Old radios · Practical tools · Shared knowledge
Keep vintage audio playing.
Heritage Audio is a workshop companion for hobbyists repairing and restoring old radios and stereo equipment—built around the questions that come up at the bench.
BENCH NOTES
A few common questions, answered.
Always unplug equipment and discharge high-voltage capacitors before working inside it.
At the workbench
Useful tools, without the guesswork.
Resistor decoder
Read 4- and 5-band resistor colour codes and see the value and tolerance.
Open toolCapacitor converter
Convert pF, nF, µF and decode common three-digit capacitor markings.
Open toolOhm's law & power
Enter any two known values to calculate voltage, current, resistance and power.
Open toolParts-list builder
Build and download a clean replacement-parts list for your restoration.
Open toolRadio reference library
Start with the model number, then find the paperwork.
Search the major radio archives for schematics, service manuals, alignment instructions and parts lists. A little preparation here can save hours at the bench.
Search the archivesIdentify
Record the maker, exact model, chassis number and country.
Research
Find the correct schematic and service data before replacing parts.
Document
Photograph the original wiring and build a parts list.
Restore safely
Work in stages and verify each change before powering up.
The community workbench
Someone else has been there.
Ask a restoration question, help another hobbyist, and give a high five for useful advice. Join as a guest, or build a contributor profile and opt into the high-five leaderboard.
Pull up a chairAI-assisted research
Find the right starting point.
AI connection setup is pending. The research bench explains the planned source-linked research assistant; use the schematic library and community while it is being connected.
Open the research benchOur sister site · Heritage Tube Co.
Looking for tubes or tube testing?
The shop and testing service have their own home at Heritage Tube Co. Visit the original site for current inventory, testing requests, pricing and contact details.
Heritage Audio is the restoration and community workshop. Tube orders and service requests stay on Heritage Tube Co.