Radio Repair Made Easy
Restoration of vintage tube radios is a growing hobby as old radios are more and more frequently turning up at estate auctions, yard sales and internet auction sites. Restoring an old, but working, radio is actually relatively easy, but the time comes when the novice needs help.
"Elements of radio servicing" by Marcus and Levy is a well known reference in the radio community, and its reputation is well deserved. I had heard about this book, and I bought it because I ran into a radio I couldn't get to play.
An easy read, even though this is a textbook, the book gets right to the heart of radio servicing, begining each chapter with a "quick check," a short list of how to quickly assess the problem, then backs up and works simply through the basic principles and how to fix the radio in logical, sequential, efficient steps. Figures and illustrations are clear and easy to understand. Each chapter ends with a review and checklist.
As the title implies, the emphasis is on service and repair, not radio theory. Its original target audience was the technical electronics student seeking a career in radio and TV repair. The book emphasizes fast, efficient radio troubleshooting to find and fix a problem in the shortest possible time at the lowest cost to the consumer. That approach works well with the hobbyist today as parts can be difficult to find and costly. Anyone repairing or restoring old radios will find this book a valuable addition to the workbench.
