Hit 500 total repairs on vintage tube radios last Tuesday

I keep a little notebook where I mark down every radio I fix up. Last week I hit number 500 - a 1947 Philco tabletop that needed new capacitors and a power cord. It took me 8 years to get there, working on and off in my spare time. Most people think I'm crazy for messing with old electronics that give off that warm smell when they heat up. But each one is like a little puzzle, figuring out what's wrong and getting it to play music again. Does anyone else keep a running count of their projects or am I just weird about tracking stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

paige_martin16d ago

Hang on, 500 radios in 8 years? That's like one every six days. You sure you're not counting the times you just replaced a tube and called it a day? I mean, good for you and all, but it feels like you're turning a hobby into a job with a spreadsheet.

michael69315d ago

You got me there, @paige_martin... that "replaced a tube and called it a day" line hit a little too close to home. I mean, yeah, I definitely had a few of those where I swapped out a cap and gave it a quick test and just counted it. But honestly, I probably lost count around year three anyway, so the real number's probably closer to 400, maybe? It's less of a job with a spreadsheet and more of a "I bought too many junkers and now I'm stuck finishing them" situation... but hey, keeps me out of trouble.