FIXING & RESTORING a Stunning ROBERTS RFM3 Radio

Spoiler Saver & Riddle



Divide 110 into 2 parts so that 1 number is 150% of the other number. What are the 2 numbers?
For example 40 and 70 make 110... BUT it is incorrect because 70 is 175% of 40.

I used to fix Roberts radios like this and the larger model with the swivel base for the RNIB that gave them to blind people. The radios were robust and easy to operate for the blind and sighted but every one had a design fault on VHF (or FM) in that the sound was always slightly distorted. Fine for listening to the news or The Archers or cricket on Radio 4 long wave but terrible for VHF music. After a few hours use anyone would get a migraine without knowing why. Listen to a Sony all day and it would just be a joy. Made in the Morden area of south west London they stuck with germanium transistors when the rest of the world moved to integrated circuits. I hated them. Worse still someone makes perfect reproductions!

show us it working

Genuine authentic Old English Vinyl - from the days when our vinyl was THE deluxe vinyl

The power switch is known as a DPDT bank switch. The common is the center pin, the outside closest to front is normally closed, other end is normally open. Dual-in-line, other side is the same. Know what I mean?

LOVE IT

Surprised you don't own a large can of RS switch cleaner - the radio engineer's friend since Pontius was a pilate 🙂

Wow

9v mains adaptor with centre negative is standard for guitar pedals... I guessed that the break springs on the 9v socket would be the culprit...

The Reason Roberts Radio did Survive from 1932 is because they knew how to Make Quality Goods and the Reason they started going down the pan was when they shipped Production to the far east and the only way we are going to get our Quality back is to Bring back the Manufacturing base back to the Midlands both to the east and west and the north and slap a very expensive tax on the cheap imports

The case comes up beautiful. Rare to get one with a good aerial (although you had to straighten it a little). The main I.C. TDA1220B doesn't seem to be available in small quantities from reputable suppliers anymore but they seem to be available on the bidding sites etc. Although these could be fake. Great job.

I have the same model and after watching this I gave the lovely thing a good cleaning too. They are very fine pieces with lovely sound.

CONGRATULATIONS on the restoration. Very good video! I lived in the UK for five years. I bought a Roberts radio model R 24 for restoration from London U.K. I'm looking forward to starting the restoration and I also saved other models from the outdoor market Thanks for this video

Loved this video, I've had the exact same model sat non working on my shelf for years and this video gave me nudge to have a look. The switch had the same issue as yours and is now working fine. However the volume is very low on all frequencies, any ideas? I would love to get it fully working again as it's cleaned up beautifully. Keep up the great videos

Fantastic! These have always been great radios (The Queen agreed!) and even with its wood and vinyl/leather they don't look dated but have a retro appeal regardless. I think they do have the kite mark so rightly have earned a place in the Design Museum along with the Mini and much more!

Have five Roerts radios[most vintage] and a DAB digital.They are brilliant and a pleasure to listen to.

As kids a friend of mine and I went round asking neighbours if they had any old electrical items we could have a go at repairing. Got one of these and a russian radio. Didn't manage to fix them but learnt a few things from taking then apart.

Can you tell me please, Vince - can I (or anyone) repair the battery recharger on my 5yr old Roberts UnoLogic - or is it just for the bin? AA batteries last less than a few hours. I'm a totally non-electrician, as you can imagine. Very grateful and thank you. Paul

Good luck sir 🎉

could i ask what soldering sation you use please

Wow! A great eye for the aesthetic.

I would love to see my mate Vince restore an old 70's Dynatron music centre , their units also carried the royal warrant and another example of British class from a bygone era.

Totally in love with Roberts radios - thanks for sharing this one Vince.

Push the Ariel all the way in .

Great fix and what a beautiful radio it became. Thanks for sharing this repair video, I really admire your patience and skills. Have a great weekend 😘

Why is deoxit so expensive?

watch your tag vince

If it develops issues pulling in stations, it would be worth replacing the electrolytic caps. I've just brought an RFM3 back to life, all the electrolytics were way off value, and one was even completely open.

Lovely wee radio and looks class at the end. Wilkos sell the ronseal ultra tough polyeurethene varnish, its the spirit based one and in my opinion its a lot better than the water based one, it doesn't raise the woodgrain and goes on flatter.

I would have worn gloves it looks like its been up someone's ass

The push buttons you cleaned while mounted comes off if you pull, easier to clean then. The laquer you used could be switched out with teak oil, a matter of taste i guess. Otherwise good restoraion. i have restored quite a few vintage radios and tv's earlier, satisfying, isn't it ? Keep up the good work.

Hello Vince great video please can you tell me what are the metal tools called that you used on this radio

Thanks for your video Vince. Excellent work. What did you do about the battery power? I see these old radios use a superseded battery? I was going to convert to 9v?

It does look amazing, they did everything better back then, today everything is about aggressiveness while in the past it was all about elegance.

Awesome

Nice

I have a Roberts RFM3, bought second hand from ebay about 5 ears ago. When I bought it it was fine, but no it only seems to pick up one FM station "Classic FM". When I try to tune into other stations its v.difficult, I might get 1 or 2 with some very precise movement of the knob. What do expect is wrong with it. Arial is fully extended and its not a bad signal area; im running it from a dedicated Roberts plug in transformer. I think theres something amiss !

nice radio vince looks great

Roberts Radios... The Rolls Royce of Radios... not sure what they are like nowadays , But they used to last for decades.. nice work Vincey..

Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II from United States of America.

Love the industrial design aspects

I never thought a hole lot of the brand name to remember. But had one the same color and everything I got for my 12th birthday. I had it up until I was 17 and have no memory about what happened to it.

My Cordless Ryobi Gluegun Works Alot
Better Then A Corded Gluegun.

Boy That Radio Was Filthy.

You Could Use A Little 800 Gritt Sandpaper

Wet sanding

@My Mate Vince, That Aerial pushes down all the way into the radio so the flat top is pretty much the only bit you see.

Wow I've loved this video Vince, what an amazing job you've done from it looking grubby to it looking perfect. Beautiful.