

Here it is with new capacitors installed. There's not very much
space here. But I was able to find a place for the new filter
capacitors.

Here is the other side showing the tubes, a new capacitor and new solid
state vibrator.
I wrote the original location numbers on the old filter capacitor
can.
The can is there for appearance but is disconnected electrically.
The new filter capacitors can be seen in the previous picture as 4 blue
cylinders that have
large black arrows on them.
Tube radios require some high DC voltages to operate the
tubes. It isn't possible to use a transformer alone
to step up the 6 volts DC to 200 or higher voltages. Something
has to make the voltage simulate AC by making it alternate on the
primary of a power transformer. The device that does that
is called a vibrator (it's also known as an interrupter).
It is made to move the same way as a buzzer. The transformer's primary
has a center tap, which means it's divided into two sections. The
vibrator as it buzzes switches one of the connections between two
connections on the primary of the transformer, creating what's known as
pulsating DC, which can be stepped up inside the power
transformer. Now a days, we use transistors, to do the
switching. So using a solid state vibrator turns an Antique
Radio's power supply into a "Switching" power supply or DC-to-DC
converter, or power inverter. These are some of the names this
type of power supply goes by.
Do you have a Philco Model 802 in similar condition? If you do, I
already have an estimate for you. This radio contains 20 paper and filter capacitors making the cost of the restoration $400.00. This is a flat rate and covers the restoration of all paper and filter capacitors. If the radio needs a new dial cord, or dial lamps and up to 5 tubes (that cost up to $10.00 each) or resisors, or mica capacitors, they will be included. Yes, this is as complete a restoration as I can offer. Some minor mechanical work is also included.
If your radio needs other parts, not mentioned above, like coils, transformers, or hard to find items specific to this car radio, or if I have to have a part fabricated, there will be an extra cost. Most of the time $400.00 + sales tax (if you live in NY state) + return shipping is what it will cost.


This page was created: 8/6/04 on the Borg web site
Last modified on 4/1/06 on the Borg Web site, Last modified here on October 27th, 2007 at about 12:35AM EDT