Victor R32

[Fireflite]

Hi, I live in the Buffalo, New York area. I have a Victor R32 radio that I would like to have restored. The radio is in decent shape but is missing it's amplifier and speaker. I really don't have the free time (or knowledge)to do it myself. I would appreciate any suggestions you folks have to offer. Thanks!!

[leadlike]

The reason your amp and speaker are missing is because someone sold them as a stand-alone tube amp. They tend to sell for around $300. A complete, working R32 is probably worth only about $75-100 as a completed restoration. In other words, it will be very tough for you to find the parts you need to complete your project and not lose a lot of money on the deal.

I would almost suggest you keep searching Craigslist/ebay for another tube radio. Don't mean to be discouraging, but you'll end up saving yourself hundreds this way. If you do wish to restore the R32, it should take a Victor #245 amp. There is one on ebay right now for $20, but it is in very ratty condition. A similar one in poor condition sold for about $100 recently.

[Fireflite]

Would it be worth while to put modern guts in it.(CD,MP3,..etc)?

[leadlike]

In the condition it is in, the set really isn't worth anything, so I don't think putting something modern in would be looked down upon. The model also isn't a rare one, so no problem with that. You've got a nice, solid cabinet with more than enough room to adapt it out to something else. Just make sure that all of this is easily reversible!

[Nick_the_'Nole]

One possibility might be to put a modern mono amp and speaker into the cabinet, and hook the original tuner up to it. (And also add whatever inputs you want for MP3, CD, whatever.)

It wouldn't exactly be an easy mod... there are a few problems that would have to be worked out, not the least of which being that the power supply for the tuner was probably part of the original amplifier unit... but with a bit of creativity it could be done.