Restoring the Freshman Masterpiece AM radio was a lot of fun, but using batteries wasn’t. They’re convenient for testing, but expensive for regular use. The “B” battery alone uses ten 9-volt batteries, and that’s over $20 per set. There are battery simulators available for old tube radios, but they’re not cheap either, and where’s the fun in just buying a plug-in power supply? Wouldn’t it be cooler to use solar power and a 12-volt rechargeable battery?
After learning the basics of welding from my friend Bob, I needed to decide how to restore a Craftsman Welder. I needed practice.
I mentioned finding two old 20’s-era broadcast receivers in an earlier post. Some months had passed, and restoring the Freshman Masterpiece “5F5” seemed like a fun project and a quick win. The radio was designed to run on two batteries: an “A” or 6-volt battery for the tube filaments and a “B” or 90-volt battery for the plate voltage.
Ikea makes a wonderful work light (JANSJÖ) that sells for about $13. I have several of them, and love the warm pool of light they…
I’ve wanted to to weld for some time now. My best friend from High School went through the pipe fitter apprenticeship program when we were just out of High School. He was such a good welder by the time he completed the program, that he won a gold watch with his final test.
It’s been nearly two years since a pair of classic old shortwave receivers followed me home from California, and they have been staring at me each time I enter the shop ever since. Neither are functional, and both are daunting restoration projects. I wanted to revive some of my old vacuum tube chops and collect some vintage test equipment before diving into these beauties.
A few months ago, I refurbished a Dynaco Stereo 120 audio amplifier for my studio, replacing a Stereo 80 amp that had been in service for years. There wasn’t anything wrong with the 80, but I wanted the increased power and the sound improvements that the 120 upgrades had provided in the studio.
In a former life, I worked in professional audio sales and service for a local music store. This was about a million years ago, and the store, Musicmakers Austin, is long gone. I was just recently out of college and the modest pay didn’t matter too much because I was living every musician’s dream: working as a musician — or at least in close proximity to working musicians.
Marilyn and I enjoy the odd flea market ramble, and a trip to Bussey’s in Schertz, Texas was fun. It was our first time to this meet, and we didn’t really know what to expect. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but old tools, radios or cast iron always get my attention.
About 40 years ago, Bob (a high-school buddy) and I started a surplus electronics business. We were hoping to make a little extra money and feed our Amateur Radio habit. We started with a purchase of 18,000 pounds of stuff.