Frank Dresser wrote:
"starman" wrote in message
...

As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio

like

the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if

it

was recapped?



In this case, I think a recapped radio would be less valueable. The
people buying these things must think these things are more than just
radios. So keeping the original capacitors in their original positions,
with the original solder, etc. preserves the what -- nostalgia value?

I noticed the pink Tiny Chiefs and the Black Beauties as well as the
electrolytics, too. I'm sure the Hallicrafters engineers were well
aware that the steel cased oil filled paper caps were more reliable.

Frank Dresser


If you want if for a shelf queen and never used, then leave it original,
but if you want to use it (which a fine receiver as this should be),
then by all means recap it, that won't reduce it's value as much as a
burnt out IF can or power transformer because of a bad cap.

"JJ" wrote in message
...


If you want if for a shelf queen and never used, then leave it
original,
but if you want to use it (which a fine receiver as this should be),
then by all means recap it, that won't reduce it's value as much as a
burnt out IF can or power transformer because of a bad cap.


Actually, I don't want it, at least at that price. I enjoy fixing up
"affordable" junkers. So my chances of ever having a SX-88 range from
none to slimmer than none.

It's worth remembering that the SX-88, while expensive, was hardly the
most expensive radio of the mid 50s. The Hammarlund SP-600 and Collins
51Js were in the $900+ class. Hallicrafters sold the SX-73 in the $900
+ class a few years before. No doubt Bill Halligan saw a hole at the
$600 price point and decided to make a radio to fill it. But the $600
SX-88 didn't take over the market of the more expensive radios, nor was
it cloned by the other manufacturers. I've never used any of these
radios, but the guys who spending big bucks for radios back then weren't
buying many SX-88.

That's what starts me thinking that the SX-88 is more than just a radio.
Hallicrafters bought alot of advertising in the 50s, and I'm sure alot
of kids who were saving their paper route money to buy the S-38 were
drooling over all those Hallicrafters ads with the S-85s, the SX-96s and
that beautiful, unobtainable SX-88.

For alot of those grown up kids, coming up with a few grand is now
easier than coming up with sixty bucks was, almost fifty years ago.

I don't have any compelling reason to chase after the elusive SX-88.
The other high end radios of the mid 50s seem like they'd perform at
least as well.

But if I ever pick up a pristine SX-88 at a hamfest for $100, it would
be, not a shelf queen, but a shelf princess, waiting for the prince to
take her to the castle. No new caps, maybe no AC. I'd preserve it for
the guys who see that there's more than a radio in a SX-88.

Frank Dresser

Depends on who is buying it, and what they want it for.
If its being bought by a collector who will just put it on the
shelf (not me!), then don't re-cap. If its being bought to be
used, re-capping is the only way to go.

Steve

starman wrote in message
...
As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio like
the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if it
was recapped?


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starman wrote:

As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay....
Would it lessen the value if it was recapped?..

Yes, it will.

You might want to consider something I've written about before-
lowered B+, which may allow you to use the radio safely with leaky caps.
I've successfully run collectable radios with 24 volts on the plates
and an external, amplified speaker. They work fine with no componant
damage and have done so for years.
Pull out the rectifier and apply 20-50 volts to the B+ buss
to see "how low you can go." You can use series caps in the
HV transformer leads to drop the voltage, which is better than
trying to use a dropping resistor.
Unless you have a cap that is a dead short, I'd bet the radio
will play for you. Before anyone writes back about "cathode poisoning,"
that debate went on a couple of years ago and the outcome was that
it was pretty much a mythical problem.

If you don't want to run low B+, you can do another trick-
unsolder one lead from the old component, tuck it out of the
way and "tack" solder in a modern replacement. The radio can
be put back to 100% original if a collector cares to do so.
I've recapped and re-resistored some WWII radios this way.

GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S

"starman" wrote in message
...
As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio like
the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if it
was recapped?


-----=

I'd be more worried about the quality of the workmanship. I've
seen some pretty shoddy "restorations" by "profesunals" that
left a lot to be desired.

Pete k1zjh

Who says the owner is actually gonna plug in the darned thing and listen to
it!

That four-figure radio is a trophy....not a radio!

Personal story: I just took delivery of an almost mint vintage 1967 ham
transceiver. It was out of the box for about three hours, playing on the
test bench when.....kapow!... up went a "point-one" bypass cap in smoke.
Well, my "mint" radio lasted about that long. Get out the soldering iron.

Only a fool pays $3,000-plus for an old Hallicrafter radio....a Bigger fool
will turn on the power switch!

Pat, WPE9JRL
"starman" wrote in message
...
As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio like
the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if it
was recapped?


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The fact is in the UK at the moment a nice vintage WORKING radio
is worth much more than an untouched non working one..
This may change over the next few years of course
Take the famous R1155 receiver, the mod to remove the defunct DF
componants in the 50's has reduced the value on Ebay to about £60
a complete but none working one goes for about £100 BUT a complete
and working one even if a few caps have been replaced I've seen go
for over £200 so who is to say?
Also I must agree with the low voltage option!! I have found this
myself, take an old radio with leaky caps and dodgy smoothing and
leave it running warm at about 30% power for a couple of weeks 24hrs
a day and it comes back to life remarkably well!! at least it gives
you a working perfect example, if I am forced to do any mods like
changing caps plugs or leads I shrink wrap all the removed bits and
attach them with a description of what was done to the case inside.
as after all we are only temporary owners )
These days I prefer to buy old sets that have been modified or are
badly beaten up for a silly price, I have more fun getting back close
to original working spec and don't feel guilty replacing parts hi!!!
from Ron.....


On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 02:55:36 -0500, starman wrote:

As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio like
the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if it
was recapped?


-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

"starman" wrote in message
...
As you may know, there's an SX-88 on Ebay. The pictures show it still
has the original paper capacitors like the 'Tiny Chiefs' and 'Black
Beauties', which are known to become leaky. Should a valuable radio like
the '88' be run with these caps' and possibly damage an irreplacable
componant, such as an I.F. transformer? Would it lessen the value if it
was recapped?

I own an SX-88 and I had no hesitation in recapping it. I use it regularly.

If you're not going to replace the old capacitors, then DON'T turn it on.

I collect radios for the purpose of restoring and using them, so the concept
of owning an unplayable "shelf queen" holds little allure. I doubt that
recapping would seriously affect the value of this particular set, but then
I don't operate a museum full of shelf queens. You can always save the old
caps in a sack in case some future owner wants to restuff them. Keep in mind
that it's basically impossible to restuff a plastic cap such as a Black
Beauty.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

"Phil Nelson" wrote in message I
collect radios for the purpose of restoring and using them, so the concept
of owning an unplayable "shelf queen" holds little allure. I doubt that
recapping would seriously affect the value of this particular set, but
then
I don't operate a museum full of shelf queens. You can always save the old
caps in a sack in case some future owner wants to restuff them. Keep in
mind
that it's basically impossible to restuff a plastic cap such as a Black
Beauty.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html


I'll bet Syl comes up with replicas pretty soon, if he hasn't already.

Should be very easy to make molds of the originals, and then
recast mylars with an expoxy shell... Add some paint, lettering,
viola!

Pete

" Uncle Peter" wrote in message
news:6egOb.10630$ct4.4087@lakeread05...
I don't operate a museum full of shelf queens. You can always save the
old
caps in a sack in case some future owner wants to restuff them. Keep in
mind
that it's basically impossible to restuff a plastic cap such as a Black
Beauty.

I'll bet Syl comes up with replicas pretty soon, if he hasn't already.

Sure, why not. And rather than waste good new mylars inside those repros, he
can have a few hundred bad old paper caps from my saving-sacks. Then he can
peddle the repackaged "bumblebees" to guitar guys on Ebay for $$$. No point
wasting time trying to match up correct values -- those guys want
distortion, and I have bushels to offer!

:-)

Phil