Restoration?

[David Melin]

Hey folks...

Just looking for some recommendations?  

Back in 2015 I obtained a very beautiful AW-23 with all the bells and whistles (Tweeters and Volume Range Expander).  It has not been plugged in or turned on in years (Yes, I know better..).  It was my intention to have it recapped and restored - but I am reluctant to take on the project myself as an amateur collector.  

I had hoped to find a local restoration shop that would take on the job professionally, but the one that was closest to me closed up shop several years ago.

So, I thought, why not turn to the group - and see if anyone has any suggestions / recommendations - of reputable repair shops / who could be trusted to take on such a project - within a reasonable distance from the Minneapolis / St. Paul area of Minnesota.

What say you?  Any ideas / suggestions?

Thanks in advance to all!
David.  

[David C. Poland]

Not much left of radio repair businesses. The where-with-all is mostly in the hands of hobbyists.

Have you some experience with soldering and radio repair? maybe built a kit in your youth? 

If so, consider doing it yourself. You have technical info on this Scott site - in the Info Archive above.

You have access to advice from folks on this website.

First: assume the filter caps and all the other wax/foil/paper composition caps are way past there service life - so must be replaced before powering up the Scott. Proceed slowly and methodically. There will probably be many .1 MFD 400 volt paper caps - replace them with 600 volt .05 caps - as per a old Scott service bulletin. For other values, replace with like value, although I use 630 volt caps. For the power supply, leave the original filter caps in place for appearance sake, but disconnect them. Put new ones inside on a couple terminal strips. Note any insulated from the metal chassis - those replacements are not grounded either.

There is the elegant coil wheel inside the receiver, hiding a couple paper caps. Before dismounting the coil wheel, turn the band switch to the the broadcast band (full counter-clockwise) and do NOT turn the band switch shaft again until the coil wheel is re-installed. 

The Scott AW-23 is an approachable project - there is just a lot of it compared to a 5 or 6 tube radio. May be some wire with crumbling insulation to replace - I suggest a spool of black test lead wire - durable and flexible. My third radio restoration was a Scott AW-23 about 25 years ago.

So - search some threads on this site - to get acquainted with issues and experience of others. Ask questions.