Just a note that this video is not a tutorial and these repairs are not shown in their entirety. I did not shoot this footage myself but thanks to my fellow Fixers Leah and Ben for doing the camera work and getting some of the day's activities documented to share. Here is a look into some of the work I did over four hours at the Philly Fixers Guild Repair Fair at the Shissler Rec Center in Fishtown, Philadelphia on November 22, 2014. The philosophy of the Fixer's Guild is to promote sustainability in the community by encouraging people to bring in their broken things and we show them how to fix them free of charge. If possible we hope to return their items to functionality at the fair, or at least direct them as to where and how to get the item fixed rather than discarding it. Bad gym lighting and even worse gym sound also provided at no cost to you! Enjoy!
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By Fran

13 thoughts on “Philly fixers guild repair fair, november 2014”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars toxicgraphix says:

    This is so great! It should be on PBS, as the "How to Fix My Electronic Antique Roadshow", … I just wish I could hear you better ….

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jason J Uzakzack says:

    Use control cleaner on the socket even tube sockets clean them with control cleaner

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dan b says:

    did you spray some of the deoxit in there too??? that is GREAT stuff!!

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Craig Diamond says:

    Good info on how to "reset" screws in the threads….amazing how many techs don't haveย such simple mechanical skills….I usually hate watching other people "try" and fix things as I find it too painful but I can handle watching you…..and I mightย also addย that magnetic screwdrivers are a MUST.ย ย You seem to think a lot like a male….

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Steve Henriksson says:

    Impressive shielding around the board. Cool with a repair fair, I have never seen that here in Sweden. Like your videos very much!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars metalmoto says:

    Hi, I'm a Philly Fixer. Wish I knew about this, as I would of attended. I can fix just about anything, and would be glad to help out people in my spare time. My specialties are electricity, electronics and automotive repair. Thanks for posting!ย 

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sooner Science Nerd says:

    have you scrapped alot of electronics, repaired them? how many?
    i'm into abit of both- if its repairable, i repair it, but if its really messed up, i scrap it, salvage the parts, and store the components.
    have you started any new projects?
    good video!

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Fran Blanche says:

    Record number of thumbs down for one day!ย  Hmmm… Why did I start posting videos again?ย  I wonder.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars FeasableOption says:

    What's not to love. Great vid Fran!

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Radio wild says:

    Ah a childhood throw back…. The Atari 2600! You've preserved it for another generation rather than seeing it go to land fill. Please pass me the De Oxit! Great video! RW

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars GadgetUK - Retro Gaming Repairs & Mods says:

    Awesome! Looks like it was a fun event! Those 2600 suffer from the odd dry joint on the logic board, no doubt you checked for that though. I prefer old hardware to new! The old stuff has character and soul ๐Ÿ˜‰

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joloke08 says:

    I am suddenly coming to that point in my life where I am no longer impressed by the next new shiny thing in fact I hate buying new stuff as its inevitably more expensive yet less reliable and of worse build quality ๐Ÿ™ I think we grew up in that time Fran when it was drummed home to us that anything made in Japan was trash! I am now finding that Japanese electronics of the 70's-90's were the best and I wish we could have those days back. Sadly we now have Chinese mass produced trash that often cannot be repaired and the solution is throw away sometimes even before the warranty is out it fails as the attitude is now they are so cheaply produced just give the customer another,don't bother to find out why they fail? We also have no quality control anymore ๐Ÿ™ Manufacturers cut corners and put out millions of a product with faults,when we complain we get told "no its not faulty its a "Characteristic" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
    That Atari is from that era of so called Plastic Japanese trash but look at that die cast shielding of the PCB :)! Nowadays that would just have a coating of sticky back foil inside and we would be told that annoying hum is perfectly normal :-
    Or could it be a Characteristic? LOLOL!
    What was wrong with the Zenith Radio? hard to hear in the video but great result ๐Ÿ™‚
    Spread the word Fran repairing stuff and keeping it for life is the answer,this is really recycling! Not scraping something to melt it down to create modern soulless tat but dragging stuff out the attic repairing and re purposing that is real recycling! Great video babe keep it up ๐Ÿ˜‰ Jodie ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars joblessalex says:

    That awkward moment when I would love to be there.

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