| suppliers | suppliers of components and materials |
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I have received prompt, courteous service from many of the following sources, but please note that I have no connection with them in any way whatsoever other than as an occasional customer of the suppliers myself, or as an observer in the case of the sites. Information given on this page is mostly transcribed from text provided by the site operators therefore, though offered in good faith, I take no responsibility for any loss incurred. The links are placed roughly in categories i.e. radios for sale, data, components etc, but many suppliers offer a comprehensive service and if you are in doubt it almost always will pay you to contact them by e-mail.
When contacting suppliers, please mention 'Vintage Radio World' web pages and, if writing,
enclose an SAE if a reply is needed. All links checked and found to be 'live' in January 2010, though not all are up to date in content. I do the best I can with updates of these links pages, but from time to time a changed URL or a dead link can slip by me so if you spot any URL errors, any incorrect data or know of details that need adding or changing, please let me know! Web masters: want your web site adding? Just E-mail with your URL and I'll insert a link on this page on a reciprocal basis (your site must list mine and meet the basic criteria listed at the foot of the main links page). Know a site that you believe should be here? E-mail the URL (see foot of page for email address) and I'll take a look.
Grille cloth,
Tygan, Rexine, handles and fittings (Rexine and handles should suit valve
portable radios): S.W. Chaplin, 43 Lime Avenue, Leigh
on Sea, Essex SS9 3PA. Tel: 01702 - 473740 Sid has a good range of quality materials including: Reproduction 'Tygan' grille materials. Linen backed rexine. Paper backed rexine. Linen backed vynide. Handles, both strap and drop types. Feet. Cabinet hinges and catches. Piping cord in gold and silver. Loudspeaker mounting bolts, screws and nuts. Click the 'GRILLES' link below to view a scan of some of Sid's grille materials. Note: please be patient, this is quite a large file to load - but worth the wait! Sid will send you a sample sheet for the cost of the postage. E-mail, phone or write first. If your covers are damaged or you'd like a change of fabric to suit your tastes and decor, Sid will be pleased to give you advice and help. Also newly on offer is a stock of BBC LS35A grilles plus materials and components to make your own grilles etc. Just about all you need for recovering portable cases, replacing worn handles, hinges and catches and replacing sad-looking fabrics! E-mail: sidney@tradradgrilles.freeserve.co.uk This is a very useful service and Sid is extremely helpful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
If you are searching for replacement grille cloth, knobs, dial glass or back covers to suit your Philips radio, you might just find what you need at http://www.radioverzameling.nl/repro/uk/ ... although you may find the Dutch language a problem. If so, find the contact page and email your enquiry (in English, of course)
Valves & Valve Data Specialists
VALVE DATA CD-ROM Here's a useful guide to valves in CD form, from Paul Stenning. A whole stack of famous data and equivalents manuals is on the menu, and the best results are obtained when viewed using a suitable web browser. This is an item no serious restorer and valve enthusiast should be without and at a very reasonable price, too. Contact Paul for further details on or take a tour around his superb website on Also available from the same address: Paul's superb CD-ROM and DVD collections of vintage radio service data. See below for more details of these, under 'Paul Stenning' or click on 'Things to Read' for a review of the contents of these extremely useful products. NOTE: Paul's CD-ROMS and DVDs are also now available from Radio Bygones magazine (see 'Things to Read')
Valve and Tube Supplies Woodlands Vale, Calthorpe road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, England PO33 1PR. Tel: 01983 - 811386 Fax: 01983 - 564708.
E-mail: rod@valves.uk.com Note the
NEW site address, given below: Internet site: www.valves.uk.com Rod has an amazingly large store of
valves and will nearly always be able to supply your needs. Very helpful,
and quick service too.
Tube Data Source Locator This is an update on this site - note the new URL. This US-based site offers you the chance to search for equivalents to that oddly numbered or unfamiliar valve. Also offered is data, pin-outs and other statistics. Although not exhaustive, there's a large and increasing range of data here that can be very useful, at times. There's also circuit data links for a goods number of American radio and amplifier makes. To access, click on the graphic or use the URL below: http://www.duncanamps.com/tdslpe/
Malcolm Bennett supplies valves and service data. For details, visit his excellent website or E-mail your requirements.
General radio components, including valves Tudor Gwilliam-Rees (ex "Vintage Services"/Vintage Wireless Co. Ltd - Bristol/Savoy Hill) is continuing in the Vintage Audio Business* - including Repairs & Restoration of Valve Radios & Amplifiers (UK’s longest & most experienced Vintage Electronics trader - since 1970). Supplies valves & valve relevant capacitors/condensers & other components - please ask for a sales listing. We were - during the 1980’s the largest exporters of Classic British Audio Equipment. Tudor's news sheet is only £5 for twelve issues - one per month. Why not try a FOC sample - just ring E mail or fax!! (Overseas - IRC’s - or cash just enough to cover postage - will get you there). The news sheet contains lots of components including a new range of valve type electrolytics, very hard to obtain elsewhere, cartridges for record players and radiograms - again, hard to source - new publications, used publications, bits and bobs, vintage radios for sale, wanted list plus free adverts for subscribers. Some very interesting items plus Tudor's wry commentary! "White Town Vintage" - 50 Meddon Street, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2EQ - Great Britain. E mail - white.vintage@virgin.net Fax & Telephone - 01237 424280 * please ask for "Wanted List"
Crowthorne tubes Here's a very useful site. Visit the crowthorne tubes website for a
host of http://www.crowthornetubes.com
Lots of hard-to-find components on offer here:
Here' s a site unfamiliar to me, but I'm informed their service is prompt with no minimum charge and they also stock 'new, old stock' items (not in their lists - I assume you have to request specific info): http://www.rshelectronics.co.uk/
Catalogues Geoff Davies (Radio) 13 Bowen Road, Rugby, CV22 5LF. Tel: 01788 574774. Email: geoffdavies@fsmail.net Geoff has lists of reasonably priced spares including valves and offers a fast, reliable service by post. A very helpful and friendly supplier. Phone for details or send stamp for lists. Sorry, as yet no internet connections known to me.
Service data Now under new ownership, Savoy Hill Publications are specialist suppliers of service manuals and period documents, adverts, literature and printed matter to do with the valve era generally. Service information is usually very thorough and often comes with other relevant material, therefore ideal if you are interested in the history of a set or a particular manufacturer. Because of the tremendous variety of material stocked it is probably quickest to contact by e-mail. Very large collection of manuals for service equipment including valve testers, generators etc., plus original maker's valve data manuals Contact: Savoy Hill Publications Fir View, 7 Rabys Row, Scorrier, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 5AW Phone/Fax: 01209 820771. Email: sales@savoy-hill.co.uk Web site: www.savoy-hill.co.uk
VRW Publications Run by the operator of this web site and offering books, CD ROMS and downloads of eBooks, plus a vast stock of reasonably priced data: click on the 'SCHEMATICS' or 'TV SCHEMATICS' buttons to access the archive. Enquiries are welcome by e-mail - address at foot of page.
The Valve Page For all you 405 buffs, a CD-ROM chock full of useful specific vintage TV service data is available from I understand another edition has been compiled with lots more TV data.
Antique-style cloth covered wire Period style fabric-braided 2, 3 and 4 core round or twisted flex, suitable for loudspeaker or mains connections. Also textile braided hook-up and battery leads. contact FLEXFORM LTD. 34 Montgomery Road, Belfast, BT6 9HLemail: info@cablespecialists.co.uk Tel. 028 90 792155 Fax. 028 90 799031
Sundial Wire is a premium supplier of new, cloth-covered wire, U.L. listed, in a variety of colors, gauges, and styles. Clients include lighting designers, museums, theme parks, theatrical set designers and antique restorers. Most of our wire is designed in-house and is not available anywhere else. Our product line is still expanding so come take a look and give us your suggestions if you don't see what you need.
American Radio data If you are one of the many restorers working on USA products, try JUST RADIOS for your data. This site hails from Canada and has lots to offer beside circuit data. There's even a good range of condensers (capacitors) suitable for valve (tube) work.
Nostalgia Air. Here's a site from America that might be just what you are looking for if you renovate those great American radios. Schematics galore on a vast range of sets, all for free. Download or view directly. Also worth your while to take a look around the rest of the site.
Click on the above link and you'll reach RADIOMUSEUM. There's a full Radiocatalog for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, listing more than 30,000 receivers with more than 16,000 printable schematics.
Transformers Majestic Transformer
Co.,
245
Rossmore Road, Poole, Dorset BH12 2HQ. UK Tel: +44 1202 734463 Fax: +44 1202 733793 Website: http://www.transformers.uk.com Mains transformers, audio transformers, smoothing and filtration inductors. See the web site for more details.
Loudspeaker repairs and spares I have not so far found a good UK site for this service. Anyone care to suggest one? Meanwhile, we must look across the pond... This site, located in the US of A but offering sales worldwide, looks to be a good source for foam surround repair kits and much more loudspeaker-angled items: Other American sites I found for loudspeaker spares are http://www.simplyspeakers.com/ Please be aware that I have no personal experience of dealing with any of these companies. These links are included simply for the convenience of readers.
Other useful sites http://www.ashfordchroming.com
Chroming & Restoration of Antique,
Classic and Modern Parts for Hobbyists and Restorers. Fast-Reliable
Service to customers in UK, Ireland and Scotland - We can restore your
parts in Chrome, Nickel, Brass, Gold and Silver. Call +44(0)1233 660879
- Postal Service.
On offer here is a large range of used Hi-Fi equipment including amplifiers, cassette decks, tuners, loudspeakers etc. Looks good value to me and well worth checking out if you are in the market for quality used equipment.
Vintage Radio World can be reached by emailing on tony(at)vintageradioworld.co.uk - replace the 'at' with @ - |
