A rusty old Atwater Kent Model 35 was hauled out of storage. There were thrills and spills, demons and dirt, coils and crud. It was a more challenging repair than expected for such a simple radio. My first repair article.
RCA Radiola 26
Early in 2009 I decided to finish repairs on a radio acquired years ago, a 1925 RCA Radiola 26. It looked great, "mint condition" maybe. It just needed some electronic work.
AK55C refinished and ready for another 70 years
In the summer of 2008 this Atwater Kent Model 55C found its way into the back of our car. It was mostly complete, a flood survivor, and a dirty mess from top to bottom. It had been fine furniture, radios were thought of as fine furniture in those day. Its original finish could not be saved so it has been completely stripped, stained, and lacquered.
This has been a long term project for me. Chassis and speaker were finished in 2009, article here, but the cabinet lingered. Finally last steps were completed this summer of 2011. After a rubout with talc powder, to take away the super-glossy shine of new lacquer, the radio looks stunning. I left as many dings and bumps as possible, those add beauty and appeal to me. I'll update my article with details of refinish work when time permits.
Electrostatic tweeter
A good friend gave me an EMUD Rekord 196 Junior, a wonderful sounding German-made table radio from 1959, but it had a problem. It's smooth sound was marred by an intermittently operating, more like rarely operating, high frequency tweeter. The tweeter is an electrostatic design and age had taken its toll. Here is how it was brought back to life.
