 I’ve been collecting radios for more than
50
years. I didn't have much time to restore them during my career. However
when I retired 15 years ago I decided it was time to bring my
collection back into service.
I first became interested in electronics and in particular radios when I
was in high school and built my first superheterodyne. I spent the first
7 years of my naval career as an electronics technician at a time when
vacuum tubes were the state of the art. Later the navy sent me to
military college were I studied engineering before being sent back to
sea as a naval officer.
Unfortunately
this meant there were no more opportunities for hands-on electronics
work. I then spent 30 years working as a systems engineer and project
manager for the navy where I was relegated to the world of design and
management. Following my naval career I spent 15 years in public service
administration before retiring to my personal workshop.
When I retired I couldn’t wait to get back to the bench I left 30 years
ago and do some hands-on trouble-shooting which I’ve always enjoyed. My
first revelation was how much I had forgotten. Techniques that were
second-nature to me 30 years ago had to be re-learned and practiced.
Fortunately most things came back quickly but I still find that I learn something new with each restoration.
I've been restoring radios, almost full
time, for the past 15 years and have been known to spend several hundred
hours on a single restoration.
Jim Hutton
Chief Restoration
Technician
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