Might just change hobbies to radios!!

[The Ghoul]

Ok so my dad and I were walking through the local salvation army, looking for an electric oven for baking powder coating, and we ran across this for $42. I bought it sight on scene.



The model number indicates that its from 1939. The guy at the salvation army said they plugged it in and it worked. My dad cringed when the guy said it. I didn't know why at the time. We plugged it in and it did, in fact, work but had a heck of a humm to it. My dad explained that when old tube radios sit for a long time the wax in the capacitors settles and when electricity is applied it fries 'em thus the humm.  Luckily his friend had what we needed and the thing works beautifully now!!
I spent the day cleaning it up.
I used a mixture of equal parts boiled linseed oil, white vinegar, and turpentine; applied mixture to surface and rubbed it with 0000 steel wool. Then wiped the surface clean, and then rubbed it down with lemon oil. I cant believe what difference it made!!



I have to say this was a blast to work on.
I know this isn't a typical case with these old radios but, I got this one cheap, required little work to get it working well again, cleaned up incredibly, and is such a nice piece now that its done. Best thing is I only have $65 into it and it only took 3 days to compleet. I just wish some one sold the push buttons. The original preset buttons were clear plastic that over the years withered away into the hard chalky things you see in the pics. I would love to get a set of reproductions, that would make the whole thing look a lot better.

[Todd Wilson]

Those old radios are cool. I'd like to find one. My grand parents had one for ever and gave it to my uncle years ago. I think it got sold for some dope money. It still worked good back then.  If you ever need tubes and stuff you may check into the ham radio world. Theres a lot of old tube type ham radios still in use and theres always someone at a ham radio swap meet selling tubes and stuff.


How long does it take to warm up and play music?  HAHA!




Todd

[Todd Wilson]

http://www.antiqueradios.com/

[The Ghoul]

http://www.antiqueradios.com/

already a member of there forum 'the ghoul' (go figgure), great guys there.
here is the link to the process I used on the case http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54647
My dad is into the old 'boat anchor' ham rigs from the 30's-40's. That's the only reason I thought this thing would ever work again. He is so amazing when it comes to this stuff.
Neet fact about my radio *tube wise * It has all wizard tubes in it. That was the manufacturer of tubes for the company that made this radio, so, its either got all its original tubes, or, when ever a tube was replaced it was replaced with the factory recommended equipment!!

[Charger_Fan]

That's pretty cool. That wood sure looks nice, too.

[MichaelRW]

This got me wondering about the people that probably sat in front of that radio listening to news about WWII.

[volk68]

We used to have two really nice ones in our stations, but our owner took one and our GM got the other   We have one left, and it is still pretty cool, but I don't think it works

[BigBlackDodge]

This got me wondering about the people that probably sat in front of that radio listening to news about WWII.

No kidding. All kinds of history as passed through those speakers I'll bet!


BBD