Here's my latest Zenith restoration.

It's a 1940 Zenith model 6D-510 that I bought on Ebay three years ago for $34.00 including shipping..lol

This is the set I was talking about in my post the other day about having mis-wired the grid bias resistor on the output tube creating garbled audio. It is a wonderful performer now however!

I took particular care to dress all the new components and wiring under the chassis.

This particular metal chassis was not in very bad shape as far as rust goes but it did require some serious cleaning as it was rather "gunky".

After removing the speaker and tuning condenser.. I used some GoJo brand hand-cleaner w/pumice on the chassis top and bottom....and scrubbed it all around w/a 1/2 inch wide long-handled, stiff short-hair artist's brush so as to be able to easily get into all the tight corners and crevices.

Then I also used a green 3m scrubbing pad. Afterward I dunked the tuning condenser and the entire chassis in hot soapy dishwater in the kitchen sink and rinsed it off with the sink hose.

It came out gleaming. Arterward I then placed it in the warm but shut-off oven overnight.

Back on the bench the next day, I reinstalled the tuning condenser with all new rubber grommets and then re-strung the dial string too.

Then off to the garage where I sprayed the entire chassis with clear gloss lacquer both top and bottom to seal it from rust. Then I sprayed the loop antenna too with flat black paint.

I'm very satisfied the chassis now, as it is at least as good as NEW.. maybe even a little better...lol

As far as the choice of paint on the cabinet I decided to go with clear-coated complimenting shades of purple throughout.

The main body was done in bold-metallic-purple and the front face and grille-work was done using a shimmering icy-metallic-violet.

The top handle and tuning knobs as well as the frame around the dial face were all done in the darker purple for a balance of contrasts.

I had to re-polish the dial-lens with Brasso to bring it back to life... I really cleaned it up bright.. yet it still retains a bit of an antique hue.

The dial face itself only needed washing.

I think the end result is really outstanding and speaks for itself.

How do you guys feel about it?

Excellent attention to detail per usual - however - I'm not a big fan of purple (or shades thereof). I much prefer more subdued color schemes like those used on the Traveler or Bendix - which were classy without being obnoxious. The purple is a bit "out there" for the average man - but I'm sure someone will love it to death and pay a handsome sum to own it. I can well see it resting comfortable on a shelf in the abode of the artist formerly known as "Prince"....lol.

Heck that aint purple, its Plum Crazy.
Nice work Peter, I do like your two and three tone schemes some what more than this, but its still a looker.

Why did you NOT restore it back to it original color???....This is just stupid!!! Not to mention all the bragging....ICK!!!! DO we really need to know about every radio you restore and redo in your own paint scheme? Also STOP promoting this crap!!!..Just a slick way at trying to sell items....

:Here's my latest Zenith restoration.
:
:It's a 1940 Zenith model 6D-510 that I bought on Ebay three years ago for $34.00 including shipping..lol
:
:This is the set I was talking about in my post the other day about having mis-wired the grid bias resistor on the output tube creating garbled audio. It is a wonderful performer now however!
:
:I took particular care to dress all the new components and wiring under the chassis.
:
:This particular metal chassis was not in very bad shape as far as rust goes but it did require some serious cleaning as it was rather "gunky".
:
:After removing the speaker and tuning condenser.. I used some GoJo brand hand-cleaner w/pumice on the chassis top and bottom....and scrubbed it all around w/a 1/2 inch wide long-handled, stiff short-hair artist's brush so as to be able to easily get into all the tight corners and crevices.
:
:Then I also used a green 3m scrubbing pad. Afterward I dunked the tuning condenser and the entire chassis in hot soapy dishwater in the kitchen sink and rinsed it off with the sink hose.
:
:It came out gleaming. Arterward I then placed it in the warm but shut-off oven overnight.
:
:Back on the bench the next day, I reinstalled the tuning condenser with all new rubber grommets and then re-strung the dial string too.
:
:Then off to the garage where I sprayed the entire chassis with clear gloss lacquer both top and bottom to seal it from rust. Then I sprayed the loop antenna too with flat black paint.
:
:I'm very satisfied the chassis now, as it is at least as good as NEW.. maybe even a little better...lol
:
:As far as the choice of paint on the cabinet I decided to go with clear-coated complimenting shades of purple throughout.
:
:The main body was done in bold-metallic-purple and the front face and grille-work was done using a shimmering icy-metallic-violet.
:
:The top handle and tuning knobs as well as the frame around the dial face were all done in the darker purple for a balance of contrasts.
:
:I had to re-polish the dial-lens with Brasso to bring it back to life... I really cleaned it up bright.. yet it still retains a bit of an antique hue.
:
:The dial face itself only needed washing.
:
:I think the end result is really outstanding and speaks for itself.
:
:How do you guys feel about it?
:
:

Interesting. It looks classic, but also modern, like you could buy the radio at a store today. The paint sure is smooth. Regarding anyone's complaints on the paint scheme, remember that paint can always be changed.

Did you install a new twist-lock electrolytic or is the old one still working strong? Zenith electrolytics tend to be good often enough. Must have been good design. I don't see any modern electrolytics under the chassis, so I assume that the twist-lock is in use.

T.

:Interesting. It looks classic, but also modern, like you could buy the radio at a store today. The paint sure is smooth. Regarding anyone's complaints on the paint scheme, remember that paint can always be changed.
:
:Did you install a new twist-lock electrolytic or is the old one still working strong? Zenith electrolytics tend to be good often enough. Must have been good design. I don't see any modern electrolytics under the chassis, so I assume that the twist-lock is in use.
:
:T.
:
Hi Thom;
No that's the old non-used electrolytic can.. the black paper cover came off and that's what's underneath.

Maybe it's not for sale. I like what he does to a radio that would be just a run of the mill same old same old.
It is now a one of a kind. Looks good to me. I would not mind owning it myself. It's not like taking a classic Atwater Kent and making it cute. It's just a plain old radio, that now is better looking than it ever was before. Besides, it could always be put back to its original color if you want it that way. No harm done.

If you don't like the colors, why didn't you remove the picture from your rant? To Peter: Don't stop posting your work. I really like to see some of the combinations you came up with. When I was a kid (I'm 43 last I checked, and I prefer not to check) I used to get radios like this and others at flea markets, yard sales, and of course on my way to school at the curb. Never had the inkling to keep many, but those dark brown bakelite, or ivory painted ones really did nothing for me. But with a little imagination, and some infusion of color, wow. Looks like plum crazy (Dodge), and evening orchid (Chevrolet). Two of my favorite colors. If the radio ends up for sale like the others you completed recently, I hope you cover your costs, and that the buyer gets a piece of "modern art" that is still functional for every day use.

You have actually inspired me to undertake a project for my Emerson 550 that I got some thirty years ago. The wood case is in rough shape but not too far gone. I was going to fix it up, and put a coat of black on her, but now I may look into a two or three tone motif. Either way, if I ever want to do a proper restore, it is not too difficult.

Thanks for these gems, and hopefully you will post many more. Anthony

Thanks Anthony:

Remember that the high quality painting is done by my new-friend and collaborator Ken, who has been an auto paint artist for years mostly doing motorcycles.
So his color pallette has lots of typical automobile colors in it.

I can take no credit for his great work..
We discuss color-schemes and moods .. and I give him my ideas and he adds his own.. so all the great quality in painting is his ,,,with some of my ideas and then ALL the chassis repairs and photography is mine.

:Why did you NOT restore it back to it original color

The guy fixed his radio the way he wanted to. You can fix yours like you want to. Some like his colors, some don't. Some like to try to make them look like they did new. He has a different approach. Either way the guy does some really nice work, the radios don't end up in a landfill, and a paint job is reversible. When it comes to the "advertising" part, that's up to the site owner to decide.

:Here's my latest Zenith restoration.
:
:It's a 1940 Zenith model 6D-510 that I bought on Ebay three years ago for $34.00 including shipping..lol
:
:This is the set I was talking about in my post the other day about having mis-wired the grid bias resistor on the output tube creating garbled audio. It is a wonderful performer now however!
:
:I took particular care to dress all the new components and wiring under the chassis.
:
:This particular metal chassis was not in very bad shape as far as rust goes but it did require some serious cleaning as it was rather "gunky".
:
:After removing the speaker and tuning condenser.. I used some GoJo brand hand-cleaner w/pumice on the chassis top and bottom....and scrubbed it all around w/a 1/2 inch wide long-handled, stiff short-hair artist's brush so as to be able to easily get into all the tight corners and crevices.
:
:Then I also used a green 3m scrubbing pad. Afterward I dunked the tuning condenser and the entire chassis in hot soapy dishwater in the kitchen sink and rinsed it off with the sink hose.
:
:It came out gleaming. Arterward I then placed it in the warm but shut-off oven overnight.
:
:Back on the bench the next day, I reinstalled the tuning condenser with all new rubber grommets and then re-strung the dial string too.
:
:Then off to the garage where I sprayed the entire chassis with clear gloss lacquer both top and bottom to seal it from rust. Then I sprayed the loop antenna too with flat black paint.
:
:I'm very satisfied the chassis now, as it is at least as good as NEW.. maybe even a little better...lol
:
:As far as the choice of paint on the cabinet I decided to go with clear-coated complimenting shades of purple throughout.
:
:The main body was done in bold-metallic-purple and the front face and grille-work was done using a shimmering icy-metallic-violet.
:
:The top handle and tuning knobs as well as the frame around the dial face were all done in the darker purple for a balance of contrasts.
:
:I had to re-polish the dial-lens with Brasso to bring it back to life... I really cleaned it up bright.. yet it still retains a bit of an antique hue.
:
:The dial face itself only needed washing.
:
:I think the end result is really outstanding and speaks for itself.
:
:How do you guys feel about it?
:
:
:
:
: Hi! Nice job!!! When you say you used Brasso to polish up the dial lense, it leaves me confused.There are many Brasso products out there.Which one do you use on dial lenses.Thanks for any info. Bob Masse
:
:

:: Hi! Nice job!!! When you say you used Brasso to polish up the dial lense, it leaves me confused.There are many Brasso products out there.Which one do you use on dial lenses.Thanks for any info. Bob Masse
::
::
Hi Bob:
Thanks for the nice compliments.
It's the metal polish for use on Brass.

Sometimes I'll fist soak the lens in 50/50 vinegar and water for several hours or overnight to help get the yellow out some.. then Brasso.. then also a wax or polish even.

::: Hi! Nice job!!! When you say you used Brasso to polish up the dial lense, it leaves me confused.There are many Brasso products out there.Which one do you use on dial lenses.Thanks for any info. Bob Masse
:::
:::
:Hi Bob:
:Thanks for the nice compliments.
:It's the metal polish for use on Brass.
:
;
;Peter, Thanks for info,much appreciated! Bob Masse
:
:
:Sometimes I'll fist soak the lens in 50/50 vinegar and water for several hours or overnight to help get the yellow out some.. then Brasso.. then also a wax or polish even.