Of course, restoring a car takes considerable time and expense but the outcome is well worth it, driving up the value appreciably. That is, to strip the unit down, much the same way the car restorer cleans, inspects, replaces parts, and, then, reassembles the car, finishing the job with a complete tune-up. Much as you may despair over the dismantling of your Collins, there is only way to do the job right. Suffice to say, then, the following restoration procedures become a matter of personal choice based on the condition of the Collins or any other radio set. While others and I have seen many need a major restoration because the radio had been subjected to a “hostile environment” where the former owner(s) did not cover the radio when not in use, or, in many instances, coated the radio with tobacco nicotine. Some “pre-owned” Collins, fortunately, need just a realignment and some high pressure air or a whisk of a soft bristled brush to sweep out the “cobwebs,” so to speak. I would welcome their contributions to add to this material. I claim that there are more skilled and competent folks out there who have “better” tricks or techniques than I do. Please keep in mind that it would be impossible to cover such a broad subject as this one. removing any modifications that were done by a previous owner, in general, restoring the radio back to its original circuitry.realigning the tuned circuits to factory specifications.touching up paint scratches or repainting the cabinet, if warranted.thoroughly cleaning the set to remove years of dirt, grime, and tobacco nicotine.
He wants to make the radio appear in like new condition by performing such tasks as Here the radio restorer is attempting to sweep years away. In a similar vein, restoring a Collins radio is very similar but a great deal less complicated and costly. When you mention the word, “restoration” to a classic car owner, typically, he would explain that it involves completely rebuilding the car from the ground up, replacing what is worn with new parts and fresh paint applied to make the car appear that it just rolled off the assembly line.
Refurbishing the Heathkit SB-610 and The 610C-2.