Good morning!
I'm restoring a RCA 100 speaker.
I'm wondering what was the original paint color?
Some photos I've seen the color looks to be bronze.
I don't want to paint it black.........BORING!

Also, the grill cloth needs to be replaced.
Anyone have drawings, photos or suggestions?

Thanks!
Mark

RadioDaze has the grille cloth for your speaker.

The original color of the speaker housing is sort of a bronze. It was made of pot metal, so cracks or warpage isn't uncommon. It is a high-impedance, permanent magnet speaker. Does yours work? If so, not much to do inside. The speaker connecting cable may need to be replaced.
Doug

Thanks for the replies!
My speaker is the round Radiola 100.
This speaker will be used for a Radiola 18.

Because of the pot metal I shyed away from the 100A.

I understand replacing the grill cloth is a real pain in the butt.

:Thanks for the replies!
:My speaker is the round Radiola 100.
:This speaker will be used for a Radiola 18.
:
:Because of the pot metal I shyed away from the 100A.
:
:I understand replacing the grill cloth is a real pain in the butt.

I agree that replacing the grill cloth on a Radiola 100 speaker is a bit difficult. I've done several and due to the convex shape the cloth must cover, I've never been able to get it wrinkle free at the edges.

Mark,

Not sure if you are referring to an RCA 100 or an RCA 100A.

I have restored both and did a lot of research at the time to make sure I got the color and grillecloth right.

Grillcloth for both is available from www.radiodaze.com OR from www.grillecloth.com. Both sites will tell you the cloth number that goes with either speaker.

Directly below is an RCA100.
Original color, which I managed to match here, was a LOW gloss black. Although the grillcloth retention ring looks to be a bronze color - that's just a photo effect - it's the same low gloss black.

Next is a Canadian version of the 100A - same as the U.S. RCA100A speaker, just a different Canadian model number.
The 100A's were a low gloss dark bronze color. The floral relief around the speaker grillcloth retainer ring is gold in color.

Probably your biggest concern when restoring one of these speakers is the pot-metal magnet retainer assembly. Pot metal is notorious for cracking and crumbling over the years. Treat it gently and carefully....I haven't seen a positive way to repair pot metal castings yet. Although many methods have been suggested, I've not seen one that actually worked. About the best you can do is apply a little JB Weld along a crack to try and prevent any loose crumbling.

Regards,

Dennis

Oh, OK, in my post, I was thinking of the 100A speaker. My 100A's case is pot metal, and has a few cracks that aren't a real problem other than cosmetic. I don't recall any problems inside.
Doug

:Mark,
:
:Not sure if you are referring to an RCA 100 or an RCA 100A.
:
:I have restored both and did a lot of research at the time to make sure I got the color and grillecloth right.
:
:Grillcloth for both is available from www.radiodaze.com OR from www.grillecloth.com. Both sites will tell you the cloth number that goes with either speaker.
:
:Directly below is an RCA100.
:Original color, which I managed to match here, was a LOW gloss black. Although the grillcloth retention ring looks to be a bronze color - that's just a photo effect - it's the same low gloss black.
:
:
:
:Next is a Canadian version of the 100A - same as the U.S. RCA100A speaker, just a different Canadian model number.
:The 100A's were a low gloss dark bronze color. The floral relief around the speaker grillcloth retainer ring is gold in color.
:
:
:
:Probably your biggest concern when restoring one of these speakers is the pot-metal magnet retainer assembly. Pot metal is notorious for cracking and crumbling over the years. Treat it gently and carefully....I haven't seen a positive way to repair pot metal castings yet. Although many methods have been suggested, I've not seen one that actually worked. About the best you can do is apply a little JB Weld along a crack to try and prevent any loose crumbling.
:
:Regards,
:
:Dennis
:

:Oh, OK, in my post, I was thinking of the 100A speaker. My 100A's case is pot metal, and has a few cracks that aren't a real problem other than cosmetic. I don't recall any problems inside.
:Doug

Yes Doug, you are correct - I should have been more clear in mu statement.

The 100a (the round speaker case) does not have the pot metal voice-coil retainer. It has a machined retainer as shown here:

On the other hand the Bronze colored 100 speaker has the troublesome pot metal voice-coil retainer as shown here:

Was this originally a low gloss black ...mine appears to be dark bronze brown and is origial
..Did this come in that color scheme?
:Mark,
:
:Not sure if you are referring to an RCA 100 or an RCA 100A.
:
:I have restored both and did a lot of research at the time to make sure I got the color and grillecloth right.
:
:Grillcloth for both is available from www.radiodaze.com OR from www.grillecloth.com. Both sites will tell you the cloth number that goes with either speaker.
:
:Directly below is an RCA100.
:Original color, which I managed to match here, was a LOW gloss black. Although the grillcloth retention ring looks to be a bronze color - that's just a photo effect - it's the same low gloss black.
:
:
:
:Next is a Canadian version of the 100A - same as the U.S. RCA100A speaker, just a different Canadian model number.
:The 100A's were a low gloss dark bronze color. The floral relief around the speaker grillcloth retainer ring is gold in color.
:
:
:
:Probably your biggest concern when restoring one of these speakers is the pot-metal magnet retainer assembly. Pot metal is notorious for cracking and crumbling over the years. Treat it gently and carefully....I haven't seen a positive way to repair pot metal castings yet. Although many methods have been suggested, I've not seen one that actually worked. About the best you can do is apply a little JB Weld along a crack to try and prevent any loose crumbling.
:
:Regards,
:
:Dennis
:

Mr. Berg,

As far as I was able to tell at the time that I worked on this speaker, it still had what was left of the original paint on it.......and, that was a low gloss black. It is possible I would think, that perhaps some were sold with the bronze color you speak of....but I cannot corroborate that.

Here's a couple of photos I took after disassembling the speaker, but before I stripped the old finish off in preparation for repainting.

I don't have a photo of it, but the I remember the original color as being in well-preserved state at the bottom of the speaker where the pedestal base attaches to the drum.

Hi Dennis.

Thanks for the photos.Is the speaker housing made of brass? It appears to be around the rim.

Do you have any suggestions on replacing the grill cloth. I've seen a few of these speakers where the grill cloth was replaced and most have the small folds nere the rim.

Thanks!

Mark

Mark,

The speaker grillcloth replacement will definitely test your patience and perseverence.

I would recommend cutting your cloth a couple of inches larger than the finished size. The reason for this is that when you drape the cloth over the concave steel mesh grille screen, then insert this into the steel rim, it gives you some material to grab when you tug and pull to try and get rid of the wrinkles at the edges. I was never able to get rid of them 100%.

When you install the mesh w/cloth into the steel rim it is retained with a ring of springy 3/16" dia. steel rod. Even though when you snap that steel retainer rod into place you can minimize wrinkles by tugging and pulling on the excess fabric that is sticking out from under the retainer. When you are satisfied that you have it is as smooth and taught as you can, you would then trim away the excess fabric flush with the retainer ring.

The original grille cloth has a strip of thin cardboard along the periphery sandwhiched between the fabric and the steel mesh.....I believe this is meant to minimize wrinkles around the edge also.

Here is a photo of the grillcloth assembly BEFORE I took it apart to repaint the rims and install new cloth.

Note that I ruined a piece of cloth by misting a spray adhesive onto the steel mesh in the hopes that I could just apply the cloth to it, smooth out any wrinkles with my fingers, then install the cloth and mesh into the steel rim......didn't work. It just made a mess of the cloth and it took me two evenings to clean the sticky spray from the mesh before I could start over again.

Thanks dennis for the information and great photo!!
I'll be tackling this project in a couple of weeks.
I was afraid it wouldn't be easy. No guts no glory!

What type of metal is the speaker housing??

Thanks!

Mark

:What type of metal is the speaker housing??

It's just rolled steel....welded together, IIRC, at the bottom where the pedestal base attaches.. Not a casting nor is it brass. Don't know what guage of steel it is but is very rigid. (The other speaker - the model 100A discussed earlier in this thread, has a case that is a casting.)

It did have rust on it but was able to get it off with a wire wheel..............same with the grille rims.

Everything was primered before painting.

:In case anyone wants to know:

Mine is a dark brown or bronze color. The nameplate on the unit is defitiely brass colored.

AND, I HAVE found a way to repair pot metal. I did the work on my Radiola 18 pully .

I used DUCO cement to hold together parts that were cracking apart and THEN I used two-part epoxy over this like a reinforcing caulk. So far, it works great. The DUCO flows well into the assy, since it is more liquid and the epoxy adds more strength.

:What type of metal is the speaker housing??
:
:It's just rolled steel....welded together, IIRC, at the bottom where the pedestal base attaches.. Not a casting nor is it brass. Don't know what guage of steel it is but is very rigid. (The other speaker - the model 100A discussed earlier in this thread, has a case that is a casting.)
:
:It did have rust on it but was able to get it off with a wire wheel..............same with the grille rims.
:
:Everything was primered before painting.
:
:

Hi Mark

The speaker housing is pot metal. Original color is a dark bronze. A little hard to match but you can add bronze power to brown paint.

Here is the real problem. I have not had good luck painting a 100A cabinet. The pot metal continues to outgas even after painting. I always end up with bubbles in the paint. Tried epoxy first as a sealer but that didn't prevent bubbles. Maybe your speaker will react differently?

Norm

:Good morning!
:I'm restoring a RCA 100 speaker.
:I'm wondering what was the original paint color?
:Some photos I've seen the color looks to be bronze.
:I don't want to paint it black.........BORING!
:
:Also, the grill cloth needs to be replaced.
:Anyone have drawings, photos or suggestions?
:
:Thanks!
:Mark