When Dustin M. Williams was in high school he received a Hallicrafters Model S-38 AM/shortwave receiver, which was in parts. With the help of a local ham radio operator, he learned how to rebuild it, and fell in love with the entire process.
He soon got his ham radio license and in 2006 he pursued a degree in Electronics Technology Engineering. He has worked in electronics and automation ever since and has never looked back.
Now, Williams has his own business in St. Joseph called Williams Salvage & Restoration Electronics.
Williams believes the customer is really in charge of what they want and he and his employees accommodate within the best of their ability.
Basically the business offers the restoration or service of antique appliances, more specifically AM/FM radios. This includes the electronics/electrical, and, or the complete restoration, including the cabinet of the radio.
“We have restored Edison phonographs, turntables, amplifiers, 1940s fans and so much more, Williams said. “We also retail speakers, tube amplifier kits, and so much more.”
Dustin Williams
Williams Salvage & Restoration Electronics mainly specializes in 1900 to 1960s tube radios, which seems to be the most common restoration project, and Williams’ personal passion.
“To me there is nothing more pleasing than hearing a dead 1928 radio come alive and play a modern radio station, something it has never heard before,” Williams said.
As more and more people inherit electronic/electrical antiques and want to get them working again so they can keep them and hand them down to their children, they turn to Williams Salvage & Restoration Electronics for restoration.
“Finding parts can often be a serious issue,” Williams said. “I often have to rebuild the original part as there simply is no part available anymore. Sometimes I get lucky on auction sites or in our personal inventory we have from many estate sales. Sometimes I have to send parts out to friends that can turn metal or do CNC work.”
The rewarding aspects of getting these items back to customers in working condition so they can see and appreciate these beautiful items from the past is the reason Williams got into this business.
“There is nothing more satisfying than getting a family treasure or even a new-to-that-person item and seeing their face once it is completed,” Williams said. “I have to say I also love the challenge and brain teasing of how to complete the specific issue each item has.”
Williams loves working on antique tube radios and just finished a 1928 RCA Radiola 18 with speaker table.
“To date, I have to say this has been my most challenging and most rewarding project,” Williams said. “Second to that would be a full restoration of a Hallicrafters S-20R multi-band AM/Shortwave radio. The radio has multiple receiving bands and a very complex tube electronic system. It came in complete horrendous condition. The entire metal cabinet needed repainted, decals put back on and almost every electronic part needed replaced, then the calibration was tedious.”
Being one of the few people in the area who can successfully restore these antique treasures can be tricky.
It’s a dying art and you have to balance the passion with quality service at a marketable price,” Williams said. “It is definitely not a cash cow. I think that is where most go wrong. In addition, almost no colleges teach anything dealing with tube devices. I had to ask and was lucky my professor took the time to teach me.”
Items that he purchases and restores for the business go to the St. Joseph Auction & Antique Mart, the only location where Williams’ restored pieces are sold. About 90% of his work is for individual customers on family pass-down items.
The oldest piece he has worked on was a 1919 Edison phonograph, which Williams described as a stunning mechanical device.
He doesn’t do a lot of antique restoration on furniture, such as couches and chairs since that takes upholstery skills, which Williams says he’s just not good at. But a lot of the pieces he restores are considered functional furniture.
While most anything can be restored, his specialty is restoring any equipment dealing with music/audio.
“Sometimes I even have to outsource special part work,” Williams said. “It really comes down to how much the customer wants to spend. Patience is a must not only for me but our customers too. Sometimes a restoration can take months depending on the availability of parts or having to rebuild parts.
Williams has, as he describes, “far, far too many antiques” in his home. Most are family heirlooms that were passed down. He also has a huge collection of antique radios. “More than I really need to be honest,” Williams said.
Williams feels fortunate to work at a job he loves.
“I enjoy the troubleshooting and taking something not working and making it work,” Williams said. “It is extremely rewarding. It stimulates me to think and often find unusual solutions to repair something. Knowing that what I send out the door is of the best quality and my customers are happy is the ultimate reward.”
For more information about Williams Salvage & Restoration use the contact form on the website wsr-electronics.com or email dustin@wsr-electronics.com More information can also be found on Facebook at Williams Salvage & Restoration.