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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: 17MSRP:
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: http://www.k2lrc.com/Contact%20Us.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00174.4
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.
AD4U Rating: 2016-06-13
W3HM Update Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Around the middle of April 2016 I sent a Collins 75A4 to Howard for updates and a restoration. Over the course of the past two months I received periodic updates on the restoration progress. A couple of days ago I received a call from Howard informing me that there would be a delay in finishing my 75A4. Howard is facing some very serious surgery which will "sideline" him for a number of weeks. Let's keep Howard in our thoughts and prayers and hope he is up and going very soon.
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.
W2RKJ Rating: 2013-05-13
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I selected W3HM Radio Radio Labs to perform the service/maintenance on my beloved R-388. The R-388 was already a HOT performer for me but I just wanted peace of mind to have a fresh alignment and add a tap for a panadapter. I was unable to find a sufficient tap myself without degrading the receiver's sensitivity. When I got the receiver back from Howard, an already hot receiver was even hotter. I discovered a slight issue with the PTO after a few weeks. One phone call to Howard explaining the issue and I drove the receiver back to Howard for a recheck. Howard repaired the PTO issue with no questions or issues from him. Howard was a very gracious host both times I was at his lab and took the time to "Take me to school" and teach me a few things on this receiver. I got a follow up call from him to check to see if all was well, which it indeed was. For the rest of you purist out there, here's a short story side comment. Upon arrival at his lab, as I was getting out of my vehicle, Howard was outside using an electric grinding wheel on something. I really didn't pay too much attention to what he was working on but it appeared that he had tools set up on this table. While we were talking, I glanced down to look at what was on the table and what I thought were chrome Snap-on or Craftsman sockets were actually tube shields he was polishing for a A-Line power cord forward restoration. I swear I got goose bumps and I just knew I was in rare company. Once inside he showed us (KN3X)3 A-Lines awaiting pick up from a customer. Those freshly painted St. James gray cabinets and highly polished components were just beautiful.
Thank you Howard, the 4 hour drive to your lab was well worth it indeed.