Console Radio project

[Jim_No_Garage]

Folks:

I'm thinking of buying a console radio and replacing the internals with more modern bits.

I know there was a thread on here where a guy did this already? TLJ someone? Any help would be appreciated finding that thread.

Below is close to what I would be starting with. The case on the one I'm looking at is a little nicer -but not much. True pics are on my dead phone.

Anyone done anything like this?

Cheers

Jim

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I think that is a very worthy project. TVs and console radios has some the finished cabinetry ever. Lost art.

 

[DrRick]

I have an extra console radio (a couple, actually).I'm in New Jersey also. Let me know if you want one.

Folks:

I'm thinking of buying a console radio and replacing the internals with more modern bits.

I know there was a thread on here where a guy did this already? TLJ someone? Any help would be appreciated finding that thread.

Below is close to what I would be starting with. The case on the one I'm looking at is a little nicer -but not much. True pics are on my dead phone.

Anyone done anything like this?

Cheers

Jim

 

[gayler]

Don't do it! Have someone fix it! It would.be much nicer! Have someone covert the phono input so you can hook up a CD player.

 

[racingtadpole]

Folks:

I'm thinking of buying a console radio and replacing the internals with more modern bits.

I know there was a thread on here where a guy did this already? TLJ someone? Any help would be appreciated finding that thread.

Below is close to what I would be starting with. The case on the one I'm looking at is a little nicer -but not much. True pics are on my dead phone.

Anyone done anything like this?

Cheers

Jim

I believe this is the thread you seek:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104125

 

[stsmytherie]

I recommend a proper restoration. These were top of the line in their day, inside and out. The electronics are solid and will work if restored correctly.

We found a fairly rare Atwater Kent console in the trash many years ago and had it fully restored by a guy in CT. Totally worth it.

 

[Amrjon]

I've got several of these, most in original condition, but one fully restored and with a modern system added as you are considering. I love it. It looks 100% original and I've got the power and lights hooked up the the original Bakelite knobs. Often gives people a shock when I switch it on and they hear the sound it puts out. I'll get a pic tomorrow.

Of course the easy option is to just put a portable wireless speaker inside (bose soundlink or similar). That way you can restore the cabinet and leave the original radio in place if your at all worried about messing with it, but still play whatever music you want.

 

[Amrjon]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I have an extra console radio (a couple, actually).I'm in New Jersey also. Let me know if you want one.

Wow - very nice of you to offer. I haven't moved forward on this project so I might take you up on your offer.

I believe this is the thread you seek:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104125

Thanks - I found that thread after a long search. I got the O/P userid wrong . . . Unfortunately the images for the stereo cabinet work are no longer linked properly and he's been offline for several months.

Don't do it! Have someone fix it! It would.be much nicer! Have someone covert the phono input so you can hook up a CD player.

I recommend a proper restoration. These were top of the line in their day, inside and out. The electronics are solid and will work if restored correctly.

We found a fairly rare Atwater Kent console in the trash many years ago and had it fully restored by a guy in CT. Totally worth it.

I've got several of these, most in original condition, but one fully restored and with a modern system added as you are considering. I love it. It looks 100% original and I've got the power and lights hooked up the the original Bakelite knobs. Often gives people a shock when I switch it on and they hear the sound it puts out. I'll get a pic tomorrow.

Of course the easy option is to just put a portable wireless speaker inside (bose soundlink or similar). That way you can restore the cabinet and leave the original radio in place if your at all worried about messing with it, but still play whatever music you want.

Amrjon - I love your radio - that dial is magnificent! Very cool.

This is sort of the audio equivalent of the "barn find" of an original unmolested vehicle. Clean it up and drive it versus modernize it /"hot rod" it.

The model I was looking at didn't really meet my original needs. If I was going to totally reinvent it - I would look for a model with a angled/tilted front so a small touchscreen could be inset and used as a control.

Reading some of the replies quoted above - if the ability to have a line-in audio played through the existing amplifier is viable - that might be a better approach.

I am concerned about getting/keeping a 70+ year old piece of electronics working since the local radio repairman dropped off the scene 20+ years ago.

The GJ sure is a wonderful place - I figured this thread would die after a few days with no activity.

Cheers

Jim

 

[nine4gmc]

The veneer work on those old cabinets is pretty amazing. Jim, be sure to post up if you move forward with this.

 

[SteveH-CO]

I have restored perhaps a dozen old radios. Most of the time, if you replace the leaky capacitors with modern (high voltage) ones, the radio will work fine. The tubes don't have to work at 100% most of the time, either. You do want to avoid old radios with bad transformers (burned windings), as the transformers are nearly impossible to source. Some very old tubes can be quite expensive ($70 for a used output stage tube)

Also, the really old stuff, like my 1929 Atwater Kent, is TRF, rather than Superheterodyne, so they are touchy on interference and require careful antenna length choice and proper grounding, to work properly. In some ways, I wish they were less temperamental, and in other ways, I'm ok with them being old and clunky.

You might start by restoring a table radio first and learning on a simpler project than a big console model.

 

[DrRick]

Hey Jim,
Just let me know if you want one.
I have a huge collection of tube audio gear and a few old radios.

Wow - very nice of you to offer. I haven't moved forward on this project so I might take you up on your offer.



Thanks - I found that thread after a long search. I got the O/P userid wrong . . . Unfortunately the images for the stereo cabinet work are no longer linked properly and he's been offline for several months.









Amrjon - I love your radio - that dial is magnificent! Very cool.

This is sort of the audio equivalent of the "barn find" of an original unmolested vehicle. Clean it up and drive it versus modernize it /"hot rod" it.

The model I was looking at didn't really meet my original needs. If I was going to totally reinvent it - I would look for a model with a angled/tilted front so a small touchscreen could be inset and used as a control.

Reading some of the replies quoted above - if the ability to have a line-in audio played through the existing amplifier is viable - that might be a better approach.

I am concerned about getting/keeping a 70+ year old piece of electronics working since the local radio repairman dropped off the scene 20+ years ago.

The GJ sure is a wonderful place - I figured this thread would die after a few days with no activity.

Cheers

Jim