Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

:Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
:
:Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

Hi Sean

I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.

Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?

Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.

Norm

::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
::
::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

:hello, here is the email address. fumplet@wmconnect.com
:Hi Sean
:
: I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.
:
: Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?
:
: Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.
:
:Norm
:
:::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
:::
:::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

Hi Sean

Schematic sent.

Norm

::hello, here is the email address. fumplet@wmconnect.com
::Hi Sean
::
:: I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.
::
:: Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?
::
:: Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.
::
::Norm
::
::::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
::::
::::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

Hi,
If it was white, and is now yellowed, it is potentially "Plaskon", which will not come back to a bright white.

If it is heavily scratched, or has a haze, sometimes those can be corrected with wet sanding and "rubbing out" the surface like an automotive finish. Some clear plastic formulations sometimes do not handle this well, but most other plastics (except Catalin potentially), should polish up very well- Be careful to use only hand pressure (no machine polising), and not to push down too hard on unsupported areas, as the actual polishing effect happens when some heat is generated in polishing process.

Plaskon will not clean up, other than what might lodge into the cracks, so polishing a piece that shows cracking is not recomended, and do not expect the original white to come back.

:Hi Sean
:
: Schematic sent.
:
:Norm
:
:::hello, here is the email address. fumplet@wmconnect.com
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.
:::
::: Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?
:::
::: Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
:::::
:::::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

:Hello, the plastic is dark brown and looks like it has wood grain made into it, so I am thinking wet sanding with a fine paper should work. Also, when I play it, it fades out with static after 1/2 and hour. I think it is the remaining caps I havn,t replaced
:
:Hi,
:If it was white, and is now yellowed, it is potentially "Plaskon", which will not come back to a bright white.
:
:If it is heavily scratched, or has a haze, sometimes those can be corrected with wet sanding and "rubbing out" the surface like an automotive finish. Some clear plastic formulations sometimes do not handle this well, but most other plastics (except Catalin potentially), should polish up very well- Be careful to use only hand pressure (no machine polising), and not to push down too hard on unsupported areas, as the actual polishing effect happens when some heat is generated in polishing process.
:
:Plaskon will not clean up, other than what might lodge into the cracks, so polishing a piece that shows cracking is not recomended, and do not expect the original white to come back.
:
:
::Hi Sean
::
:: Schematic sent.
::
::Norm
::
::::hello, here is the email address. fumplet@wmconnect.com
::::Hi Sean
::::
:::: I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.
::::
:::: Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?
::::
:::: Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.
::::
::::Norm
::::
::::::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
::::::
::::::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic

Hi,
When wet sanding, start with 400grit and grade to finer from there in steps. If it is the "swirled" plastic, that graining will be visible inside of the cabinet too, and will accept a modest bit of sanding. Problem is that if the scratches are too deep, the sanded area will not blend well with the rest of the radio.

If it is just a matter of a haze, you can clean that up with a medium cut cleaner, or even a fine cut polish, and no need to sand.

The luster will come back with the polishing, or you could use a paste wax as a last resort.

::Hello, the plastic is dark brown and looks like it has wood grain made into it, so I am thinking wet sanding with a fine paper should work. Also, when I play it, it fades out with static after 1/2 and hour. I think it is the remaining caps I havn,t replaced
::
::Hi,
::If it was white, and is now yellowed, it is potentially "Plaskon", which will not come back to a bright white.
::
::If it is heavily scratched, or has a haze, sometimes those can be corrected with wet sanding and "rubbing out" the surface like an automotive finish. Some clear plastic formulations sometimes do not handle this well, but most other plastics (except Catalin potentially), should polish up very well- Be careful to use only hand pressure (no machine polising), and not to push down too hard on unsupported areas, as the actual polishing effect happens when some heat is generated in polishing process.
::
::Plaskon will not clean up, other than what might lodge into the cracks, so polishing a piece that shows cracking is not recomended, and do not expect the original white to come back.
::
::
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: Schematic sent.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::::hello, here is the email address. fumplet@wmconnect.com
:::::Hi Sean
:::::
::::: I can send you the schematic from Rider Vol #23 but need your email address. Many radios used similar circuits during the 1950's.
:::::
::::: Your hand is acting like an additional antenna making the radio louder. If volume changes a lot your radio may need alignment or have a broken antenna wire?
:::::
::::: Your radio will be plastic not bakelite. Just use soap and water to clean the plastic. Cleaning chemicals that don't have an effect on bakelite will damage plastic.
:::::
:::::Norm
:::::
:::::::Hello, the tubes are 35w4, 12ba6, 35c5, 12be6, 12av6
:::::::
:::::::Hello, I was given this radio and have just recapped some of it. When I put my hand near the antenna loop, it gets louder, not sure why other than it needs a better antenna. The case is in good condition, but I am not sure what to clean it with or what should I use to polish the plastic with. I'm also not sure if it is bakelite, plastic or catalin. I only have riders up to 1947 so I cannot look up this schematic