Restoring my childhood, JVC RC-M90W

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bikerharis

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May 7, 2016
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Hello friends,
My name is Harish, from India, I am new around here. Just recently I found this wonderful community. It made me search for my beloved M90.
Yes, back in the mid 90s when I was a kid my father brought me a used M90 from Qatar, ever since it was my companion till my teenage days, there was not a single day spent (while I am home) without playing a song on my M90. After 7-8 years of abuse, the deck playing mechanism gave up. By that time we bought a new Audio CD player (Panasonic SC AK27) and the M90 was given away for free to my uncle (in 2002). :bang: Its a shame that I dont have a single pic from it's glorious days.
Years have gone, during all these years, I've used several audio video devices, but none of them could satisfy me like the M90 did. Recently while surfing internet, I found this wonderful community, saw some awesome M90s and other Boomboxes. This made me search for my M90.
I contacted my uncle, he said it was given to a local radio mechanic, they couldn't fix the tape deck. Hence they are going to fit an USB module to it. I said, I want it back and want to restore it. I went there and found the repairing shop, oh crap it was like a junkyard and I found my M90 in a pile of electronic waste. i realized it was given to this mechanic few years back and it was lying unattended for years. Finally I got my M90 back after 14 long years.

The condition of M90 was horrible, when I lift it up, the back cover came off (all screw mounts are broken, not a single screw left). Someone ripped off the top right hand potion of the body and pulled out the right tweeter. :bang: All screw mounts were broken on the tape mechanism as well.Basically the deck was sitting there without a single screw. Woofer surrounds are torn, full of dust and dirt, signs of rust are there. Front body panel paint and labels are almost gone. Radio scale glass is missing.

I brought it home, cleaned the dust and turned it on. Wow she is not dead, But nothing happening at the tape deck, no lights, nothing. Its completely dead.(no idea why). I can hear some noises from the radio but again no signal. Line in seems to be working fine. :clap: I played some music from my laptop. She is still loud with one tweeter missing. Left side woofer was sounding horrible, thanks to the torn surround. Amplifier seems to be working perfect. But the pots are not in good condition. Bass/treble/balance/volume pots are almost worn out. Definitely need some service. No bulgy caps or burnt components found. I am posting some pics and a small video here. Have a look.

IMG_20160507_183615.jpg
IMG_20160525_122206.jpg
IMG_20160525_122216.jpg

Have a look at her playing some music.
https://youtu.be/F0U4oMXGLg0


Today, I opened and removed everything,
IMG_20160525_131924.jpg
IMG_20160525_131936.jpg.

probably the oldest machine in my home.
m90.jpg



Being a complete beginner at restoring and repairing electronic devices, I need your helps and advises on this project. This is going to take some time. Seems like I may not be able to find some parts. I might need to fix the broken body parts myself. Also I have plans to fix a bluetooth receiver as well. Help muh appreciated.
 

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blu_fuz

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Jun 3, 2009
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Wowsa what a project!!!!!!

There are so many people that can help you get that back together. Hit up bredgeo for a tuner top trim. Superduper has woofer surrounds for M90's. Someone might have other pieces you need too. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I'll be watching the progress ;-)
 

Northerner

Member (SA)
Apr 16, 2012
5,322
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North West UK
Awesome story! Welcome Harish! Must be amazing to get your actual radio back again, most of us make do with buying the same model again not getting the actual radio.

You really have to restore this beauty and here is the place for help!
 

Hisrudeness

Member (SA)
Jan 1, 2014
2,670
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South East London UK
This is your actual radio? What a great story. By hook or by crook this can be decent and usable again. Keep an eye on Blufuz's restoration because anything is possible.

Good luck.... I think it will work out.
 

MyOhMy

Member (SA)
Jul 26, 2015
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Hiya, Harish a warm welcome to the best forum in the world wide webnet thingy! :yes:

I must say that that was one of the most interesting back stories ever, your M90 has certainly been neglected & abused - but now it's home at last. I wish you the best of luck with any & all restoration work (please keep us updated?). :thumbsup:

:hi:
 

bikerharis

New Member
May 7, 2016
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Thanks guys.. I am just overwhelmed by your response. Never expected this kind of welcome. This motivates me more to finish this project. I will keep this thread updated.


Northerner said:
Awesome story! Welcome Harish! Must be amazing to get your actual radio back again, most of us make do with buying the same model again not getting the actual radio.

You really have to restore this beauty and here is the place for help!
If we have money we can buy another one, but it cant get your memories back. With this one I feel like a 12 year old kid. LOL

Hisrudeness said:
This is your actual radio? What a great story. By hook or by crook this can be decent and usable again. Keep an eye on Blufuz's restoration because anything is possible.

Good luck.... I think it will work out.
Yes buddy, I can see the scratches made by me on the panels when I was a kid. LOL

MyOhMy said:
Hiya, Harish a warm welcome to the best forum in the world wide webnet thingy! :yes:

I must say that that was one of the most interesting back stories ever, your M90 has certainly been neglected & abused - but now it's home at last. I wish you the best of luck with any & all restoration work (please keep us updated?). :thumbsup:

:hi:
Thanks mate, this will take some time to be restored, because I am busy with work these days. I will keep this thread updated as I can.
 

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
May 5, 2012
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Sunny Brisbane, Australia
Yep, we have a winner here guys - worst M90 ever!! :-)

Wow, that thing has been put through the wringer. Like all sick M90s around here though, it will live again!

Good luck with the project and welcome to Boomboxery - the only place to be!!

James... :-)
 

blu_fuz

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Jun 3, 2009
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I agree with you guys, this story makes this awesome. How in the world after all these years were you able to hook back up with your blaster, the original one you had, not just buy a different one?! It might not be perfect but the history the radio/you can tell is beyond words.
 

trippy1313

Member (SA)
Jul 16, 2013
2,108
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Seattle-Tacoma, WA
That's an awesome story. I hope you're able to fix it up. That body is pretty rough but heck, of you can get it to work 100%, who cares. Memories are worth more than looks.

Good luck and post up on progress and questions you may have. Plenty of helpful people here.
 

JVC Floyd

Inactive (Delete)
May 6, 2009
7,322
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54
Maryland USA.
still a beautiful box to me do you still have the piece that broke off the top corner I might be able to help you out but what I got is not pretty but you could probably piece it back together and make it look almost new with some body filler.
 

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
May 6, 2009
17,993
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florida
and time is on your side -
after 14 years without it --you can spend a year or two searching for the parts you need ..........

welcome and thanks for this terrific story
 

goodman

Member (SA)
Jun 14, 2011
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Bulgaria
Wow, this boombox is in very bad condition...
In this forum you can get help and advice for restoration.
I wish you success with this project.
 

bikerharis

New Member
May 7, 2016
17
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1
Since the top part of the m90 is severely damaged on both sides, I was thinking of cutting the entire top out and replacing it with another plastic piece. But the problem is, I will loose the original looks and design. Top will become plain.

Things I need for exterior are,

Entire top body panel (I'm watching Blu_fuz's project and looking forward to see the results, it is great so far)
cassette door,
1 tweeter (Thinking of buying a new replacement)
Speaker surrounds, (one speaker's cone has been slightly damaged,
Tuner top trim and glass (I will make these myself)
2 antennas (This is also not a major thing)
 

Van Presence

Member (SA)
Jan 27, 2015
534
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Parnassus, NZ
DAM! that M90 has taken a serious beating. so so sad! but glad you are trying to make look and sound pretty again. way over my head trying to fix something like that (at the moment) but help from here is the way forward.
but as everyone else said, classic back story. well cool that it returned back to you after so many years.
good luck!
 

crazygamer

Member (SA)
Jul 31, 2015
440
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Estonia, Tallinn
This radio has a really nice backstory and odds to get your actual radio back are very small, you were lucky there. Box is in awful condition, but if it has some signs of life then i think you´re off a good start. With help of world´s best audio forum and our wonderful members i suppose you´ll get it all sorted out well.
 
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