I asked Dan this question and thought I'd throw it out to you guys as well:

My house has a 50's era AM radio/intercom system. Rangaire Model WR-550 (Roberts Mfg. Co. - Texas).

It works - barely. Takes about 30 to 45 minutes for the tubes to warm up enough. I don't think the intercom works...not sure. I'd love to restore this thing and replace all the old speakers - more as a cool conversation piece than function, yet I would like for it to work (I have enough 50's era electronics that don't work).

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. And if I ever remember to bring the digital camera home, I'll post pics of my HT and this vintage oven and radio...

^billy

What are the tube numbers? I might be able to find some like solid state transistors for you. *stirring the pot*

Bren R.

There's no reason to resurrect undistinguished sound equipment, tube or solid state. If that system was good when new, then what the heck. I'd replace the capacitors, give it a cleaning and new tubes. The one downside to tube equipment is the off chance of it bursting into flames. Maybe you should get a nice multizone solid state receiver, or a Niles setup.

I don't really need it to be functional, I just thought it would be kinda cool if it was. Worst case, I'll disconnect it and the clock will stop working...but the main unit is installed in the kitchen and removing it would leave a nice hole in some well aged heart-of-pine walls - so it's best to just leave it be or strip the heart-of-pine in the entire kitchen and put up dry wall. Each room has a cool little speaker next to the light switch with a lever for transmitting and a switch for on/off. Audio quality is really of no concern...it's AM.

I just thought it might be a fun little project to work on and learn about tube radios at the same time.

I plan to pipe the 2nd zone from the Denon to the carport as soon as that project comes up on the list.

Thanks for the advice.

^billy

Bren R -

I have no clue. The idea came to me when I was writing to Dan about my oven. The forecast calls for rain all weekend so I might get a chance to pull the thing out of the wall and have a look-see.

^billy

Dude-that sounds so cool. Fix it. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how.

Head on over to Audiokarma.org under the DIY or tubes forum you should be able to get some good help. We're mainly a vintage audio board and we've got quite a few members who are good at repairs etc.

Not to mention, we would want to hear how it goes!