Partnership with local vintage radio society offers a unique opportunity to get your antique, tube-containing electronics diagnosed and tested for free

The Repair Clark County program recently announced a special addition to its regular program offerings for the month of May: testing and diagnostics for tube-containing electronics. 

What: Repair Clark County event, where you can bring your broken household items to be fixed, for free

Item categories include:

Appliances-toasters, mixers, lamps, etc.

Electronics-radios, CD players, DVD players, vintage radios, etc.

Sharpening-knives, scissors, pruners, etc. Sorry-we cannot sharpen anything with multiple teeth, such as a saw blade or hedge trimmers

Sewing-rips, hemming, mending, zippers, etc.

Other-jewelry, home décor, etc.

Bicycles-bikes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc

No microwaves, gas engines or holiday light strings

When: Thursday, May 4, 4-6 p.m.

Where: Battle Ground Community Center, 912 Main St, Battle Ground

Columbia Springs’ offsite program, Repair Clark County, is all about service and conservation of resources. This program, with more than 200 volunteers, serves about 100 community members at each of their monthly events, by diagnosing and repairing roughly 90% of the broken items brought to them. RCC will attempt to repair most common household items, except microwaves, gas engines and holiday light strings. For the May event, RCC will once again partner with the Northwest Vintage Radio Society. 

The NWVRS antique radio club is an educational organization that is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of vintage radio. “Many people have a beloved radio sitting at home that hasn’t been tested in ages.” says Pat Kagi, the current president of the society. “At this clinic, we will safely test and diagnose your radio or other vintage items. If the problem is not solved using first aid techniques, we will refer you to a qualified radio technician.” concludes Kagi. 

“We love partnering with this group.” says Terra Heilman, the RCC program manager for Columbia Springs. “They have such specialized repair knowledge and it helps us serve more clients and fix things we might not be able to otherwise.”

The next repair event takes place at the Battle Ground Community Center on Thursday, May 4 from 4-6 p.m. Clients can bring knives and other blades needing sharpening, sewing projects, bicycles, household decor, broken jewelry, and of course, their antique (and modern) appliances and electronics. Volunteer “fixers” will diagnose and attempt to repair items during the two hour event. If items need more tools, time, parts or expertise, there is a “remote” repair option and clients can pick up their items after they’re completed at one of the four partnering Fort Vancouver Regional Library branches. 

About Columbia Springs

Columbia Springs, founded in 2001, provides tens of thousands of children and their families the opportunity to fall in love with nature. We continue to build a community of life-long learners and land stewards through our educational opportunities, walking trails, events and workshops.

​Located on a 100 acre natural area in the City of Vancouver, Columbia Springs is dedicated to providing outdoor recreation and science education close to home. The Repair Clark County program offers free fixing events, repair skills workshops and other waste reduction programming throughout Clark County.