[.ca] Old Time Radios! Restoration and Repair (ISBN 0830633421)

Very detailed and enjoyable guide to restoring radios:
I always enjoy technical books written by Joe Carr - he takes a subject that could otherwise be dry and boring, and turns it into something that is very understandable, and sometimes funny! This book progresses from the requisite origins of radio, into vacuum tube theory, through receiver basics, and dives into step-by-step guides to fixing an ailing radio. It is not a guide to the value or history of any particular brand or model of radio (it actually features very few photographs) but it *is* rich with schematics, diagrams, and guides to parts and equipment you will use when repairing antique radios. A great addition to your library!

Not for Beginners:
I bought this book without looking at it in a bookstore. I am a beginner in this field and was looking for something, somewhere that can explain radio restoration techniques to the non-engineer. Unfortunately, except for some interesting historical information, and what I would agree are some useful charts on tubes, etc., this book is written with a lot of electronic theory. Those who already have some knowledge or experience in electronics, or are very technically-minded, might not find that a problem, but the lay person will be tossing it in the air in exasperation after a few chapters. Very thorough but dense.

Misleading Cover:
The back cover of this book states, "A Complete training guide to restoring vacuum-tube and transistor radios." And an excerpt of the description notes, "In addition to covering the vacuum tube circuits of radios made before 1950, author Joseph J. Carr gives you transistor theory and practice..." Unfortunately, not a single mention is made of transistors or transistor theory in the book. Other than that omission, the book is a good guide to the theory of tube radio circuits and contains some chapters on tube circuit troubleshooting, safety, and test equipment. Some electronic knowledge is helpful in understanding this fairly concise book.