Hobby / Business; which are you?

[Vintage Engr]

I don't really fit into any of the single categories listed in the poll...

Yes, I restore vintage electronics, (almost anything!) as a hobby, but this based on a lifetime of working in various sectors of the industry. My wife often jokes with me when I go off to my workshop, 'see you at coffee-break' etc she accuses me of still being at work!

I guess that I get most satisfaction in the actual repair or restoration of an item, than I do with collecting, though I have a few items of each genre on display.
But then there is the other side of my obsession with electronics, I still get a 'buzz' out of repairing or building items for other people.
I still have my 'old customers', some of them going back over 50 years, who insist on bringing items for repair.

I also have those who contact me for design, installation/modifications/repairs to things like church & village hall sound systems, videoconferencing etc. Thus I am kept busy, my wife tells me that I don't understand the word 'no'...

So do I make any money, - rarely. Most of this work is charity, so as long as I can break even, & also keep a well-stocked workshop I'm a happy bunny.

David.

[G6Tanuki]

Originally Posted by stevehertz

It is possible to make a living out of restoring vintage radios and TVs if you do it on a thoroughly professional basis. That is to say charge rates that enable you to make a living. .

Yes, but I would say you have to choose your market-segment carefully.

Vintage hi-fi and audio, yes.

Musician-grade stuff [Guitar-amps, vintage PA systems] yes.

Top-end ham-radio gear [Collins S-line stuff,] yes.

Expensive car-radios for classic-cars, yes.

They'll probably pay the sort of prices [£30-£50/hour] so you can not only cover your operating costs but make an above-minimum-wage living [and pay the usual pension-contributions/NI].

Generic consumer gear [TVs, radios, VHS/cassette-players, domestic appliances] irrespective of age I would really doubt how you would break even let alone make a profit.

I am not a charity. OTOH I *like* repairing/restoring-to-peak-performance and using WWII-era military gear and post-WWII ham stuff, so I do it for fun and don't worry about the cost.

[stevehertz]

Originally Posted by G6Tanuki

Yes, but I would say you have to choose your market-segment carefully.

Vintage hi-fi and audio, yes.

Musician-grade stuff [Guitar-amps, vintage PA systems] yes.

Top-end ham-radio gear [Collins S-line stuff,] yes.

Expensive car-radios for classic-cars, yes.

They'll probably pay the sort of prices [£30-£50/hour] so you can not only cover your operating costs but make an above-minimum-wage living [and pay the usual pension-contributions/NI].

Generic consumer gear [TVs, radios, VHS/cassette-players, domestic appliances] irrespective of age I would really doubt how you would break even let alone make a profit.

I am not a charity. OTOH I *like* repairing/restoring-to-peak-performance and using WWII-era military gear and post-WWII ham stuff, so I do it for fun and don't worry about the cost.

As I said, ".....but if your target market is people who can afford to pay for such work, and you aim your marketing effort at them, eg the Times newspaper etc, then it is possible. "
So, I think the need is less to do with only working on certain types of equipment, but more to do with targeting people who are able to pay a high (yet representative) price for a professional job. I don't think the bloke who brings you a vintage car radio is too concerned that on your desk there's a 30s radio being worked on, in fact he'd probably be very interested. Target people who can and are willing to pay for a pro level job, that's the thing.

[thermionic]

I originally trained in TV/Video/Audio servicing and ran my own service business & shop for a few years. Luckily, I saw the way things were going, and as I was still in my late 20’s went and re trained as an electrician.

I’m still employed full time as a self employed electrician, but I carry out some vintage repairs and restorations for people who approach me.

Up ‘til about 12 months ago, I was working a lot on vintage / esoteric HiFi equipment for a local specialist HiFi dealer which I did for a few years. He told me it was a nightmare trying to get someone to repair this equipment. My charges were very modest, as I didn’t have to make a living from this sideline. He has since retired and moved abroad, so the repairs have slowed down a lot!

Cheers. SimonT.

[avocollector]

I collect mostly older test gear with a few valve radios and amps. The simple fun of cracking a repair problem and returning something to working condition is what I enloy. Of course I married an electrical engineer, but she mostly did heavy power National grid type work until we both retired about 5 years ago, so she's not interested in my old 'junk' as she calls it.