Visited the old radio museum in Springfield and saw a 1930s set with all its original tubes.

The guide said they still fire it up once a year, and the sound is perfect. Makes you think about how long good repairs can really last, doesn't it?

3 comments

3 Comments

webb.linda2mo ago

That line about good repairs lasting a long time is interesting. I see it the opposite way. Keeping a 90 year old radio going isn't about the first repair holding up, it's about constant care and finding rare parts. That sound is perfect because experts baby it. For most things we use every day, that level of upkeep just isn't realistic. What good is a repair if it needs another expert in a year?

terrywalker2mo ago

@webb.linda you're right, I never saw it that way before but constant upkeep does sound like a hassle lol.

terry19d ago

I read somewhere that old radios use parts that were basically built to last forever compared to the stuff we get now. So the constant care thing makes sense when the original parts are still better than modern replacements. But you're right, that level of upkeep is just not possible for a phone or a laptop. Most people would get frustrated having to track down some weird capacitor every year. I guess the difference is that old radios are more like antiques than daily drivers. It's a hobby for some people, not a practical way to live.