Radiola 18

2/5/2004 7:53:24 PMGary W. Prutchick

This is the first of probably many messages that I will post on this forum.

Nostalgia Air one of the best websites out there.
Keep up the great work.

I am now the proud owner of a Radiola 18 complete with a 100A speaker.

It's history is quite unique in that I'm told it was the first electric radio in Peterborough.

I am about to start it's restoration.

This one is circa 1927 and I want to do everything perfectly.

I will most likely have to replace all of the caps.

I have an AVO MKIII tube tester. I should be able to test the tubes with it, even though they are not listed in the Valve Data Manual. This tube tester is so versatile, you can set it up to test prety much any tube that you have characteristics data for.

Any assistance from someone who has restored one of these beauties would be most appreciated.

Q. What is the best way to restore the cabinet? It is in pretty very good shape, just a few battle scars. I would like to keep the original finish if possible.

Q. It's missing the little hood that goes over the dial lamp. Does anyone know where I can get one?

Q. Where can I get a diagram for the speaker?

Thanks in advance,
Gary W. Prutchick
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

2/5/2004 9:51:15 PMNorm Leal

Hi Gary

The good news, most Radiola 18's take very little to get going. Tubes will most likely be good. This is one of the few radios where caps can also be ok. You might try the radio before starting to change parts?

The cabinet is solid mahogany, no veneer. I usually refinish them. If it isn't very bad you might just use somehing to cover scratches?

Many are missing the hood. I have 2 without hoods. AES, www.tubesandmore.com used to sell hoods but I don't think they do anymore.

Since it's a 100A speaker information can be found here:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/242/M0040242.pdf

Norm
:This is the first of probably many messages that I will post on this forum.
:
:Nostalgia Air one of the best websites out there.
:Keep up the great work.
:
:I am now the proud owner of a Radiola 18 complete with a 100A speaker.
:
:It's history is quite unique in that I'm told it was the first electric radio in Peterborough.
:
:I am about to start it's restoration.
:
:This one is circa 1927 and I want to do everything perfectly.
:
:I will most likely have to replace all of the caps.
:
:I have an AVO MKIII tube tester. I should be able to test the tubes with it, even though they are not listed in the Valve Data Manual. This tube tester is so versatile, you can set it up to test prety much any tube that you have characteristics data for.
:
:Any assistance from someone who has restored one of these beauties would be most appreciated.
:
:Q. What is the best way to restore the cabinet? It is in pretty very good shape, just a few battle scars. I would like to keep the original finish if possible.
:
:Q. It's missing the little hood that goes over the dial lamp. Does anyone know where I can get one?
:
:Q. Where can I get a diagram for the speaker?
:
:Thanks in advance,
:Gary W. Prutchick
:Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
:
:

2/6/2004 8:31:10 AMPoston Drake

Hello Gary,
"Sonny" Clutter has a great website about Radiolas:
www.radiolaguy.com/radiola.htm
There are lots of good photos and information there about all the Radiola models. He also has reproduction lamp hoods available, and repro manuals, pamphlets, labels, etc., as well as service information for the 100A speaker.

Poston

:Hi Gary
:
: The good news, most Radiola 18's take very little to get going. Tubes will most likely be good. This is one of the few radios where caps can also be ok. You might try the radio before starting to change parts?
:
: The cabinet is solid mahogany, no veneer. I usually refinish them. If it isn't very bad you might just use somehing to cover scratches?
:
: Many are missing the hood. I have 2 without hoods. AES, www.tubesandmore.com used to sell hoods but I don't think they do anymore.
:
: Since it's a 100A speaker information can be found here:
:
: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/242/M0040242.pdf
:
:Norm
::This is the first of probably many messages that I will post on this forum.
::
::Nostalgia Air one of the best websites out there.
::Keep up the great work.
::
::I am now the proud owner of a Radiola 18 complete with a 100A speaker.
::
::It's history is quite unique in that I'm told it was the first electric radio in Peterborough.
::
::I am about to start it's restoration.
::
::This one is circa 1927 and I want to do everything perfectly.
::
::I will most likely have to replace all of the caps.
::
::I have an AVO MKIII tube tester. I should be able to test the tubes with it, even though they are not listed in the Valve Data Manual. This tube tester is so versatile, you can set it up to test prety much any tube that you have characteristics data for.
::
::Any assistance from someone who has restored one of these beauties would be most appreciated.
::
::Q. What is the best way to restore the cabinet? It is in pretty very good shape, just a few battle scars. I would like to keep the original finish if possible.
::
::Q. It's missing the little hood that goes over the dial lamp. Does anyone know where I can get one?
::
::Q. Where can I get a diagram for the speaker?
::
::Thanks in advance,
::Gary W. Prutchick
::Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
::
::

2/16/2004 8:09:24 PMGary W. Prutchick

Hi Norm:

You were right! I took a chance, pluged it in and it worked. There isn't even any hum. Mind you it needs cleaning up but that's it.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Gary

:Hi Gary
:
: The good news, most Radiola 18's take very little to get going. Tubes will most likely be good. This is one of the few radios where caps can also be ok. You might try the radio before starting to change parts?
:
: The cabinet is solid mahogany, no veneer. I usually refinish them. If it isn't very bad you might just use somehing to cover scratches?
:
: Many are missing the hood. I have 2 without hoods. AES, www.tubesandmore.com used to sell hoods but I don't think they do anymore.
:
: Since it's a 100A speaker information can be found here:
:
: http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/242/M0040242.pdf
:
:Norm
::This is the first of probably many messages that I will post on this forum.
::
::Nostalgia Air one of the best websites out there.
::Keep up the great work.
::
::I am now the proud owner of a Radiola 18 complete with a 100A speaker.
::
::It's history is quite unique in that I'm told it was the first electric radio in Peterborough.
::
::I am about to start it's restoration.
::
::This one is circa 1927 and I want to do everything perfectly.
::
::I will most likely have to replace all of the caps.
::
::I have an AVO MKIII tube tester. I should be able to test the tubes with it, even though they are not listed in the Valve Data Manual. This tube tester is so versatile, you can set it up to test prety much any tube that you have characteristics data for.
::
::Any assistance from someone who has restored one of these beauties would be most appreciated.
::
::Q. What is the best way to restore the cabinet? It is in pretty very good shape, just a few battle scars. I would like to keep the original finish if possible.
::
::Q. It's missing the little hood that goes over the dial lamp. Does anyone know where I can get one?
::
::Q. Where can I get a diagram for the speaker?
::
::Thanks in advance,
::Gary W. Prutchick
::Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
::
::

2/17/2004 10:39:35 AMEd Kraushar

:: The cabinet is solid mahogany, no veneer. I usually refinish them. If it isn't very bad you might just use somehing to cover scratches?

Hi Gary,

I bought my Radiola 18 just east of Peterborough.

If you are considering refinishing check the cabinet to see if is a shellac finish. Mine was and it was easy to repair minor surface defects in the finish with french polishing. Looks like a sheet of glass now. It was not necessary to remove all of the old finish.

Ed.