Mark Miner | The Florida Radio Doctor

You've found my Radio Buy and Trade page. Thanks for visiting. Now that you know the way, I hope you return often. You can probably tell that I love vintage Radios. I would imagine that you do, as well. I've been repairing, refinishing and restoring vintage Radios for over forty years. In that time I've also bought, sold, traded and collected hundreds of vintage Radios. I specialize in AC (e.g., non-battery operated) radios from the late 1920's up to 1942, but will trading certain radios manufactured as late as the 1950s.

Here's what else you can find on the site:

I'm Mark Miner, Proprietor of Mark's Antique Radio Kollection and known throughout the world as 'The Florida Radio Doctor'.

So you will know, I'm primarily a collector that does repair and restoration for my own Radio projects, but will do it for others as well. I take great pleasure in bringing these vintage radios back from the dead. Fine, vintage Radios are to be meant to be admired and enjoyed by their owners.

There are times though when we have enjoyed a radio for a time and decide that it is ready for a new owner. In that case a sale or trade is in order.

I occasionally have duplicate radios that I'm willing to sell or trade it for something else that interests me. Sometimes I will restore a radio and sell it on eBay or at collector meets. The radios on this site represent some of my collection and are not necessarily for sale. If they are for sale, I'll place a notation to that effect and provide a separate location for that purpose. Feel free to contact me to discuss any of these.

Mark's Business Card
Click on my eMail address (above) to contact me directly

An extensive library of original manufacturers' repair manuals and parts manuals are absolutely essential.

Original tubes, capacitors and repair parts are a finite resource. But they're vital to a quality repair or restoration

I maintain one of the area's finest technical libraries of original, vintage manufacturers' repair manuals, in addition to hundreds of the corresponding parts lists and bulletins associated with each vintage manufacturer and its various lines

I keep a huge inventory of authentic, original equipment, vintage tubes, capacitors and other parts to provide the most authentic, accurate and precise repairs and restorations possible.

I maintain contact with a vast network of other collectors throughout the world. We readily share whatever information we can provide to each other regarding a specific brand or model. If I can't find an immediate source for a part or instruction, I can usually obtain at least an answer from the network within twenty-four to forty-eight hours in most instances.

There were literally hundreds of thousands of replacement tubes, caps and other critical repair parts available as late as the 1970s, but they're becoming harder and harder to find and obtain.

I often spend as much time finding reliable stores of replacement tubes and supplies as I do in researching specific models and their details. But every minute spent on research pays big dividends toward a quality restoration or repair.

I have an extensive, two-story, climate-controlled, moisture-controlled warehouse, parts store, and repair shop on the premises. I employ the finest hand tools and equipment currently available for my repairs and restorations.

Here's one of my own 1932 Philco Baby Grand Cathedral Table Radios

1937 Zenith 'Walton's' Table Model 7-S-232

I'll be posting some examples of both past and present projects from month to month, from links you'll find here. I treat each of my projects as if they're my own--at least until the last moment that I return them to their owners. I suppose it's like taking in a foster child until that moment they find a permanent family. That's as good an analogy as I can think of, in any case.

And yes, it's hard to let some of them go. But I know in each case that they'll be entrusted back to the owners that care for them the very most.

The common denominator in all of these fine examples of early to mid-20th century engineering is the incomparable sound that only a tube-powered radio or amplifier can impart. Despite all of the extraordinary technological advances in transistor and micro-circuitry technology dating from the mid-20th century until today, nothing yet approaches the full, mellow sound from a tube-powered radio chassis.

Sadly, the means of comparing that incredible, robust sound to today's artificially shaped sound technology remains a finite resource. But if you truly love that tube-powered sound, there's only one real way to obtain it.

One thing's for sure. Once you hear the difference there's no turning back.

You're hooked for life.