I just acquired an old RCA cathedral style table radio from the 20-30's. There was a sheet of asbestos on the side of the cabinet, which I sprayed with some liquid and then removed with pliers and placed into a ziploc bag. The problem is, there seems to be some white specks on the chassis which I think are from the asbestos. How should I go about cleaning this off? I don't have and can't afford a respirator, and I hope I didn't put myself in danger by doing what I did.

Aside from the asbestos, the main issue I have is the transformer appears to be melted, the potting compound is running out all over the chassis. What are the odds of finding a replacement? I can't identify the model of the radio since the labels are missing, so I'm going to get pictures of it soon.

Any help is much appreciated.

Aaron, you can check RadioDaze for replacement xfmrs.

Now for the easier question, re: that asbestos sheet. There are many more hazards that will get you first.

I served in a WW2-era navy destroyer, standing watch in a fire-room (boiler room). When they fired the ship's 5-inch guns, the whole fire-room was filled with this white powder that seemed to flake off the pipe insulation. I wonder what that stuff was.

If that story doesn't reassure you, your only choice is to call in the hazmat team and have your radio confiscated ;>)

:I just acquired an old RCA cathedral style table radio from the 20-30's. There was a sheet of asbestos on the side of the cabinet, which I sprayed with some liquid and then removed with pliers and placed into a ziploc bag. The problem is, there seems to be some white specks on the chassis which I think are from the asbestos. How should I go about cleaning this off? I don't have and can't afford a respirator, and I hope I didn't put myself in danger by doing what I did.
:
:Aside from the asbestos, the main issue I have is the transformer appears to be melted, the potting compound is running out all over the chassis. What are the odds of finding a replacement? I can't identify the model of the radio since the labels are missing, so I'm going to get pictures of it soon.
:
:Any help is much appreciated.

:Aaron, you can check RadioDaze for replacement xfmrs.
:
:Now for the easier question, re: that asbestos sheet. There are many more hazards that will get you first.
:
:I served in a WW2-era navy destroyer, standing watch in a fire-room (boiler room). When they fired the ship's 5-inch guns, the whole fire-room was filled with this white powder that seemed to flake off the pipe insulation. I wonder what that stuff was.
:
:If that story doesn't reassure you, your only choice is to call in the hazmat team and have your radio confiscated ;>)
:
:

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can find a replacement xformer.

Another question- Is there someone on here I can send pictures to in order to try and identify this radio? The best I can describe is it looks similar to a 120 cabinet, but has 3 knobs, with the tuning dial in the middle above the center knob with a plate that says RCA Victor. 8 Tubes which are 280, (3x)227, 247, 224, and (2x)235. Tuning dial has a rubber roller which rides on the dial wheel to turn it, but I don't know if that is original. Need to identify the model so I can find the part number for the transformer.

Ok, I made a mistake, this is a tombstone radio. Looks like an R73, from what I can make out in the small picture I found. Anyone familiar with this chassis?

Hi Aaron,
Here's data from this site on Model R73.

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/710/M0015710.pdf

Just in case the model number is not clear, if your set has two 47 tubes it is R73. If a pair of 2A5's it would be R73A.

Bill VA

Ok, I made a mistake, this is a tombstone radio. Looks like an R73, from what I can make out in the small picture I found. Anyone familiar with this chassis?

Why did you remove the asbestos? It's there to protect against heat and fire. From now on, just leave it alone. Unless you sit there and scratch it all day long and then inhale it, it isn't going to do anything to you. Asbestos takes lives and asbestos saves lives. It's the best most fire proof insulation there is. Ask the previous owners if they died of asbestosis. Probably not. Unless you mine it or live in a battle ship, it isn't going to do anything to you.

T.

I guess I was a little paranoid about asbestos, but I have asthma so I just wanted to be careful.

Also turns out this is not an R73, but looks extremely similar. There are some differences in the speaker grille design that I didn't notice at first.

Once I find the model of the radio, I'll have to order a transformer, this one's totalled. Got left plugged in over night with a short in the chassis. I hope the field coil is OK, haven't checked that yet.

Wow! That's why the asbestos was there. Amazing that more damage didn't happen, but the transformer is covered with metal, which helps, and the current flowing through the B winding isn't enough to start the wiring on fire.

I have, or at least had asthema. Asbestos won't affect you, though, unless you stir it up. Cat hair is more likely to affect you, or dust mites, or dust, or mold. I've learned how to breathe through my nose in a way that doesn't stir things up into my sinuses. Breathing through your nose is very important, because it keeps impurities from getting into your lungs, which causes asthema. However, it can be difficult if you also have alergies. Mold will still get me, but my cat doesn't bother me much. I don't have carpeting anymore, which helps. I also smoke, but strangely this doesn't give me an attack. Menthol cigarettes will, though.

Good luck with the transformer. They can be found at www.tubesandmore.com or www.radiodaze.com. www.tubesandmore.com sells a unit that has two windings of 2.5 volts, and a winding of 350 volts, which should be adequate for your radio. Add resistance in series with the field coil to reduce voltage if voltages seem too high. I know that you said that your radio isn't an R73, but is similar. Looking at the R73 schematic, I see that voltages are listed as "screen to cathode," and "plate to cathode." Keep this in mind when making voltage checks. If you use the chassis as a reference, actual readings might not match those given in your schematic, if the same measurement method is given in your literature. This is especially true at the output tubes, where there is a 300 some ohm resistor between the filaments and the chassis. Be sure, too, not to connect the wrong tubes to the wrong filament windings when installing the new transformer. The output tubes must be connected to a winding that is raised off of the chassis by the bias resistor. When making final voltage checks (for adjustment purposes, should extra resistance at the field be needed), be sure to replace all condensers and/or that all condensers are in perfect working order. Be sure, too that none of the resistors have drifted.

Thomas

I'm almost certain that I have identified the radio as an R-8 (found one on ebay that looks identical to what I have, inside and out), and I have the schematics now. I hope to start working on it soon. Thanks for the info on the transformer.