Help please (radio restoration)

[Dank]

In my hast to restore an old radio i found (apparently a 1938 silvertone 4786) i pulled the vacuum tubes for cleaning (not realizing that they could go back in more than 1 way) and now i have no idea how to put them back correctly.(my first time working with OLD electronics ;_; ) I would GREATLY appreciate it if someone could walk me through proper disassembly/cleaning/reassembly.

Thanks in advance ;_;

 

[FStephenMasek]

The schematic shows the tube layout. It is available here: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/225/M0017225.htm or here: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sears_roeb_100196_4786.html

First, do not power it up before replacing at least the electrolytic capacitors, as you can easily destroy the expensive power transformer. It is better to also wait until after replacing all of the old wax-covered paper&foil capacitors and out of tolerance resistors. Work solwly, and take notes or photos to help, especially when you need to disconnect multiple parts at once.

The discussion forum http://www.antiqueradios.com is a good place to obtain loads of help and information.

There is probably old radio club in your area. Perhaps DVHRC: http://www.dvhrc.info/

 

[plain old dave]

+100 on electrolytic capacitors. Here's a thought: Look in your local area for a ham radio club; a LOT of us hams keep "boatanchors" on the air and have detailed obsolete repair equipment to do so; electric radio is almost a sub-hobby in Amateur Radio. Pay close attention to the callsigns of hams; you can usually tell how likely somebody is to be able to help by their call; newer-older is as follows: xx4xxx is a 2x3 call and is probably new to the hobby. x4xxx can be a good source; 1x3s are Generals and have usually been around for longer (I know one that has been on the air since 1939). Now the TRUE old-timers are the 1x3s (x4xx) like a fella I knew named Hank. Before he went Silent Key, he had been around long enough to have operated on the pre-WW2 bandplan and had a houseful of Electric Radio stuff; Hams are notorious packrats. Hank was the only ham I ever knew that operated CW (morse code) with a ww2 surplus key strapped around his leg MOBILE. That's driving a car.