[Hallicrafters] Just a thought

[Mark Bell]

> Are you going to actually restore the equipment (that
> means using ORIGINAL type parts, taking the unit back
> to what it was when it shipped from the factory) or
> are you going to repair / update the unit with modern,
> more reliable, parts?

> Many amateurs think that
> repairing the unit with modern parts is restoring,
> but, that is definitely not the case!  A restored set
> often does not perform as well as one that has been
> modified/repaired with modern components.  But, a
> restored set is worth more money to a collector.

It depends on your definition of restoration, and the intent of
your restoration.   If your intent is to have a radio to maximize
the monetary value of the radio to a collector, then your "original"
restoration makes sense.

Most hams do what I call "operational" restoration.  They want
the radio on the air, safe, and dependable.   I believe the dependability
requirements for ham radios is much more stringent than for BC
radios.

I know of very few (if any) hams that would care if the Mallory caps
in my HT-32 bias circuit were original,  original case stuffed with new
caps,
or just new capacitors.  From a dependability point of view,  I'd definitely
rather NOT have original Mallory's,  and since I'm not interested in my
radios from a collector value point of view,  taking the extra time to
stuff the cases with new parts isn't worth the time, especially since
no one is ever going to look under the chassis.

Now, doing work on the top of the chassis which is visible is another
story, and I'd be more inclined to do an "original" restoration in those
areas.

So, I submit, the rational for doing "original" or "operational" resorations
depends on why you're doing the work.   As I pointed out in a previous
post on this issue,  I would not personally do something to a radio that
would upgrade it with modern parts that could not be reversed to do
a future "original" restoration.

While most of the BC guys I know do "original" restorations, and their work
is to be admired,  both "original" and "operational" restorations are in
fact restorations in their on light.

73 Mark K3ZX