Hello.

I often come across this forum in my online travels, and I decided to join. I've been reading for a while, but I'm not a sociable person, so I haven't posted anything. But I thought it'd be nice to try and be involved.

I am not a collector of radios or televisions -- at least not specifically. I will collect anything electronic and old, if I find it particularly interesting. I've lately become more interested in Australian made electronics, which usually tends to be things like radios, televisions, etc... I love old radiograms and older stereo/audio equipment mostly.

I am very interested in electronics. I'm not terribly good at it, and I don't always know all of the correct names and things behind various concepts. However, I know enough that I can understand how a lot of things work, given a circuit diagram, and I can get almost anything working -- usually with a lot of trial and error and/or McGuyvering.

Most of what I know about electronics and stuff is what I've figured out myself by trial and error, and from old Electronics Australia and ETI magazines. I've been collecting old electronics and computer magazines since I was a kid. I have a large collection of EA magazines -- most issues from '69 up to '96. Most of those came from a big collection I found that somebody had donated to the local community run book shop.

Due to various reasons, I ended up giving up on my childhood interest in electronics, but I picked back up on the hobby several years ago by accident. I used to collect only old computers, I have been collecting them since I was about 10. People used to just give them to me when they cleaned out their sheds, or I'd find them discarded in working order, or I'd get them from garage sales for a pittance. I always have been obsessed with them, and found them interesting. I have quite a large collection of them.

People would say they are rubbish and that I was collecting junk, and it was a nice little niche interest with nice small communities online that were full of knowledgable people (a lot like this one). But youtube came along, and there are many who produce videos designed to pander to the smartphone generation, which has turned it into a trendy fad. Which is what's driven me back to my interest with electronics.

'Cause now my "junk" is no longer junk. People no longer give things away, or sell them for 5 dollars at a garage sale... I realised that I could only afford my hobby if I bought things that were "beyond repair" (i.e. PCB level damage/faults). And suddenly I ended up remembering all I'd forgotten about electronics and my old hobby since I was a kid, and picked up a bunch of new skills as well along the way.

Seeking out electronics related communities and resources was disappointing to me when I picked back up on the hobby. I found it is nothing like it used to be when I was a kid (late '90s), and that most "electronics" (at least when it comes to hobbyist stuff) seems to really revolve around programming... Arduinos, and plug together boards, and internet connected everything.

I always find the antique radio column in Silicon Chip interesting, which led me to following some groups on some of the antisocial media sites that are centred around old/antique radios, televisions, test equipment, etc. Which has led to a big interest in old electronics, and a much larger hoard.

My name is Dan, but I chose this as my name because the registration form reminded me of an old comic strip from XKCD (little bobby tables) and it made me laugh. Up until recently, I was web designer and developer for about a decade. Programming and SQL databases and dynamic websites like this one were part of my core area of skills/work. Which is why I despise anything programming related or internet connected.

Sorry for the wall of text.

Welcome to V-R.

If you need assistance with a project, just start an appropriately titled thread in Tech Talk.

A few tips: if you're seeking identification of a valve radio, it helps to let us know its valve line-up, and good sharp photos of the front and rear (showing the chassis) are also helpful.

Hi Bobby / Dan,

Having worked in the electronics industry for years and had to deal with all of those surface mounted devices in the last 20 years I can hear your complaints about more modern electronics. The thing I find wonderful about early radio technology is that it actually took so few electronic elements to make a working radio (and you can actually see them).

Welcome to the forum.

Regards, Frank.

P. S. If it glows in the dark these guys will know how to fix it.

Hey Frank! WELL SAID!
I'm loving making things with VALVES in them even though I have a workshop full of chips!
Fred.

Thanks for the welcomes.

I like older radios (and other older electronic equipment) for the same reasons. I can find a circuit diagram, and even though I might not always know the full theory behind how it all works, I can follow what's there and get the gist of how the thing works because all of the components and circuitry aren't abstracted away into little sealed black plastic blocks.

I've got a basic understanding of valves, but nowhere near as well as I understand transistors. Sometimes it's a bit hard to wrap my head around what's going on though, because I grew up playing with old solid state stuff and I don't often get a chance to work on valve gear, but I always get there in the end.

It's a bit hard to come across anything with valves in it where I live, and the usual online places (gumtree, ebay, etc) more often than not either won't ship, or shipping is too dear. It's pretty far out and isolated where I live.

At the moment I am working on restoring one very badly water damaged and mouldy old Kriesler radiogram. I think it's an 11-88 chassis, off the top of my head. I'm nearly done with the electronics side of stuff, but the cabinet is stuffed. It's severely water damaged and mouldy from being in a leaky shed for decades.

I've found the information here on how to repair woodwork and veneer extremely helpful. I'm not a terribly "handy" sort of person; I can do electronics, but stuff like building things, woodwork sort of stuff, etc, it's a bit hard with, but It's good to take on something new that I feel uncomfortable about doing.

Hi Dan,

Just gotta say welcome - and I love the name reference! As an casual reader of XKCD, that's one of my favourite segments, and I'm always beating up our programmers at work for mistakes like that

Good luck in your endeavours with V-R!