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Old 5th Jun 2018, 4:29 pm   #81
John10b
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Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK.
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Default Re: Is it worth repairing?

The comments from steve the “lead guitarist “ brought back some happy memories, back in the sixties I use to repair the amps for the various groups that played during the summer season, memory’s of hot summer nights with amps turned right up and blasting out, sizzling and smoking with the portable fans doing their best to keep them cool I shall never forget.
The late Jim Marshall didn’t design his amps for fidelity but deliberately designed in distortion, in those days I had original components to replace with Mullard valves etc.
I wonder how an old amp with new components and valves fitted sound today?
One thing is certain, well worth repairing, in my honest opinion.
Cheers
John
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Old 5th Jun 2018, 5:33 pm   #82
Al (astral highway)
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Default Re: Is it worth repairing?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightcruiser View Post
... [are] many old sets now are really worth restoring and saving.
Ahah! that depends on what 'worth' means. So many of the sets that pop up on this site aren't intrinsically valuable by any means, and that's been the case for years. Many were mass produced in very high hundreds of thousands or more and even the rarer sets don't go for much except on specialist auction or collectors' sites - but most people on this forum aren't in the business of selling their sets on anyway, even if they reach factory gate standard of restoration.

Even my oldest set (1936) is only 'worth' the cost of a week's shopping for my family. The value in radio and TV restoration is really indeterminate and depends subjectively on how much enjoyment the restorer/repairer gets out of the process.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightcruiser View Post
I hate to say it, but really a lot of collectors are being forced away from the hobby they enjoy.
No-one is forcing anyone. There's been a spike of interest in valve audio that has probably trebled or quadrupled prices here in London in 15 years, but it's anyone's guess whether the bubble will last.

I was asked a very silly £1,100 for two Leak monoblocs with no output valves recently - not that I paid it, but that's what the general purpose vintage shop owner seriously expected to be paid for the units, which both needed a complete rebuild by the look of them, including one with an o/c primary.

If there are fewer people chasing a few valves that seem to have high kudos beyond any logic, then prices will return to more normal levels.

Two more things about valves:

1) I've only once had to replace two valves - one very common rectifier valve and one output valve. That's in 27 repairs/restorations. Small signal valves last practically forever.

2) Some forum members have bins and bins of the common valves. If there's a genuine desire to complete a repair, then forum members are very ready to offer help with sourcing a replacement from their own stocks. It's hardly ever a show-stopper.
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Old 5th Jun 2018, 5:55 pm   #83
Heatercathodeshort
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Default Re: Is it worth repairing?

It's a very cheap and fascinating skill to repair/restore this vintage equipment. It must be one of the cheapest interests available.

2 X cups of coffee a day @ £3.50 a cup. £196 per month. To say nothing of the fancy rolls and toast..
I x pack of cigarettes a day A £8.50. £238 per month.

Just two 'must have' items and I could add another 50.

I certainly don't spend £436 a month on my vintage TV interests.

John.
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Old 5th Jun 2018, 6:19 pm   #84
TonyDuell
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Default Re: Is it worth repairing?

I once read an article where the author suggested working out the cost per hour of various hobbies and passtimes. Things like you pay £X for the ticket to a football match (if you enjoy such things -- I don't) and you get perhaps 2 hours of entertainment. Similarly going to the theatre/cinema/concert. And so on.

All I can say is that if I spend £100 on an old radio + the parts to repair it and get 10 hours of pleasure from doing that repair then I don't think £10 per hour is high compared to other ways of enjoying myself.

Is it 'worth repairing'. Well, I doubt I could get the money back if I sold it. But that's true of most other hobbies. Is it worth it to give me pleasure? Of course!
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