Restoring Pocket Radios

Opening with a gentle laugh (a play on the "[this video] has been formatted to fit your TV" message), this light-hearted, informative look at everything you ever wanted to know about restoring vintage pocket transistor radios reminds viewers that refurbishing old electronics is a labor of love for many hobbyists--with love being the operative word. Instead of tearing apart the brittle, aged plastic case with a coin or (gasp) a screwdriver, co-host Eric Wrobbel "coaxes" it open with a fingernail, showing patience and gentleness that only come from experience. Wrobbel also covers little-known details of case restoration, such as using graduated ultra-fine grit sandpaper to restore that fresh-from-the-factory luster, and methods of electroplating parts at home, while co-host Ron Mansfield delves into the voodoo involved in electronics troubleshooting. Today, thousands of transistors are etched into tiny silicon chips, but during the 1950s and '60s era of these mostly AM mini-beasts, three can-shaped transistors were considered high tech enough to be advertised on the cases of many of the radios. While the program's greatest strength is its wonderful specificity of subject, the electronic troubleshooting methods outlined here would also apply to other non-integrated circuit bearing devices. The enclosed booklet helpfully indexes the sections by time code, and also includes extensive contact information for the hosts and suppliers of tools and hard-to-find parts. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)