The hum is likely from a defunct filter capacitor, that big tubular orangish thing in the photos.They die. Do not buy new tubes until you know you need them. The filter capacitors need to be the same (or somewhat greater) values in microfarads (mfd) and voltage rating. This big ones are polar--maint...

Hi everyone, my name is Nick Mangiapane a parent of 2 both under eight years old and a husband in the southern California area. A friend of mine gifted me an RC 4851B coffee table that I love and I’m just now starting to try to make it work. I’m really excited to get to know you guys and work with ...

One more thing. Epoxies don't need clamping like wood glues. They are very effective gap fillers, and only need enough clamping force to keep things in place while the glue cures. Be careful about larger quantities of mixed epoxies. They are exothermic--give off heat as they cure--and the extra heat...

Try "superglue" (cyanoacrylate)? Or a urethane glue like Gorilla Glue? The latter is moisture-curing and tends to foam and expand when it cures, so afterward you'll need to do some cleanup. But the urethanes are tenacious as all get-out. 3M makes a marine adhesive called 5200. It is perman...

How does it sound?

Chris Campbell

I had to lookup "Shorpy."

Chris Campbell

For years I've carted around an aluminum film canister with about 18" of B&W 35mm film stock in it. I had looked at it and ID'd Stan Laurel. But it' nitrate film stock--explosively inflammable--so I decided too have a frame printed. The downtown Camera Shop did it, making one print and putt...

Is it L1, which shows a core? Kind of a combo antenna coil & antenna.

Chris Campbell

I was thinking that the speaker bypass contact on the headphone jack might just be crudded up a bit, not completely open. I am a fan of simple fixes whenever possible.

Chris Campbell

Also, the headphone jack has a contact that, when closed, lets the speaker operate. Plug in headphones it cuts out the speaker. I have a Sherwood receiver with this problem. It drove me nuts diagnosing it. I kept looking for something electronic and it was mechanical after all. Poke a plug in and ou...

Once you're done with the formalities, post some photos of your prize, with info on make and model. Describe your distortion and when you hear it.

Chris Campbell
Also in Michigan

I waited 8 days for the back x-rays to be read and when they were not, today I sat down and sent a firm email to the hospital. "What the "deleted" are you doing?" but politely. And firmly. They were read within 2 hours. They showed nothing bad for a guy my age (my brother, the do...

Keep in mind the birds, the migratory ones. I put up a purple martin apartment house in the spring and the birds find it. The martins are site-faithful: they return to the same house every year. That means they fly to South America and back, finding their way each direction. I've seen hummingbirds b...

On the subject of health lamentations, I had x-rays taken a week ago (Th., 4/2). The doctor still doesn't have them so cannot make treatment decisions. I called the practice again today and was told the hospital does not have enough radiologists. Meanwhile, I cannot walk standing up--have to bend ov...

Check the leads on the antenna--probably a ferrite bar loop? Sometimes the break.

Chris Campbell

Polarity correct on the power hook-up?

Chris Campbell

We're getting better at recognizing the special competence of many animals and getting a bit less assured about the absolute superiority of humans. Octopuses, for example, have superior intelligence despite having very different brain forms and short lives. Yesterday I was driving out of the marina ...

I got a drugstore variety, and no.

Chris Campbell

Know what gives me some relief? Driving 2.75 hours in my new Tacoma truck. It's a low-end model without heated or 60-way adjustable seats, but for some reason it's like a treatment. At work I've got my standing computer desk in the sit position and keep a heating pad on the back all day, to no avail...

I retired from my job of 20 years the last of February. The 2nd of march my back went out and it really hobbled me. Mine went out two weeks ago. I can't walk without bending over at about 40 degrees. I've been saying I walk like an old man but, at 78, I am an old man, so I've changed it to "li...