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Messages
10,930
Location
My mother's basement
I hope it can be fixed. Unfortunately, I have no experience with repairing technical devices. I have a "service manual" with instructions how to work on what, but I don't understand all the technical vocabulary. I'm not so sure if it's a good idea to work on it without really knowing what I do - I could damage it even further, don't you think?

You're probably right -- if you don't understand how that stuff works (welcome to the club) your risk of doing more harm than good is just too great. I have a pair of old radios, one 1930s vintage, one '40s, both of which work but would work better, I've been told, and would remain working better if I did a "simple recap job," which I think means replacing the capacitors, whatever the heck those are. I don't doubt for a minute that it is indeed simple, for those who understand it and are more adept at that sort of thing. If I were in a hurry to bring those radios up to snuff, I'd either hand 'em off to someone who knows his or her stuff or get myself some education. But I'm in no hurry.
 
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wahine

Practically Family
Messages
535
Location
Lower Saxony, Germany
I agree, it would be the best to give it to a pro. But I'm still reluctant to do so because I've already spent money on the radiogram that actually wasn't on my budget (and I had a working record player before, I just gave it away because it didn't fit in my 50s/60s home). Nobody can tell you what it will cost before they start. Even for the estimate of costs, they charge you (that alone would be more than half of what I paid for the whole thing).

So, I try to figure out how chances are to get the knowledge to repair it myself. Not hoping too much though...
 
Messages
10,930
Location
My mother's basement
So in the meanwhile you have a very nice example of a '50s vintage console stereo (as we call those things here in the states) that doesn't work as well as it might. I'm guessing that sooner or later you'll either find a person who will do the job at a reasonable cost or learn enough to do it yourself.
 

wahine

Practically Family
Messages
535
Location
Lower Saxony, Germany
:D well put
That's what I'm telling myself - it's a pretty piece of furniture, I can listen to the radio (well, at least one station), I can put a flower pot on it, sit and look at it dreamily, show it to visitors. I shouldn't put myself in a hurry. If I want to listen to my records, I'll just take them elsewhere (friends, family).

btw thanks for telling me how to call it properly, I thought the word radiogram sounded weird in the first place (got it from an online translator)
 
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I Adore Film Noir

A-List Customer
Messages
480
Location
U.S.A.
Not too old, but certainly of a dying breed. The turntable doesn't seem to work at all, couldn't get it to spin. The radio and 8-track do work, though. Listened to 1957 Country Gold on it today. The speakers, I already had.

GEDC1040-1.jpg

I wished you lived near Boston. I have a vintage KLH turntable that needed fixing. I brought it to a place called Used Sound and they fixed it quickly and well.
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
I love hearing places are still doing this! I do my own repairs most of the time, but it would be nice to have a place around here to have a good relationship with, so when I get too many projects going, or need some tech advice, I could go to them.

I wished you lived near Boston. I have a vintage KLH turntable that needed fixing. I brought it to a place called Used Sound and they fixed it quickly and well.
 
Messages
13,460
Location
Orange County, CA
I came home last night and was puttering around the house. I heard a funny noise and looked over and the turntable was going. It was the darndest thing.

Slightly Oscar Tango but yesterday morning my smoke detector went off. And it wasn't just the intermittent beeps when the battery is low, it went off like crazy as if there was a fire. The strangest part is that I couldn't find anything that could have set it off and most of the windows were open.
 
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