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Preserving the Vintage Electronics Appearance in RCA Model 103 Depression Radio
Restoration Date September 2013
There are radio collectors that believe that proper restoration requires that even the electronic components that you may not ever see should be restored to the original appearance. The RCA model 103 radio was made in 1935-36. This radio had been repaired before but no restoration was done to preserve the look. I decided to do this task with as many parts that I could (mainly capacitors and resistors). This radio was a donation from Helen Bailey of the Collections Exhibit for the Orange County Fair.
Restoring Dry Box Electrolytic Capacitors. Used in late 1930-1940 radios.
2. The tabs are loosen with careful prying, unwraps the box
3. Take out the old capacitor and insert the new ones.
4. Wires added on and box is carefully put back together but leaving one side open for future repairs if needed.
5. Restored Electrolytic is relabeled with correct values and orientation, then installed to original location.
Restoring Wax Coated Paper Capacitors
Paper capacitors are some of the earliest mass produced capacitors for radios. They tend to fail easily as the wax coating dries up and crack allowing moisture in.
2. Insert the new capacitor (green color) inside the tube and seal it with the original parts if possible. Allow the new capacitor leads to stick out or add longer leads inside the tube, for that original look.
UNCOMMON restoration: A multiple section paper capacitor:
If you look closely, I had to make a double capacitor as stated in the parts list, because the original one was gone. The orange colored part is a late 1970s-80s capacitor (original missing)
If you look closely, I had to make a double capacitor as stated in the parts list, because the original one was gone. The orange colored part is a late 1970s-80s capacitor (original missing)
Saving out of tolerance Body-End-Dot Resistors
These particular resistors represent the earliest mass produced resistor that used the standard industry adopted color numbering systems for value ID. These resistors were simply a piece of solid carbon that was trimmed to the original value. Over time moisture and heat have degraded their value.
2. Important that you know the wattage rating required. Do not use a parallel resistor with a lower watt rating than the original.
3. Tuck the new one under the original and solder the leads to the original. In the picture the BODY-END-DOT (blue-orange-black) marked 60000 ohms is considerably above that. A 220000 ohm resistor is solder underneath to give a reading around 60000 ohms. The rating for this resistor is 1/2 watt.
3. Tuck the new one under the original and solder the leads to the original. In the picture the BODY-END-DOT (blue-orange-black) marked 60000 ohms is considerably above that. A 220000 ohm resistor is solder underneath to give a reading around 60000 ohms. The rating for this resistor is 1/2 watt.
View of RCA Model 103 Radio Electronics
Some parts shown were not restore with original look due to unavailable of original due to previous repairs done years ago.
Finished Radio:
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