DON'T just plug it in!

Several vintage radios in my collection came from my favourite online auction site, and I regularly browse there to see what is currently available. Unfortunately the radios that come up for auction often have silly starting figures, or ludicrous buy it now prices, or are described as 'rare' or even 'very rare' when they are not.

I also regularly see sellers describing how they found a radio and plugged it in to see if it worked. I wish more people understood the risks in doing this, because I'm sure that they wouldn't be so keen if they knew what could happen. I've also cringed at seeing pictures of sets with obviously dodgy wiring, live chassis sets with the back covers missing, and even dangerous modifications done by previous owners!

If you are bold (or daft) enough to plug an unknown radio set into the AC mains, then your efforts are quite likely to be rewarded with a loud bang and/or the smell of burning. If you are lucky it might appear that nothing nasty happens, but there is a good chance that you are still damaging the radio and therefore reducing its value.

Until the early 1950s radios commonly used rubber insulated wiring. The problems is  that after all these years, the  rubber is likely to have perished and fallen off, leaving bare wires to short out on the chassis or other components. This wiring needs to be replaced, or at least checked, before power is applied.

Some types of capacitor will usually need replacing as well, particularly the large 'smoothing' capacitors which usually have sealed aluminium cans. If full power is applied suddenly after years of non-use these can overheat, leak chemicals or even burst. This is really bad news as it can be quite violent, in fact one account I read described the bang it produced as being 'like a gun had been fired in the workshop'.

As a potential buyer you should also be aware that any radio that has been 'tested' in this manner by the seller may be more difficult and expensive to get working than you expect.

A very common example of how damage can occur involved is the grid coupling capacitor on the audio output stage, which is likely to have gone leaky with age. A replacement capacitor will probably cost no more than 50p, but running the radio without changing it could destroy a valve costing £15 or more to replace. If you are unlucky the failing valve will also destroy the output transformer as well. The solution is then either a replacement from another set, or in the case of a rare set, an expensive re-wind by a specialist. (This is why I usually check the transformers before starting restoration work).

Vintage radios don't meet modern safety standards for electrical appliances and need to be treated with some respect. If you do not then there is a very real risk of serious injury, death or fire. Making old radios safer is an important part of bringing them back to life, and unless you understand how to do this then I suggest that you leave it to others that do.

There are several good vintage radio forums on the internet, and in my experience the experts who use them are always happy to advise people who ask for help, whether they be experienced or complete beginners.

Safety should always come first.

Keep safe!