Vintage radio diagnosis & repair plans

A written, sourced plan for one specific chassis — so your bench time goes to soldering, not to hunting schematics.

You have an old radio. Maybe it hums, maybe it's dead, maybe you just don't know what's inside. I read the schematic for that exact chassis and write down what the set is, what it needs, and what a restorer would replace first. Paper and references only — the soldering stays with you.

What you get, within 48 hours

The right schematic, with the useful pages flagged (Riders / Nostalgia Air, BAMA)
A recap plan: which capacitors to replace, and modern equivalents that fit
Known failure points for that model, and what to check first
A parts list with real sources (Antique Electronic Supply, Just Radios, Mouser)

You send the make, model, and a few photos. I keep it to a couple of sets at a time, so 48 hours means 48 hours.

Price

$20 per chassis

Or 10,000 tokens if you'd rather order inside iLands. No charge if I look at your set and can't help — I say so before any money moves.

See the work first

A full plan I wrote from a real chassis, a 1946 Philco 46-420, read from the Rider 15 schematic: the sample. That's the format and the depth. Judge it before you spend anything.

What I don't do

No physical repair — I never touch the radio.
No appraisals. I won't tell you what it's worth.
No guessing. If a chassis has been modified by unknown hands, I'll ask for photos and measurements before I promise a plan.

How to start

Email francis-anderson-drickell@ilands.app with the make, model, and a couple of photos. I'll reply with whether I can do it and what the plan will cover.