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Reviews For: W3HM Radio Restoration Services

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : W3HM Radio Restoration Services
Reviews: 18MSRP:
Description:
Restoration and repair of vintage tube radio equipment,
predominantly themed on Collins radio equipment to include
the "A-line," S-line, and others. Repair and restoration
includes Hammarlund and other military gear of similar
vintage. Painting, powder coating, silk screening, repair
and general restoration
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
22.5184.2
W5JV Rating: 2024-12-08
Collins Broadcast Console Ruined Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Back in the years W3HM represented something of a quality standard that other repair concerns hoped one day to come close to. For this reason I sent my very hard to find Collins Broadcast audio boards (1939) to W3HM with the request to start a restoration, go as far as you can & then stop. He had the project for many years, probably 7 - 9 as a guess. Inquiries went either unanswered or returned with excuses. He did finally admit his sight was too poor to do the work now so he handed it off to helpers. Whenever I asked to see pictures, I got nothing, only an early picture of a spray painted cabinet which showed nothing.

To make a long story short the project was redefined by his helpers who thought restoration was too expensive so they opted to "mock' up a partially working unit thinking that was the way to handle it. Instead of restoring, they apparently stuffed the cabinets with unknown 3rd party sound modules. W3HM did not advise me of this nor ask my permission. I was kept in the dark.

Despite asking for pictures of the work being done, W3HM refused to have any on going work revealed. Always an excuse or he'd say he would have his helper handle it which of course never resulted in any definable information nor pictures. Very very unprofessional.

I've said enough. Not only can I not recommend W3HM
as a repair source, I can say trashing my equipment as his helpers did has been a disappointment I will not forget. Sorry if this disturbs anyone. Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow.
K6PS Rating: 2024-12-08
Nothing but EXCELLENT PRAISE for W3HM repair services. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
So I live in Virginia and have a LOT of friends who had gear fixed by W3HM. A friend of mine Mike in Front Royal VA had a Collins 75A4 repaired. Superb job. Another friend Paul, a retired electrical engineer in Leesburg, VA also has nothing but the highest praise for Howard.

One of these days I will get off my fat duff and get some of my older classic gear fixed as well. I don't have super high end stuff, but I hope he will take on the repair. I get the feeling that he is not only a really fabulous technician, but is also deeply passionate about restoring truly great classic ham radio gear so that it will continue to be appreciated by future generations. W3HM is sort of like an art restoration specialist taking an old and possibly damaged Rembrandt painting and restoring it to its former glory. Rather than paint, Howard just happens to use tubes and solder

A lot of really classic gear we don't really "own", rather we are privileged to be the "temporary custodians" of this equipment. We have the privilege of operating these unique pieces of ham gear, knowing that it will hopefully be passed onto and continued to be enjoyed by the next generation of appreciative hams. Not all of us were alive during the golden ages of classic ham gear from manufacturers like Drake, Hallicrafters, EF Johnson, Hammarlund, and many others.

It is folks like Howard who help make that noble mission possible. They help keep the dream and the memories alive. To those great techs, I say thank you. And to Howard, W3HM, in particular, I just want to say I hope to meet you one day when I bring a half decent piece of classic gear by for repair. 5 Stars +++ all the way.
NN4U Rating: 2021-01-09
Master Restorer and Friendly to work With Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was referred to Howard by a restorer in Georgia with the compliment: "He's the best I know of." Howard is well known for restoring "Gold Dust Twins" and other valuable and rare equipment, so I was doubtful he would have time for my nostalgic "First Radio" HW-101 restoration. The radio I sent to him was scratched, did not work, and the inside looked like a vacuum bag. There was a wait from his subcontractor painter but Howard kept me informed. Well, it was worth the wait. It looked and still looks brand new. 18 months later the old "Hot Water 101" lights-up reliably and I receive excellent signal reports. Just seeing it in my shack brings back great memories of working CW on an attic 15m dipole. Thanks for lending your expert hand to my simple Heathkit project, Howard.
W8NA Rating: 2020-07-15
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a 75A-4 from Howard after always wanting one since my early days as a ham. The shipping bumps caused a couple minor problems that Howard gracefully helped me rectify after talking on the telephone with him. After getting things back to normal with his guidance, the receiver is now performing great! His work is performed with excellent craftsmanship, and he is an expert in his field. Additionally, Howard is a very nice gentleman and truly above board.

Thanks very much Howard!
KY6R Rating: 2019-05-22
Gold Dust Twins Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Howard restored my 75A4 and KWS-1 RF Deck. I restored the KWS-1 power supply, and Howard helped me quite a bit with my restore work and in helping me diagnose a problem that I was having.

Howard is a master craftsman and one heck of a nice person to deal with - he really cares about getting these grand old radios on the air, and looking mint.
KC1IBF Rating: 2019-04-01
R390A Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased an R390A from Howard a few weeks ago. Beautiful radio! It looks great, and receives very well. I enjoyed meeting Howard at his shop; could have stayed for hours. No problems with the radio, and Howard has quickly answered many follow up questions by E-mail. I would not hesitate to purchase a radio from Howard, or have him service radios in the future.
KA4KOE Rating: 2016-03-03
Primo Collins R390 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When my friend Jim presented me with an "offer I couldn't refuse"....I didn't. He had sent two radios to Howard to restore...an R390A and a R390. After receiving the "A", he decided he didn't want the non "A".....a few telephone calls later and a couple of weeks transpired at which point this gorgeous R390 appears at my door.

The sensitivity of this receiver and the audio quality has to be witnessed first hand when listening to AM.

The radio looks brand new with a spit and polish interior and exterior.

I've subsequently talked to Howard on the telephone and he is fine ham and gentlemen.

Thanks!
W9DJ Rating: 2014-09-21
Outstanding Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I took my 32V-3 and 75A-1 to Howard for restoration. He did a wonderful job and they look and work like new. The 32V-3 was not operational, and the 75A-1 was badly in need of alignment. I started the job myself, but decided I was in over my head, so I hauled everything over to Harper's Ferry for Howard to work on. It wasn't cheap, but reasonable in view of how much time it took. Before we put the rig into the car we gave it thorough check in Howard's shop. It's true that Howard has someone else do the cabinet painting for him, but he told me that before he started work. I am very pleased with the results.
W6NRD Rating: 2014-06-22
Actually doesn't do the work! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've read a lot of great reviews about Howard, as a result I sent him a panel to restore for my Hammarlund SP-400. He said it would take a a few weeks once he received it. After 3 months I finally got it back. I wouldn't have minded the wait if it came back looking like it should have. Here are a couple of the 'choice' exchanges I had along the way with Howard. After a waiting for a few months I kept trying to get a status as the panel 'was at the painters'. All I wanted was an estimated date of completion. Howard let me know that he was unable to ask for a date because he wasn't a priority with the painters and they do his one off items as a favor so he couldn't bug them. Doesn't seem like a good relationship with the painter if you can't ask a simple question of expected turn around times? Given there was nothing I could do I had to wait. A few weeks later after asking again for a status I was told he should have it soon and off it would go to the silk screening company and he would ship it right when he got it back. This is pretty interesting, so for a 'Howard Mills' restoration involves zero 'Howard Mills' work - he just sends it to a painter and a silk screener to do the work. And the painter can't be bothered with dates because Howard doesn't want to possibly offend them - Odd. Well it gets better. I finally got my panel this week and the color isn't even close to the original color! It was dark grey when I sent it in, now it's practically white! I asked Howard what happened on the color and here is his response - 'the color was decided by the painter, after it was bead blasted I wasn't sure of the it's color'. He offered no apology, no offer to fix it - just a take it or leave it attitude and don't keep bothering me. Talk about a bad restoration! You send something to someone for their expertise and reputation and they do zero of the work, send it to a painter who he can't bother for details then paints the item what ever color he wants paying no attention to the details of trying to match the original color! All this while being seemingly annoyed anytime you ask him for reasonable information regarding expected return as it was promised in weeks but took months.

Obviously my experience was unique based on the reviews here. All I can guess is maybe he has become tired of restoring things or perhaps something else is going on in his life. We all have times where we are not at our best. Either way, I sure wouldn't send anything to him for painting given he doesn't do it and doesn't hold the painter accountable to the color match or quality expected, which is the one thing they should be doing if they are so worth the wait!
VE5XF Rating: 2013-09-15
75a3 restoration Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Slowly repairing a neglected 75a3 with weather smoke/house fire and mouse damage, got it to work though not very sensitive,owing to good reputation I contacted and sent it on to Howard who did a remarkable and rapid repair and complete restoration of my radio, it is like a near new one I had briefly 45 years and had to resell to finish university.He kept me informed, was always ready to talk by phone or email and got it back across the border without problem. I could only recommend his services.