OT Radio restoration: a tough case

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: OT Radio restoration: a tough case
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 12:37 am:


The discussion of Grandfather's radio made me think of this. My 1937 Philco is showing its age. This is what brought Don McNeill, Jack Kirkwood, and Elmer Davis into our house. Right now I'm listening to XEG in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, on it. Unfortunately, the pattern on the front is a printed image which is flaking off. Stripping it for refinishing would destroy the stripes and woodgraining. Anybody know of a restoration service that can reproduce the original printed pattern?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 12:43 am:

That's very similar to my Philips model 80, only mine doesn't have the SW band..very cool!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Knoll on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 01:44 am:

I have a Zenith Tombstone. It was working but I'm afraid to plug it in as the capacitors dry out and then "POOF"! There is a guy in San Jose, California that restores radios..they all look wonderful. I think this is him :

Tom Albrecht - Repairs and restores (electrical and mechanical), antique radios and TVs. 6469 Oberlin Way, San Jose, CA. 408-362-1550


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Knoll on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 01:45 am:

http://www.californiahistoricalradio.com/repair.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Garnet on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 04:59 am:

Replacing filter capacitors is no big deal. Done probably a couple thousand myself. Just use 450v rated caps, and match (or better) the capacitance value. Just like oil in a Model T, anything made today will be miles ahead of what they used back then ... especially those liquid electrolytics.

Garnet


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Button III (Chip), Lake Clear, NY on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 08:45 am:

Steve, is the wood grain and striping a veneer or is it a "faux"(sp?) type of finish? There are several websites on applied finishes used to create burl and graining appearances. If it's a veneer, that can be replaced also. I have done a few old pieces of furniture where this had been the issue, and they came out real nice. Nice enough the people couldn't tell where the repair was.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:12 am:

As I mentioned before I work on old radios, but I'm not very good with the cosmetics, mainly because I'm a college student with not much free time or money. My speciality is the electronic side of them. Some of my radios look like they were found in a field, but they better than they did when they were new!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:18 am:




It's not a veneer, which would be a thin layer of wood. This is a printed image, like a magazine photo. I don't know whether it's a water decal or some kind of photographic emulsion. Where it's flaking off you can see how thin it is, like a coat of paint or varnish, and the wood grain underneath. The lines look uneven because about thirty years ago I touched them up by hand using a brush and oils.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Kekacs on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:20 am:

http://www.radiodaze.com/

They helped me out alot when I restore my old Philco.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:24 am:

These radio threads are frustrating for me. When I was about 14, my grandparents had a Philco console radio in the dining room that they never listened to. They asked me if I'd like to have it and I said yes. In addition to regular broadcast bands, it also got short wave. I put it downstairs in a corner of the rathskellar, bought a roll of antenna wire, and ran an antenna from the radio up to the roof and then across the roof from one peak to another. I would spend hours listening to short wave from around the country and around the world. While I was away at my freshman year in college, my parents built a new house and moved. As a side note, if throwing stuff away had been an Olympic sport, my mother would have been a shoo-in for gold. In any case, I came home for Christmas in the new house and asked where my radio was. I think my mom's answer was along the lines of, "That old thing? We threw it away." Arrrgghh!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:25 am:

Yep, most of the folks who do radio repair only deal with the works. So far all the ones I've found who also work on the cabinet just refinish the wood, which I could do myself. I haven't found anyone who can reproduce the kind of printed image Philco used here.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:47 am:

Steve: aside from sentimental value, what's it worth? If not rare/valueable You can strip it and have the wood graining faux painted. The name & stripes aren't too intricate. Any decent pin stripper could duplicate them. Take plenty of pictures. If not rare close enough is good enough as far as the finish goes. In any case if it's re-done people will know it. I would suggest that where ever your storing it may have contributed to the finishes present condition.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:48 am:

Dave, thanx. I emailed the pictures to them. We'll see if they can come up with a solution.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:54 am:

Maybe you guys need to join us on the radio forum - google antique radio forums - lots of info there on the photo finish, also the "philco radio workbench"


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john kuehn on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:06 am:

Jeff check out Boatanchor Classifieds. They deal with old and antique amateur(ham) radio equipment. They have links to people who restore old radios of all types.
There are people who silk screen radio emblems, cases etc.
Some of these folks also do wood cabinets of all types.
Also try antique victrolas and record player collectors and services. They can repair veneer and suprisingly also reproduce cabinets and painted logos.
Hope this helps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:18 am:

I have a 1935 McMurdo-Silver console I want to sell on Tbay one of these days. Part of what's held me back is the prospect of packing the cabinet for shipping. How is that best done?

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:36 am:


Dick, anything like this? I picked this one up a couple of years ago at an auction for $30. I remember the price because it was so high.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:41 am:

Rick - For me, I like Greyhound shipping on consoles, I have very good luck. They dont have to sit on a pallet, but a good sturdy shipping cardboard box can be done. You do want to be certain to offer shipping arrangments on it, because local pick-up narrows the buying field alot. Some guys remove the speaker and chassis and ship them seperately - 3 packages total, because Greyhound has a weight limit.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:05 am:

I have a couple of old ones. One is a 1948 Philco with a 78RPM phonograph which pulls out below the dial. It is also one of the early AM FM radios. I remember when my parents bought it. I had wished they got the one with short wave, but they thought FM was the new technology. You need a big antenna to get the FM and it tends to drift off frequency. It always has. I replaced the filter capicitors, but otherwise it still has the original tubes.

I have another Magnavox which was given me by my sister's X mother in law. It works and I have not done any work to it. It is early 1950's

I used to get the table model radios for 50c each from second hand stores. Whether or not they worked. I would salvage parts and make radios that worked. Now,I don't have any more other than the two I described above.

Unfortunately, they only receive the modern programs. The AM is now almost all talk shows and the FM is music which doesn't appeal to me.

As far as restoring the case, it is something like a Model T. It is only original once. Some antiques are worth more with the original finish on them even if not in perfect condition rather than restored. If you only care about the looks, then by all means re-finish it, but check the value first, if you are thinking about selling it.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:08 am:

Steve, no, mine had a sloping face (upper quarter of the case) with a large dial in the center. The dial had two "speeds," a major fast one and a fine-tuning center knob once you were about where you wanted to be.

I'll see if I can find a picture on line.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Stitt-Southern Oregon on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:09 am:

Re: caps in radios and like many things it is controversial but if you can get your hands on a variac you can ramp the voltage up slowly over time. This is not to say you should try this on a radio you drug out of a barn after 50 years but may be useful for radios that haven't been played for a while. Now replacing the caps is best but the radio use/value may be a determining factor.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:11 am:

I would carefully photograph all of the printing and artwork. I would then draw a full scale picture of all of the artwork. Strip the cabinet, put in new fabric, revarnish the wood. Carefully sand with fine paper between coats of Pettit brand varnish. You can get it over the internet from West Marine. I made wooden tool boxes that were also step plates for our 1906 two cylinder Moline and put 20 coats of varnish on them sanding between coats. Folks that it was a decal because there were no indentations in the oak when I was finished.

Then go to a sign painter and have them re-do the artwork. They can gold-leaf and do anything just like it was when new.



moline


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:48 am:

If I had a radio like that, that belonged to my Grandpa, nothing would be too good for it and the method I would choose to restore it would be expensive, but would yield outstandingly impressive and beautiful results.

I would sand down the front and purchase a sheet of burl walnut veneer for the center area around the dial and knobs and a sheet of regular walnut veneer for the rest of the front. After applying it and pressing it flat, clamping and allowing it to cure, I would carefully cut the speaker openings with a triangular razor blade. I would also buy a sheet of maple (yellow) for the double lines and a sheet of ebony (black) for the dark line between the light lines. For the Philco lettering, I would take a nice photo of an intact one and have several decals made, or you might be able to purchase them from a vintage radio parts supplier. The veneers I spoke of can be purchased from a place called Constantine's. www.constantines.com. After sanding smooth, coat with 4 coats of Minwax Semi-Gloss Polyurethane sanding between each coat (400 grit wet dry) and hand rub the final coat after sanding smooth with 600 grit wet/dry paper. It would be a most fun and rewarding project. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Kelsey on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 12:20 pm:

Dick:

My grandmother did the same thing to my dad when he left for college in 1962. He came home for Christmas and grandma had given most of his toys away and thrown away all of his model kits. I'm told that his brother, who was two years younger, learned from this experience and hid his belongings in one of the out buildings when he left for WSU. Dad forgave her, but never forgot it.

My mom did a similar thing to me when I was eleven. I had a large collection of model airplanes on display in my room. We were getting ready to move and Mom was cleaning house and packing things during the time that my brothers and I were at school. I came home from school one day and she had thrown out all but three airplane models and my engine models. I had a very rare Lindberg F-8 Crusader that had a motor inside and several working visible engines - a jet turbine, Wankel, four-cylinder car, and a piston airplane engine. I've tried to locate the engine models without success as an adult. They were pretty cool.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 01:21 pm:

Reading these throw away stories has me thinking,no wonder we live in a throw away society,our parents set the example that has followed us thru life.My mother when she got married had alot of valueable comic books.She got them when she moved in the house with dad.Torn up and used as packing material.
I reckon my mothers throwing some stuff away when I was a kid is the reason I am a pack rat first class today.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 01:37 pm:

Jim, I didn't even mention my largest-in-the-neighborhood collection of toy cars - including a great many Dinky Toy models - and all my comic books. My mom had an aversion to "old stuff," I think, or in any case saw no reason to hang on to it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 03:12 pm:

We had the opposite. When we moved in 1950, my sister's threw away many of Mom's things she had been saving. I don't know if she every got over it.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 03:14 pm:

It's because people threw stuff away, that we have rare collectibles today...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 05:39 pm:

Steve - That looks like a painted finish rather than a decal. There are craftsmen/artists that can make a steel panel look like wood of any spices you like. I had just that done to a front door in the house I had built in Ohio years ago. The door was an insulated steel door painted on the outside. The inside was done to match the wood trim in the house. It was amazing and looked like real wood--Even up close. If you didn't know the door was steel, you'd swear it was stained wood. The guy was that good.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike conrad on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 07:58 pm:

Steve have you ever seen the Antiques roadshow program? I can just see it now your kids bringing your radio. What we have here is a rare 1937 Philco orig. examples of this would be worth $$$$ But it looks as if it's been restored AKA (destroyed) now it's only worth -$ LOL


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Button III (Chip), Lake Clear, NY on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 08:12 pm:

Steve, being an artist, I have to believe you can come up with a "faux" finish to duplicate that. I will check, I have some books that go into woodgraining. You might also check with Richard Eagle. Just a thought!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 08:41 pm:

Steve - please do not - sand the face of that Philco down and veneer it! Please go to the Philco repair bench site and talk to the numerous Philco restorers we have available who know how to replace that finish. Veneer on that radio will deplete the values! Believe me - the antique radio forum is the place to start - our forum is very professional there! We deal with that finish everyday there! And Mike, Antiques Roadshow knows absolutely zip about antique radios.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve in Tennessee on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:11 pm:

Steve,

love the Art Deco phone next to the radio. We have one here and it was plugged in and working until recently when I dropped ATT and switch to Verizon for the house. No lines coming in now no lines used in the house so its no an object d'art.

Steve


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 09:41 pm:

Steve, I just looked, go to Philcoradio.com - they have a restoring the photo finish section there. Again, we dont call this a faux finish - it is a photo paper finish process Philco used. Again, if you want to restore the chassis, go to "Antique radio forums", and join in at the electrical restoration, and the cabinet restoration forums - the Radio Daze contacts are also wonderful, but please again, dont consider veneer - bad advice. thats like sanding down a model T and replacing the paint with stick on plastic!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:34 pm:

To Steve and Steve...I used a phone just like that up until about 8 years ago. Guests would get a real kick out of it when it rang. And oh how loved dialing the thing - what a sound.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 10:42 pm:

We use a phone like that in the basement.Tough as nails and you can actually Hear the person talk on it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:07 pm:

Steve, I found this on philcoradio.com. It's a 1938 model introduced in June 1937. I'm pretty sure this is it, or very, very close.

http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1938a.htm#c


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:41 pm:

I once had a 6 tube Thermiodyne radio. It had 4 tuning knobs on the front and the "coffin looking" enclosure was gorgeous. All the tubes were 01A's.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/thermio_ra_tf6_1.html

I also had a 3 tube Crosley with 01A tubes.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/549662-Crosleyx20Radiox20Cx2e3x201920x27s/Crosley-R adio-ca-1920s-Wooden

I didn't have room for everything and can't STAND having neat stuff stashed away where nobody can see it!........ :-( .......so I sold them both to a local aficionado who made them look gorgeous again....... :-)
Both were working sets so that wasn't an issue.
Thanks for the memory jog.......I really liked the Thermiodyne.

A great aunt told me her uncle bought the Thermiodyne from Sears Roebuck so he could listen to the great Dempsey-Tunney fight of 1926!
http://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2009/01/the-dempsey-tunney-fight-of- 1926/

Even at home during the mid 50's I remember the neighbors coming over to listen to boxing matches on the radio........while they drank beer......LOL


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, August 24, 2012 - 11:42 pm:

OK....so the Thermiodyne had more than 4 tuning knobs.......


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Button III (Chip), Lake Clear, NY on Saturday, August 25, 2012 - 12:12 am:

@ John, great info. I didn't know such a site existed! I am going to check it out my self. My suggestions were strictly from a woodworkers point of view, my bad. Once again great info. Thanks....Chip


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Leming on Saturday, August 25, 2012 - 08:46 am:

This particular one that Steve has, would be a great candidate to restore properly and originally. Many times, they are so bad they are beyond help, but this one is not that bad. They start with a small brush and adhesive that glues the paper that is there but loose, back down very carefully. It is a work of art and takes a very careful hand. George - we have some wonderful sites, there is one called the philco service bench. By far the expert in Philco is a guy named Ron Ramirez. he has a site also. My site is dedicated to Kodel radios for example at Kodelradiomuseum.com


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