General Electric Model L-50 Restoration

The GE Model L-50 with repwood cabinet (which uses the same chassis as the RCA model R-22) is a 5-tube AC (or DC) Superhet circuit radio that receives the broadcast band and one short wave band. The radio had been serviced in the past, but most of the original parts were still in place. I decided to try to reverse all prior servicing and to restore the original chassis appearance if possible.

The schematic and a parts list for the GE L-50 can be found on-line on Nostalgia Air.  

My antique radio restoration logs

Overview

The radio was purchased at the 2014 CC-AWA Convention and swap meet in Charlotte, NC, and was sold as not working. The circuit it uses is quite unusual for several reasons:

Servicing this radio is very difficult due to the compact chassis, high parts count, and relatively large components used in RCA/GE radios of this vintage. The radio appeared to have been built in layers, and some parts have to be removed in order to gain access for servicing.  All the resistors used were old-style "dog bone" types.  A large wire wound resistor was also used which functioned as the filament dropping resistor.  Adding to the complexity, the original filter capacitors had been replaced by a twist lock type capacitor mounted on ceramic stand-offs on top of the chassis.  The filter protruded from the back of the radio and would be "hot" to AC even if the radio was switched off.

The RCA/GE parts placement diagram provided in Riders did not match my chassis.  What were originally individual paper capacitors had been replaced by two RCA/GE capacitors containing multiple units - likely an undocumented production change to simplify assembly. One such capacitor contained two capacitors (C1 and C25) and had three leads.  Another contained three capacitors (C12, C13 and C27) and had four leads. Part C24 was not found, and likely eliminated in a production change or when the filters had been replaced. The IF transformer and second detector plate choke are very fragile with exposed, unprotected wire leads which are easily damaged.

Previous Servicing

I always attempt to avoid purchasing radios that have been "restored" by collectors or flippers, and am looking for either all original examples or those which have been "lightly serviced" in the distant past by radio service shops, rather than peppered with new film capacitors. This radio had received prior servicing, but most of the original parts were still in place. It was not clear who might have done this repair - it appeared too extensive and complex for a service shop repair.

Chassis Before Restoration - Back View - Filter Caps Replaced
Tube Shields Missing - AC/DC Switch Removed

Cleaning

The chassis was very dusty, but not rusty. All tubes and tube shields were removed. The dust was blown off, top and bottom, using an air compressor. After removal of the volume control, speaker, and tuning capacitor the top of the chassis was cleaned using using old tooth brushes and a vacuum to remove dust from the crevices. Parts of the chassis were then cleaned with GoJo (white) hand cleaner and 00 steel wool. All of the paper capacitors had been previously removed before removal of the speaker, since some of its connections otherwise were not accessible. Since steel wool may leave behind small metal fragment, I went over the chassis with small magnets just in case.  Some of the gunk on the chassis was very difficult to remove.

The tuning capacitor was partially disassembled for cleaning.  All the trimmer screws, washers, and mica sheets were first removed, as was the band switching contact assemblies and brass stator grounding fingers.  Prior to removing the trimmer screws, the current position of the trimmers were documented so they could be returned to their approximate original positions:

The tuning capacitor was cleaned in my old Heathkit ultrasonic cleaner using dilute ammonia.  Multiple cleanings in various positions were needed, since the capacitor would not fit in the tray.  After cleaning, I used soap, water and old toothbrushes to clean up the capacitor.  The capacitor was then towel dried and then dried using a heat gun. The front ball bearings were lubricated using automotive distributor cam lubricant.

Survey

Before starting restoration I made photos of the chassis bottom for reference. I then annotated a copy of the schematic, as well as the chassis photograph, with reference part numbers (R1, R2, C1, C2, L1 etc.).

Restoration Strategy

I assume that all paper and electrolytic capacitors are leaky and thus should be replaced (I always "restuff" the original components if possible). I do not replace mica capacitors, but may test them in place if possible (usually this requires disconnecting one lead of the capacitor).

Since almost all of the original parts were still in place I decided to try to maintain the original chassis appearance to the extent possible. Normally I would rebuild all original wax-paper capacitors as well as the filter, block, and can capacitors in their original cases (restuff them). In this case, the original cardboard cased filter capacitors had been removed.  So I would have to try to reproduce them (I did have photos of the originals used from my damaged example and other on-line sources).

When I replace a component, I always remove the original part completely from a terminal.  Other good components connected at the terminal are protected from heat using old medical clamps (hemostats).  Excess solder is then removed using a solder sucker in order to expose terminal holes for reattachment of the rebuilt or replaced component.  

The RCA/GE terminals used in this vintage radio are quite fragile and must be handled with care. Most consist of three legs with a gap between the two outer and center leg.  When assembled, the various wire leads and components are placed in the gap and then the three legs are crimped closed and soldered. In order to service any wires or components, I first remove as much solder as possible using a pump-type solder sucker.  I then VERY CAREFULLY tease the three legs apart using an Exacto knife and remove more solder, thus freeing up any parts or wires. The legs must be moved only the minimum amount. If moved too much or too often, one or more of the legs will break off in a heartbeat!

Repairs

Band Switch

Until I bought this radio, I had no idea what the original band switch mechanism looked like. And most photos I have found on-line were missing this part.  This radio's band switch shaft and mechanism were intact, but the shaft was broken. The original shaft had been modified for some reason. The notches that operate the switching mechanism had been enlarged and displaced horizontally and angularly on the shaft.  This greatly weakened the shaft and it had broken. There was very little remaining wood left for gluing it back together.  So I decided to attempt to reproduce it. The required diameter was slightly smaller than 1/4", so a standard 1/4" hardwood dowel was too large.  And the next size down was too small.  So I started out with a 6" piece of 1/4" poplar dowel, chucked it in my small Unimat lathe, and used fine sandpaper to reduce the diameter until it would fit in the holes in the tuning capacitor.

The required locations for the notches were then marked. A fine razor saw was used to cut the start and end of each notch. The depth of the cut was about 1/3 of the diameter of the dowel. The material between the cuts was then removed with an Exacto knife with a new, sharp #11 blade. Several different depth adjustments were needed until the switch contacts worked correctly in both positions. I then cut some shallow notches on the shaft for the device that limits rotation to 90 degrees. These notches must be cut in the correct position so that when the limiter cam is installed, the switch operating notches are in the correct positions!  Once correct operation of the switch was verified in both positions, the limiter cam was then closed up around the shaft. At least one collector installed a small knob on the shaft in his radio to make turning the shaft easier.  But this invites disaster!  If the shaft of forced one way or the other, the limiter cam will break free and the switch operating notches will now be out of position.

Here is the tuning capacitor with the replacement band switch shaft installed, along with the broken original shaft. The completed shaft was painted gloss black before installation.

Volume Control and Switch

After marking its position, the back cover and switch were removed by prying up the retaining tabs on the cover. The wire-wound resistance element was then cleaned using lacquer thinner and Q-tips.  The element itself was OK.  But I measured a high and intermittent resistance between the rotating element and the terminal lug.  The brass sliding contact and pressure spring were removed.  You must make careful note of the contact's position relative to the rotating member, and make sure to keep control of the spring during removal or replacement! The C-clip retaining the shaft was then removed (with difficulty). The problem appeared to be dried grease between the rotating member and the fixed contact.  I cleaned both parts with lacquer thinner and reassembled the control.  I did NOT replace the grease.  Once reassembled, the control worked perfectly.

While the switch was removed, I flooded it with General Cement Big Bath spray cleaner and operated it repeatedly. It then seemed to work OK.  The back cover and switch were then reinstalled and the retaining tabs bent back in place to hold the back. It is very important to mark the position of the cover prior to removal, since the rotating member has hard stops on both ends.  If not done correctly, the switch may not open or close at the correct points in the rotation.

AC/DC Toggle Switch

The original AC/DC toggle switch on the rear chassis had been removed. I found a suitable switch (Single Pole, Double Throw) in my junk box that could be used, although it was not a bat-handle type like the original. All the wiring to this switch had been removed.  It was restored using the supplied RCA parts connection diagram.  I did not test the radio in DC mode. but I did want to restore the set to its original factory wiring if possible.

Wax/Paper Tubular Capacitors

All except one of the original paper-wax capacitors were cardboard tubes sealed on both ends with tar. After each one was removed from the radio, the lead lengths and type and any use of insulating sleeving were noted so that lead dress and appearance could be maintained. Restuffing these early RCA/GE capacitors is quite messy.  Here is my process for the capacitors with cardboard tubes:

Two capacitors contained multiple capacitors. One such capacitor (RCA part 69071) contained two capacitors (C1 and C25) and had three leads.  Another (RCA part 69070) contained three capacitors (C12, C13 and C27) and had four leads. The leads for these capacitors were insulated hookup wire rather than solid buss wire. The cases were normal tubular or oval cardboard, and the ends were sealed with tar. If was not obvious what these capacitors were until they were removed from the radio, since their use was not documented on the RCA connection diagram.  As their leads were disconnected, careful notes were taken. When compared to the schematic, they were eventually identified. This was quite difficult, and I started by first removing and identifying all the single paper capacitors then figuring out what was missing. A missing C24 made this harder.  The restuffing process for these was the same as with single capacitors, except that interconnected axial tubular film capacitors and hookup wire was used.

Restuffed Single Paper Caps

Restuffed Multiple Paper Caps

Filter Capacitors

The original filter capacitors had been removed.  Fortunately I had photos of the original capacitors I took from another example of this radio which was destroyed in shipping. There were originally two cardboard cased capacitor used, each containing either two or three electrolytic capacitors.  The schematic in Riders shows the internal connections and wire colors for these capacitors.  I was able to reproduce suitable cases for them made from thin cardboard similar to the kind used for writing tablet backs.  Their measurements were obvious from photos and from the location of mounting and wire lead holes on the chassis. The left capacitor (viewing from the radio back) originally contained two 8mfd capacitors (C22 and C23).  The reproduction case was restuffed with two 10mfd/450 volt electrolytics.  The right capacitor originally contained a 4mfd, 8mfd, and 10mfd (low voltage) capacitor. C21, a single separate 8mfd capacitor had been replaced by a modern unit. I had no idea what the original capacitor looked like or its size. According to the RCA connection diagram, it was originally mounted somewhere under the chassis.  

I decided to cheat a bit and install C21 inside the case with C22 and C23.  Again, I used a 10mfd/450 volt electrolytic.  In reality, both C21 and C22 could have been rated at 160 volts, and probably were in the original radio.  These capacitors form each side of the voltage doubler.  In order to accommodate C21 I added a third lead to the left filter capacitor: a green lead which was routed to pin 4 (cathode) of the 25Z5 tube.

I also decided to include the missing C24 (0.1mfd) in the right, smaller filter case, just in case it might be needed.  Recall that it was not found under the chassis, and I did not know if it had been removed during the filter capacitor replacement or a production change. A 0.1mfd/630 volt film capacitor was connected from the + lead of C28 (the B+ output filter) to B- (C18 and C26 negative). For C26 (4mfd) I used a 4.7mfd/450 volt electrolytic. For C28 I used 10mfd/450 volts. For C18 (10mfd) I used a 10mfd/50 volt electrolytic.

The length of each lead wire was calculated by running some trial routings from the chassis holes to where the lead connects. Extra length was added for connections to the new capacitors inside the case.  The new leads were connected to the new filter capacitors using the RCA diagram. Insulating spaghetti tubing and shrink tubing was used to prevent shorts. The groups of capacitors were then wrapped with strips of paper towels to stabilize the assembly in the cardboard case. I then added melted rosin from the open bottom of each case to stabilize the assembly. The exiting lead wires were first wrapped with tape in order to center them and allow passage through the chassis holes.  I did not include a bottom cover on the fabricated filter capacitor boxes. The bottoms fit tightly against the chassis. 

The case color was a problem.  I did not want to just leave the bare cardboard filters as they were. Ideally they would be painted the same color as the originals (I had a photo of the originals). I experimented with various paints, toners, and shellac without success. I finally decided to simply enlarge the photo of the originals, print the photo, cut paper covers and apply to the outside of the cardboard cases using wood glue.  It seemed to work OK.  The result was not perfect, but better than any alternative that I could think of.

Here are comparison photos of original capacitors and my reproductions.

Original Filters

Reproductions

Small Resistors

Two small resistors were out of tolerance by more than 20%.  One was a 20K 1/2 watt dogbone resistor (R3) and one was a 1 megohm 1/4 watt dogbone (R2). I collect NOS as well as used dogbone resistors just for this purpose, and buy all I can find on eBay and at swap meets.  I did not have replacements available that were in tolerance.  In this case I attempt to find a replacement that is the correct size and has the correct measured value (within 20% tolerance) but not the correct value markings!  I then repaint the resistor with the value required using hobby enamel paint. The 20K 1/2 watt resistor (R3) required one long lead, which I did not have in stock.  So I was forced to splice on a piece of buss wire. The splice was covered using spaghetti tubing over the entire lead.. 

Tubes

The bad 25Z5 tube was replaced.  The 6D6 was replaced by a correct type 78 (the 6D6 is an acceptable replacement). The remainder of the tubes were left in place.

Other Repairs

Suitable tube shields (three) were installed. 

The non-original antenna lead was cut in half and re-used, but connected and installed per the connection diagram.

Testing and Alignment

Once the radio had been reassembled, the radio was powered up slowly using a fused Variac.  This allows the new filter capacitors to reform.  A DVM monitored the B+ voltage.  Surprisingly, the set came alive and worked, even with all the work done under the chassis!  The set was then aligned per the RCA instructions in Riders - no surprises. The set worked on both bands, and was very sensitive. Volume control action was smooth, but since the set did not have AVC, it must be changed while tuning. The so called short wave band picked up quite a few stations, but only the in center of the tuning range (the specs say the range is 2.4 to 2.5mHz). The radio was NOT tested on DC.

Tuning this radio is very difficult since there is no reduction drive - the small tuning knobs turns the tuning capacitor directly.

Cabinet

One side of the cabinet had started to pull away.  It was reglued and clamped. The cabinet was vacuumed inside and out. I found out during the clean-up after gluing that the finish would be removed with even small amounts of water! Fortunately, only the edge of one side was affected. A test in a small area with GoJo, my usual cabinet cleaning method, was performed and also found to damage the finish.  So the cabinet was left as is.

Restoration Results

Chassis Bottom Before

Chassis Bottom After

Rear Chassis After Restoration - Repro/Restuffed Filter Caps
 Tube Shields and AC/DC Switch Replaced