVRS website provides updated meeting information, membership and contact information, as well as access to radio-related information and links of interest to Members (the CVRS is in the process of a major re-vamp to the website over the coming months).

Ed

[Author]

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