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This article is from the Antique Radios And Phonographs FAQ, by Hank van Cleef vancleef@netcom with numerous contributions by others.

61 p5 Where can I get tubes, electronic parts, knobs, dial lenses, grille cloth, schematics, literature, refinishing supplies, etc.?

Some other suppliers for various things:

Local sources. Take a look in the Yellow Pages, and check out any
place that advertises under "radio repair." You may find that your
area has an old-time shop or two that does repair work on old
electronics. Don't ignore possible local sources---a few phone calls
will generally lead you to one, even if you don't identify it from the
Yellow Page listings immediately.

Mouser
2401 Highway 287 North
Mansfield, Tex. 76063
800-346-6873/817-483-4422
Mouser is a "modern components" distributor with a big catalog. They
have distribution centers in California and New Jersey as well. While
they do not stock antique-specific items, they are a good source for
resistors, capacitors, wire (modern only) and a host of other useful
items.

MCM Electronics
650 Congress Park Dr.
Centerville, Ohio 45459
800-543-4330
Most of MCM's inventory is oriented toward modern devices, but some of
their items can be used in old radio restoration. They also stock a
large inventory of Japanese and Motorola transistors.

The following advertise regularly in Electric Radio (a magazine for old
amateur radio equipment)
Fair Radio Sales
PO Box 1105/1016 E. Eureka St.
Lima, Ohio 45802
419-227-6573
Primarily military surplus, plus some test equipment and vacuum tubes.

Purchase Radio Supply
327 East Hoover Avenue
Ann Arbor, Mich. 48104
313-668-8696
(Not specific as to what they carry, but worth investigating---they
state they've been there 60 years and specialize in old items).

On magnetic components (coils, RF-IF transformers, power transformers,
chokes), you are faced with several choices, depending on what you need.
Antique Electronic Supply carries a selection of iron core magnetics
and a few other items, primarily for smaller radios. Several suppliers
offer interstage transformers for 1920's sets. If you need a power
transformer you may need to adapt mechanically and/or electrically.
You will need to know the exact dimensions of mounting holes, chassis
cutouts, space available for mounting, etc. You will also need to know
the voltages and current requirements of secondary circuits. If you
have some idea what substitutions you can make, calling around may
produce a very good substitute. For a price, there are several
transformer shops that will build you a new transformer to your
specifications.

Universal-wound coils (i.e., wound zigzag on forms) are difficult to
replace. Fortunately, they don't often give trouble---main problem is
antenna coils zapped by lightning. There are very few shops today who
are equipped to wind universal-wound coils. Some electrical adaptation
of NOS (new old-stock) items is possible in some cases.

If you are dealing with a radio that needs magnetic components or has a
physically-unrepairable tuning capacitor, you may have a parts radio.

 

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