I started to mess about with old radios in April 2011. Over the years I'd done plenty of jobs like replacing broken battery snaps and cleaning crackly pots for people – I used WD40 for the best part of thirty years before finally going over to Servisol 10.
I'd always kept clear of valves as I'd been warned as a child that they used high voltages and besides that I'd assumed that they didn't last long and as soon as one went pop that would be that as I wouldn't be able to get another. I was further confused as I've got a few 1930s books of the 'Practical Handyman' type with chapters such as 'Keeping the Wireless in Order' but these always confused me as they go on about three batteries and the 'High Tension' one seemed anything but high to me. As far as I was concerned "High Tension" was at least thousands of volts; anything below 1,000V AC or 1,500V DC is low.
In fact valves are reliable; it's usually capacitors which are at the bottom of most problems. Valves can still be obtained, most types easily and reasonably cheaply. They are more robust than transistors and if you do something they don't like they are quite capable of fighting back.
There is lots of information available on the internet these days. It really is worth joining the forum so you can ask specific questions, buy and sell sets or parts and some members offer services such as re-winding transformers.
Safety has got to be mentioned. Please bear in mind that YOU are responsible for YOUR safety. The main thing is common sense: if you don't touch it it can't hurt you and if it's made of metal assume it's live until you KNOW it isn't. Don't work without shoes or slippers on. See the 'Links' pages to sites offering fuller advice.
I'd always kept clear of valves as I'd been warned as a child that they used high voltages and besides that I'd assumed that they didn't last long and as soon as one went pop that would be that as I wouldn't be able to get another. I was further confused as I've got a few 1930s books of the 'Practical Handyman' type with chapters such as 'Keeping the Wireless in Order' but these always confused me as they go on about three batteries and the 'High Tension' one seemed anything but high to me. As far as I was concerned "High Tension" was at least thousands of volts; anything below 1,000V AC or 1,500V DC is low.
In fact valves are reliable; it's usually capacitors which are at the bottom of most problems. Valves can still be obtained, most types easily and reasonably cheaply. They are more robust than transistors and if you do something they don't like they are quite capable of fighting back.
There is lots of information available on the internet these days. It really is worth joining the forum so you can ask specific questions, buy and sell sets or parts and some members offer services such as re-winding transformers.
Safety has got to be mentioned. Please bear in mind that YOU are responsible for YOUR safety. The main thing is common sense: if you don't touch it it can't hurt you and if it's made of metal assume it's live until you KNOW it isn't. Don't work without shoes or slippers on. See the 'Links' pages to sites offering fuller advice.
