Fire-Damaged Vintage Radio — Can this radio be Repaired and Restored?

In this video, I take a deep dive into a 1950–1951 Arvin Model 351PL AC/DC and Battery-Operated portable radio that was damaged in an electrical fire. The big question—can this vintage radio be repaired and restored? You know me… I don’t give up that easily. I actually enjoy the challenge! 😄

This Arvin 351PL is an AC/DC battery-operated portable radio, and the fire damage makes this restoration especially challenging. Follow along as I evaluate the condition of the radio and determine whether a full restoration is possible.

🔧 Planned Restoration & Repair Work Includes:
• Testing all coils, speaker, IF and RF transformers, and critical components
• Inspecting and repairing damaged or cut wiring from the fire
• Removing and testing all vacuum tubes
• Identifying and replacing all paper capacitors
• Repairing the multi-section electrolytic capacitor
• Testing and replacing out-of-tolerance resistors
• Replacing the selenium rectifier with a high-voltage diode and proper resistor
• Installing a new polarized power cord
• Repairing and restoring the cabinet
• Fabricating replacement knobs
• Recreating the center logo
• And many more unexpected challenges along the way 😄

💬 Let me know in the comments what you think about this project and whether you believe this vintage radio restoration can be saved!

👉 Subscribe and stay tuned to see if this fire-damaged Arvin radio can be brought back to life.