[SFDXA] Tube Radios Have a Soul - From eHam

[Bill]

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      Tube Radios Have a Soul

from John Rogener, W3JAR on October 20, 2013
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*Tube Radios Have a Soul*

Growing up, I have always loved radios. From weather radios, to AM/FM 
rigs, you name it. I remember in 3rd grade, a ham came in and we talked 
to Texas. It, needless to say, changed my life.

Being relatively new to amateur radio, I have taken pride in learning 
the radio art in the way people have for decades before me. Whether it 
is learning Morse code, to studying space weather, I have tried to piece 
together an education that I could pass eventually to my son.

I decided to get my hands dirty and begin refurbishing a tube radio. Why 
a tube radio you might ask? The glow of the tube, the sound and warmth 
it puts out gives me the impression that the radio has a soul and 
ultimately a life story. Plus it would allow me to really understand how 
radios work and function. So I hit eBay in search of a non-working unit. 
I stumbled upon a Philco 40-130 radio made in 1940 that was being sold 
by an individual only 20 miles away. At $20, I figured that even if I 
could not fix it, the radio would provide a fantastic opportunity to 
make mistakes and learn.

Upon picking the radio up, the seller stated he was cleaning up a house 
and it contained quite a bit of radio paraphernalia. I assumed an estate 
had contacted him and he was tasked with selling everything and 
anything. However, the seller seemed very interested in the radio and 
asked if I could keep him up to date with the fix. "No problem!" I said.

Over the course of the next few months, I would send him a picture here 
and there of me taking out wax caps, electrolytics, cleaning, aligning 
and hoping that I was not destroying my work of art. My grandfather, who 
was a Bendix engineer, would be proud!

Finally I got the radio up and running (and glowing!) and I sent him 
this video: http://youtu.be/_PING4LxKaY <http://youtu.be/_PING4LxKaY>. 
The seller immediately responds "I just posted it on Facebook, what can 
I say...you rock bro! So happy you're the person that got to restore it! 
I feel like a part of my grandfather now lives on. My dad brought it to 
White Plains in 1962 from his dad's house in the Bronx. You did a great 
job! I'm so proud it's in your hands now!" Next thing I know, my video 
has been viewed over 70 times by his family, some of whom grew up with 
it playing in the background.

I quickly realized this radio was a part of this family and who was I to 
keep it when it. My response to his email was "It is all yours, for 
free!" knowing that as much as I love this radio, it belongs back at its 
home of 70 years. Since pictures are worth a thousand words, here is the 
reunion between the son who grew up with the radio: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDuR87r8nWs 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDuR87r8nWs>

Tube radios have a soul! Now the next goal is to find a tube transceiver 
that needs some TLC.


http://www.eham.net/articles/30923