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. 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

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