Jackson Bell Vintage Radio repair suggestions?

[Reece]

If the top cap is still connected but loose, some super glue will fix. If the cap is off, scrape the existing wire sticking out all around to make it bright, take a thin copper wire and wrap a couple turns around it, touch it FAST with soldering iron & solder. Being quick avoids breaking the tube. Heat the separated cap so that the hole in the top opens. Glue it back on with the wire sticking out, and solder the wire FAST. Usually can fix them this way.

The 80 will be kind of pricey, and the 45 really so. If it's too much, there are ways to substitute other tubes using an adapter, which is much less money, but not so "pretty."

[electroking]

Originally Posted by Reece

If the top cap is still connected but loose, some super glue will fix. If the cap is off, scrape the existing wire sticking out all around to make it bright, take a thin copper wire and wrap a couple turns around it, touch it FAST with soldering iron & solder. Being quick avoids breaking the tube. Heat the separated cap so that the hole in the top opens. Glue it back on with the wire sticking out, and solder the wire FAST. Usually can fix them this way.

The 80 will be kind of pricey, and the 45 really so. If it's too much, there are ways to substitute other tubes using an adapter, which is much less money, but not so "pretty."

A really nice 80 with balloon shape is indeed expensive, but late production
80s (5Y3GTs with the correct 4-pin base) were not that expensive a
few years ago, and I guess plenty of people have a few they would let
go for little money. Good luck.

[stoutblock]

Originally Posted by electroking

A really nice 80 with balloon shape is indeed expensive, but late production
80s (5Y3GTs with the correct 4-pin base) were not that expensive a
few years ago, and I guess plenty of people have a few they would let
go for little money. Good luck.

would a 4 pin 5Z3 work as I have one?

[electroking]

Originally Posted by stoutblock

would a 4 pin 5Z3 work as I have one?

No, unless the filament winding in the power transformer is overdesigned.
The 80 has a 2-A filament current, while the 5Z3 needs 3-A, so it would
most likely overload the transformer. You can grab the 4-pin base from
the old 80, add an octal socket with 4 pieces of wire and make an
adapter to use a 5Y3GT. I think this is the best possible thing next
to an actual 80. Good luck.

[stoutblock]

Dad says he wants to keep the radio stock rather than modify. He says he can listen to another radio...

Since this radio is totally original, I can see his point. Looks cool on the shelf!