Second: I
offer options to promote
the use of the vintage radio
by incorporating a module to
play Bluetooth, FM Broadcast and
in some models MP3.
This enables the owner to
use the radio much as it was
intended for daily
entertainment. This
feature can be incorporated
in two ways; as a
stand-alone unit that
transmits an AM signal to
the radio or fully
integrated in the radio
activated by a remote
control.
Third:
As mentioned this
is a hobby with a purpose of
promoting the use of old
radios. Therefore, my
business objective is to
break-even at best. In
most cases I spend $100 to
$200 in the restoration
process, mostly purchasing
replacement parts. When
added to the average
cost of acquiring project
radios of $50 to $100 it
puts my break-even prices in
the order of $300 to $500.
This is a milestone that I
rarely achieve in my thirst
to make room in my shop for
new projects.
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Current Restorations
Available to Purchase |
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With
very
few
AM
broadcast
stations
on
the
air
today,
most
of
my
restorations
include
integrated
FM
and
Bluetooth
modules
so
these
vintage
radios
can
be
enjoyed
on a
daily
basis.
When
a
module
is
in
use,
only
the
radio's
audio
section
is
active
—
the
front-end,
AM
detection,
and
demodulation
stages
are
bypassed.
I
offer
two
approaches
to
integrating
this
capability,
each
with
its
own
advantages. They
are
the
Built-in
Module
Style
and
the
External
Module
Style.
Built-in
Module
Style:
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This style provides the most authentic replication of the vintage radio experience. When the radio is switched on using its original power knob, it automatically resumes the last FM broadcast station it was tuned to. The radio's original Tone and Volume controls work exactly as they always did. In every practical sense, the radio behaves as it was designed to — just receiving FM instead of AM.
 To change stations, use the frequency control on the back of the radio. This is the only functional departure from the original design, as the AM tuning dial on the front is no longer active. Since the radio's front-end is not used in this configuration, it is typically not restored.
As shown on the right this built-in module has a volume control for FM and Bluetooth. However these only need to be set the first time the raido is used. After that all volume is controlled using the radio's original volume knob.
To stream music from a phone or tablet, flip the switch on the back of the radio to Bluetooth and select the radio's unique Bluetooth label — usually based on the manufacturer and model, such as "CGEK64" or "RCA128."
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External
Module
Style: |
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This style supports four operational modes: AM Broadcast, FM Broadcast, Bluetooth streaming, and USB Playlist. Its key advantage is that all stages of the radio are fully restored, allowing it to be used exactly as originally designed — tuning live AM broadcasts — while also offering modern connectivity.
 When the radio is first switched on, it operates in AM Broadcast mode and all original controls function as designed. To switch to FM, Bluetooth, or USB playback, the radio is routed through the external module using a remote control, and from that point the module handles source selection and volume.
To change FM stations, use the frequency dial on the external module. To stream from a phone or tablet, select Bluetooth on the module and choose the radio's Bluetooth label (e.g., "CGEK64" or "RCA128"). To play a playlist, insert a USB key and select USB from the module's control panel.
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To Purchase a Radio email me at: |
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