Amazingly people will pay a lot of money for a remuddled radio, just because it works and has a nice finish. With all the new components inside, with no attempt to make them look like the really neat looking original components, it might as well be a new radio or one of those Crosley reproductions. Doesn't the cloth wiring, and the neat logos on the components, and the fact that the components look like they belong to the radio, and the art deco plug, and all the other things really make a difference? Sometimes turning over the chassis with all the end dot painted resistors is an awesome sight.
People will pay a thousand dollars or more for one of those original Fada bullet radios that has been "restored" with all modern components, and yet they won't pay much at all for a reproduction solid state Fada bullet radio. Why not save the money and just buy the reproduction? The original radio has been ruined, as someone threw away all the original components.
I wish people would turn down the mass produced (easily done as it takes little effort to simply plop in modern components), so called "restored" radios. It is amazing that people will pay several hundred dollars for a radio that isn't really restored well.
T.
Especially on the cord replacements.
These radios should look like they came from 50 years ago. I just picked up a "beautiful" zenith console 10-s-567 with original finish. Someone took great care of it. Just a little crackle in the finish nothing flacking, peeling etc. Petina it's call in the antique world. It doesn't look like it fell right off the assemly line.
But on the other hand. Should we re-cap with NOS caps and possibly they go bad in a week or 2 of use? Or use the bright shiny new ones? Same for resistors?
Heres another thing. when we say restored how far do we go. I have an old GE here that plays "Wonderful"
with origianl parts. I can't put it on ebay as refurbed
but I hate fixing something that ain't broke HA.
But on the other hand I think buyers are looking for new electronics inside.
:For what my opinion is worth, I've been noticing a sick cheapening of radio restoration. Often, when I find a "restored" radio on eBay, it'll have all new components inside, and an ugly new AC cord instead of a nice cloth one or something. Usually, with my radios that have rubber cords, if the cord needs replacing, I'll either use cloth cord, or a plastic cord that closely resembles the rubber cord, and then I'll reuse the rubber plug, if possible. If the radio originally had a cloth cord, of course I use a new cloth cord with antique plug, or the original plug from the radio. A cloth cord isn't that expensive, and it looks so much better than a modern cord.
:
:Amazingly people will pay a lot of money for a remuddled radio, just because it works and has a nice finish. With all the new components inside, with no attempt to make them look like the really neat looking original components, it might as well be a new radio or one of those Crosley reproductions. Doesn't the cloth wiring, and the neat logos on the components, and the fact that the components look like they belong to the radio, and the art deco plug, and all the other things really make a difference? Sometimes turning over the chassis with all the end dot painted resistors is an awesome sight.
:
:People will pay a thousand dollars or more for one of those original Fada bullet radios that has been "restored" with all modern components, and yet they won't pay much at all for a reproduction solid state Fada bullet radio. Why not save the money and just buy the reproduction? The original radio has been ruined, as someone threw away all the original components.
:
:I wish people would turn down the mass produced (easily done as it takes little effort to simply plop in modern components), so called "restored" radios. It is amazing that people will pay several hundred dollars for a radio that isn't really restored well.
:
:T.
:Thomas I agree to a certain extent.
:
:Especially on the cord replacements.
:
:These radios should look like they came from 50 years ago. I just picked up a "beautiful" zenith console 10-s-567 with original finish. Someone took great care of it. Just a little crackle in the finish nothing flacking, peeling etc. Petina it's call in the antique world. It doesn't look like it fell right off the assemly line.
:
:But on the other hand. Should we re-cap with NOS caps and possibly they go bad in a week or 2 of use? Or use the bright shiny new ones? Same for resistors?
:
:Heres another thing. when we say restored how far do we go. I have an old GE here that plays "Wonderful"
:with origianl parts. I can't put it on ebay as refurbed
:but I hate fixing something that ain't broke HA.
:
:But on the other hand I think buyers are looking for new electronics inside.
:
:
:
::For what my opinion is worth, I've been noticing a sick cheapening of radio restoration. Often, when I find a "restored" radio on eBay, it'll have all new components inside, and an ugly new AC cord instead of a nice cloth one or something. Usually, with my radios that have rubber cords, if the cord needs replacing, I'll either use cloth cord, or a plastic cord that closely resembles the rubber cord, and then I'll reuse the rubber plug, if possible. If the radio originally had a cloth cord, of course I use a new cloth cord with antique plug, or the original plug from the radio. A cloth cord isn't that expensive, and it looks so much better than a modern cord.
::
::Amazingly people will pay a lot of money for a remuddled radio, just because it works and has a nice finish. With all the new components inside, with no attempt to make them look like the really neat looking original components, it might as well be a new radio or one of those Crosley reproductions. Doesn't the cloth wiring, and the neat logos on the components, and the fact that the components look like they belong to the radio, and the art deco plug, and all the other things really make a difference? Sometimes turning over the chassis with all the end dot painted resistors is an awesome sight.
::
::People will pay a thousand dollars or more for one of those original Fada bullet radios that has been "restored" with all modern components, and yet they won't pay much at all for a reproduction solid state Fada bullet radio. Why not save the money and just buy the reproduction? The original radio has been ruined, as someone threw away all the original components.
::
::I wish people would turn down the mass produced (easily done as it takes little effort to simply plop in modern components), so called "restored" radios. It is amazing that people will pay several hundred dollars for a radio that isn't really restored well.
::
::T.
I don't purchase "restored" sets - they never interest me. I enjoy getting a "fair" set, and putting it into working condition and into reasonably presentable condition. I then either keep it or give it away to someone who will use it and appreciate it (not sell it).
I just finished a c. 1936 Airline (Montgomery Ward) table top. It didn't work, and the cabinet was poor. The glass, convex dial lens was gone, as was the dial bezel. There had been two vertical trim strips on the front, but one was gone. It's a wonder it hadn't been thrown away.
I recapped (with Orange Drops) and got the radio working, the easy part. I installed a new brown, vinyl line cord, with a polarized plug. I refinished the cabinet and replaced the grill cloth (attractive, but not original in appearance). I took half of the remaining vertical trim strip, and installed it on the opposite side. I cut a piece of flat styrene to serve as the dial lens. For a fake dial bezel, I used a 4-inch rubber gasket from Home Depot designed for a sink strainer.
In some ways, this set is butchered. Yet, it is reasonably attractive and it works. Did I ruin this set or did I save it for present and future enjoyment?
I love the orange drop condensers. They work extremely well. The little mylar ones fit inside of old tubular containers, however. I've even done some really interesting things like scan the Sprague 600 Line condenser label off of one of my condensers in a radio. Then I blew it up and touched it up really nice. After that I can type in any value I wish and print it up. Either by reusing the original tubes or by purchasing new black cardboard tubing of the same diameter, I can make new-old condensers. I can make the whole underside of the radio look extremely fresh and new with those really cool art deco labels, instead of them being all dirty and worn out.
At any rate, restorations should be done to one's own liking. I just think that so many people miss out on the beauty of the old electronics when they are restored to new. When you put all sorts of bright, new, colored cloth wiring under the radio, it looks so neat, and the logos on the old components are absolutely fascinating.....especially ones like Aerovox and Micamold, or Solar, or the Sprague 600 Line condensers. Don't you find the mica condensers with the colored dots and those cool logos really interesting? (Of course, mica condensers are the most difficult to restore. Cracking them open is difficult.) When you throw away those components, you are not likely to find reproductions of them. This is not to say that the outside of those old radios isn't real fascination in itself, but the inside is cool, too. You don't see it often, but when you do, if it's restored fairly well, it can actually be really cool.
I just find modern components very bland and uninteresting. No attempt is made to dress them up anymore. The old components could practically be on display by themselves.
Anyway, that's all I meant. Restore as you wish and enjoy the hobby as you wish.
Thomas
:Well.....what I really meant was buying the very small tubular mylar caps, and stuffing these in the old caps if possible. Finding original replacement caps is almost impossible, and I recommend against it anyway, as old condensers like to short. I just mean making the set look somewhat original. And, of course, I don't have a problem with someone just wanting to make a set work. It is something we should all do to our own liking, affordability, and pleasure. What I can't stand is when someone takes a set, simply throws modern components at it, and then sells it for a thousand bucks and says it's restored to original. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't get so angry about it. I just think it's a rip off, and if I buy a professionally restored radio, I want to see those beautiful old parts under there.
:
:I love the orange drop condensers. They work extremely well. The little mylar ones fit inside of old tubular containers, however. I've even done some really interesting things like scan the Sprague 600 Line condenser label off of one of my condensers in a radio. Then I blew it up and touched it up really nice. After that I can type in any value I wish and print it up. Either by reusing the original tubes or by purchasing new black cardboard tubing of the same diameter, I can make new-old condensers. I can make the whole underside of the radio look extremely fresh and new with those really cool art deco labels, instead of them being all dirty and worn out.
:
:At any rate, restorations should be done to one's own liking. I just think that so many people miss out on the beauty of the old electronics when they are restored to new. When you put all sorts of bright, new, colored cloth wiring under the radio, it looks so neat, and the logos on the old components are absolutely fascinating.....especially ones like Aerovox and Micamold, or Solar, or the Sprague 600 Line condensers. Don't you find the mica condensers with the colored dots and those cool logos really interesting? (Of course, mica condensers are the most difficult to restore. Cracking them open is difficult.) When you throw away those components, you are not likely to find reproductions of them. This is not to say that the outside of those old radios isn't real fascination in itself, but the inside is cool, too. You don't see it often, but when you do, if it's restored fairly well, it can actually be really cool.
:
:I just find modern components very bland and uninteresting. No attempt is made to dress them up anymore. The old components could practically be on display by themselves.
:
:Anyway, that's all I meant. Restore as you wish and enjoy the hobby as you wish.
:
:Thomas
It's also a Microsoft Paint file. Don't know how many people have this program. I suppose most do. I'm going to try pasting it and see if anyone can download it. This could be way cool, though. Perhaps Nostalgia Air could have a lable downloading department. Since this site is free, I don't think there'd be too much copyright infringement. The only problem is that printers like my DeskJet 722C can't reproduce the labels quite as faithfully as the original. It looks good, though. If you soak it in wax or carefully paint it with a lacquer that is not a solvent of the ink, you can even waterproof it. Actually, an excellent waterproofing that I've used many times before that does not run the ink is VARNISH. Just varnish a sheet of labels over and over again until you get a nice, glossy, plastic finish. Then cut them out. They're very water resistant (varnish is not water proof, as it is organic).
Anyway, this is a really awesome idea. I hope many participate.
Thomas
:Now there's a great idea for this website! How about uploading all those old capacitor label scans that we can all download and paste on to new caps where re-stuffing is not an option. It would be fun to see how many we could all collect and contribute. Same for box electrolytics.
:Steve
:
::Well.....what I really meant was buying the very small tubular mylar caps, and stuffing these in the old caps if possible. Finding original replacement caps is almost impossible, and I recommend against it anyway, as old condensers like to short. I just mean making the set look somewhat original. And, of course, I don't have a problem with someone just wanting to make a set work. It is something we should all do to our own liking, affordability, and pleasure. What I can't stand is when someone takes a set, simply throws modern components at it, and then sells it for a thousand bucks and says it's restored to original. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't get so angry about it. I just think it's a rip off, and if I buy a professionally restored radio, I want to see those beautiful old parts under there.
::
::I love the orange drop condensers. They work extremely well. The little mylar ones fit inside of old tubular containers, however. I've even done some really interesting things like scan the Sprague 600 Line condenser label off of one of my condensers in a radio. Then I blew it up and touched it up really nice. After that I can type in any value I wish and print it up. Either by reusing the original tubes or by purchasing new black cardboard tubing of the same diameter, I can make new-old condensers. I can make the whole underside of the radio look extremely fresh and new with those really cool art deco labels, instead of them being all dirty and worn out.
::
::At any rate, restorations should be done to one's own liking. I just think that so many people miss out on the beauty of the old electronics when they are restored to new. When you put all sorts of bright, new, colored cloth wiring under the radio, it looks so neat, and the logos on the old components are absolutely fascinating.....especially ones like Aerovox and Micamold, or Solar, or the Sprague 600 Line condensers. Don't you find the mica condensers with the colored dots and those cool logos really interesting? (Of course, mica condensers are the most difficult to restore. Cracking them open is difficult.) When you throw away those components, you are not likely to find reproductions of them. This is not to say that the outside of those old radios isn't real fascination in itself, but the inside is cool, too. You don't see it often, but when you do, if it's restored fairly well, it can actually be really cool.
::
::I just find modern components very bland and uninteresting. No attempt is made to dress them up anymore. The old components could practically be on display by themselves.
::
::Anyway, that's all I meant. Restore as you wish and enjoy the hobby as you wish.
::
::Thomas
Thomas
:WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about a great idea!!!!!!! Well, when I scanned the Sprague 600 Line, I had a very hard time touching up the blue and then reproducing it properly. I was able to get the orange to look pretty decent by copying a clean section over and over again, and then touching it up. What I did was increase the contrast significantly to make the blue turn black, so the colors won't be original. It'll be orange, black, and white lettering, instead of orange, and blue, and white. Oh well....a reproduction is a reproduction. Can't be perfect. Someone else with a better program can do better things.
:
:It's also a Microsoft Paint file. Don't know how many people have this program. I suppose most do. I'm going to try pasting it and see if anyone can download it. This could be way cool, though. Perhaps Nostalgia Air could have a lable downloading department. Since this site is free, I don't think there'd be too much copyright infringement. The only problem is that printers like my DeskJet 722C can't reproduce the labels quite as faithfully as the original. It looks good, though. If you soak it in wax or carefully paint it with a lacquer that is not a solvent of the ink, you can even waterproof it. Actually, an excellent waterproofing that I've used many times before that does not run the ink is VARNISH. Just varnish a sheet of labels over and over again until you get a nice, glossy, plastic finish. Then cut them out. They're very water resistant (varnish is not water proof, as it is organic).
:
:Anyway, this is a really awesome idea. I hope many participate.
:
:Thomas
:
::Now there's a great idea for this website! How about uploading all those old capacitor label scans that we can all download and paste on to new caps where re-stuffing is not an option. It would be fun to see how many we could all collect and contribute. Same for box electrolytics.
::Steve
::
:::Well.....what I really meant was buying the very small tubular mylar caps, and stuffing these in the old caps if possible. Finding original replacement caps is almost impossible, and I recommend against it anyway, as old condensers like to short. I just mean making the set look somewhat original. And, of course, I don't have a problem with someone just wanting to make a set work. It is something we should all do to our own liking, affordability, and pleasure. What I can't stand is when someone takes a set, simply throws modern components at it, and then sells it for a thousand bucks and says it's restored to original. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't get so angry about it. I just think it's a rip off, and if I buy a professionally restored radio, I want to see those beautiful old parts under there.
:::
:::I love the orange drop condensers. They work extremely well. The little mylar ones fit inside of old tubular containers, however. I've even done some really interesting things like scan the Sprague 600 Line condenser label off of one of my condensers in a radio. Then I blew it up and touched it up really nice. After that I can type in any value I wish and print it up. Either by reusing the original tubes or by purchasing new black cardboard tubing of the same diameter, I can make new-old condensers. I can make the whole underside of the radio look extremely fresh and new with those really cool art deco labels, instead of them being all dirty and worn out.
:::
:::At any rate, restorations should be done to one's own liking. I just think that so many people miss out on the beauty of the old electronics when they are restored to new. When you put all sorts of bright, new, colored cloth wiring under the radio, it looks so neat, and the logos on the old components are absolutely fascinating.....especially ones like Aerovox and Micamold, or Solar, or the Sprague 600 Line condensers. Don't you find the mica condensers with the colored dots and those cool logos really interesting? (Of course, mica condensers are the most difficult to restore. Cracking them open is difficult.) When you throw away those components, you are not likely to find reproductions of them. This is not to say that the outside of those old radios isn't real fascination in itself, but the inside is cool, too. You don't see it often, but when you do, if it's restored fairly well, it can actually be really cool.
:::
:::I just find modern components very bland and uninteresting. No attempt is made to dress them up anymore. The old components could practically be on display by themselves.
:::
:::Anyway, that's all I meant. Restore as you wish and enjoy the hobby as you wish.
:::
:::Thomas
:..........or not. That file is HUGE! I don't think it'll fit!
:
:Thomas
:
::WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about a great idea!!!!!!! Well, when I scanned the Sprague 600 Line, I had a very hard time touching up the blue and then reproducing it properly. I was able to get the orange to look pretty decent by copying a clean section over and over again, and then touching it up. What I did was increase the contrast significantly to make the blue turn black, so the colors won't be original. It'll be orange, black, and white lettering, instead of orange, and blue, and white. Oh well....a reproduction is a reproduction. Can't be perfect. Someone else with a better program can do better things.
::
::It's also a Microsoft Paint file. Don't know how many people have this program. I suppose most do. I'm going to try pasting it and see if anyone can download it. This could be way cool, though. Perhaps Nostalgia Air could have a lable downloading department. Since this site is free, I don't think there'd be too much copyright infringement. The only problem is that printers like my DeskJet 722C can't reproduce the labels quite as faithfully as the original. It looks good, though. If you soak it in wax or carefully paint it with a lacquer that is not a solvent of the ink, you can even waterproof it. Actually, an excellent waterproofing that I've used many times before that does not run the ink is VARNISH. Just varnish a sheet of labels over and over again until you get a nice, glossy, plastic finish. Then cut them out. They're very water resistant (varnish is not water proof, as it is organic).
::
::Anyway, this is a really awesome idea. I hope many participate.
::
::Thomas
::
:::Now there's a great idea for this website! How about uploading all those old capacitor label scans that we can all download and paste on to new caps where re-stuffing is not an option. It would be fun to see how many we could all collect and contribute. Same for box electrolytics.
:::Steve
:::
::::Well.....what I really meant was buying the very small tubular mylar caps, and stuffing these in the old caps if possible. Finding original replacement caps is almost impossible, and I recommend against it anyway, as old condensers like to short. I just mean making the set look somewhat original. And, of course, I don't have a problem with someone just wanting to make a set work. It is something we should all do to our own liking, affordability, and pleasure. What I can't stand is when someone takes a set, simply throws modern components at it, and then sells it for a thousand bucks and says it's restored to original. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't get so angry about it. I just think it's a rip off, and if I buy a professionally restored radio, I want to see those beautiful old parts under there.
::::
::::I love the orange drop condensers. They work extremely well. The little mylar ones fit inside of old tubular containers, however. I've even done some really interesting things like scan the Sprague 600 Line condenser label off of one of my condensers in a radio. Then I blew it up and touched it up really nice. After that I can type in any value I wish and print it up. Either by reusing the original tubes or by purchasing new black cardboard tubing of the same diameter, I can make new-old condensers. I can make the whole underside of the radio look extremely fresh and new with those really cool art deco labels, instead of them being all dirty and worn out.
::::
::::At any rate, restorations should be done to one's own liking. I just think that so many people miss out on the beauty of the old electronics when they are restored to new. When you put all sorts of bright, new, colored cloth wiring under the radio, it looks so neat, and the logos on the old components are absolutely fascinating.....especially ones like Aerovox and Micamold, or Solar, or the Sprague 600 Line condensers. Don't you find the mica condensers with the colored dots and those cool logos really interesting? (Of course, mica condensers are the most difficult to restore. Cracking them open is difficult.) When you throw away those components, you are not likely to find reproductions of them. This is not to say that the outside of those old radios isn't real fascination in itself, but the inside is cool, too. You don't see it often, but when you do, if it's restored fairly well, it can actually be really cool.
::::
::::I just find modern components very bland and uninteresting. No attempt is made to dress them up anymore. The old components could practically be on display by themselves.
::::
::::Anyway, that's all I meant. Restore as you wish and enjoy the hobby as you wish.
::::
::::Thomas
No, I'm not that dumb, but I'm not extremely familiar with everything on a computer. I do use mine a lot, but not every part of it. We'll see. Sometimes when I'm trying to safeguard my computer and delete spyware and stuff, I wind up making programs not work, etc. Not cool.
Thomas
:Thomas: I think you'll need to pick a format all browsers can download. See if your program can save images as gif files. jpg's might work but I think gif's are better for graphics. Most imaging software will also allow you to resize the files to almost anything you want.
:Steve
:
::..........or not. That file is HUGE! I don't think it'll fit!
::
::Thomas