Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
First impressions: the cabinet finish has
"alligatored" - I imagine it was nitrocellulose
lacquer. Also, there are some dings and gouges. Right
now, I'm leaning toward stripping the lacquer with
"Formby's", seeing how the stain looks, and possibly
just relacquering it. Although I bet I'll need to
touch up the stain as well. Might be simpler to just
strip it to bare wood, sand it somewhat, stain and
lacquer. Thoughts?
There are some decals on the front panel - "Firestone",
"sw", "bc", that sort of thing. If I apply serious
chemicals to the panel, those decals will be history,
and I doubt that new ones can be found. Anybody know
of a "Decals-to-order" source? Luckily, the front panel
is in pretty good condition - it was protected and over
shadowed by the top and sides. So I think I can get by
with just a good coat of wax for that part. Probably
preceeded by some wax stripper to get rid of any old
stuff.
Complication: the front panel, sides, bottom, and
top are really one part, all glued together. To apply
serious chemicals to the rest of it without trashing
the front panel ( and those decals ) I could try
masking it off with tape. But my experience with
masking tape is that unless you are VERY careful, stuff
creeps under it. So maybe I should try to disassemble
the cabinet????
A couple of the wires to the speaker look pretty
perished - new wires will be needed. For appearance,
and also safety ( since it's a dynamic speaker ). Are
there sources for old-fashioned cloth-covered wire?
Does anybody have favorite techniques for expunging
the accumulated gunge on top of the chassis, tubes,
transformers, etc? Think I'll stop at the grocery
store for some Q-tips.
I got up early this morning and Restored a Knob.
Actually, one of the art-deco channel pushbuttons.
Warm water and an old toothbrush :-).
- Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
: Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
: First impressions: the cabinet finish has
: "alligatored" - I imagine it was nitrocellulose
: lacquer. Also, there are some dings and gouges. Right
: now, I'm leaning toward stripping the lacquer with
: "Formby's", seeing how the stain looks, and possibly
: just relacquering it. Although I bet I'll need to
: touch up the stain as well. Might be simpler to just
: strip it to bare wood, sand it somewhat, stain and
: lacquer. Thoughts?
: There are some decals on the front panel - "Firestone",
: "sw", "bc", that sort of thing. If I apply serious
: chemicals to the panel, those decals will be history,
: and I doubt that new ones can be found. Anybody know
: of a "Decals-to-order" source? Luckily, the front panel
: is in pretty good condition - it was protected and over
: shadowed by the top and sides. So I think I can get by
: with just a good coat of wax for that part. Probably
: preceeded by some wax stripper to get rid of any old
: stuff.
: Complication: the front panel, sides, bottom, and
: top are really one part, all glued together. To apply
: serious chemicals to the rest of it without trashing
: the front panel ( and those decals ) I could try
: masking it off with tape. But my experience with
: masking tape is that unless you are VERY careful, stuff
: creeps under it. So maybe I should try to disassemble
: the cabinet????
: A couple of the wires to the speaker look pretty
: perished - new wires will be needed. For appearance,
: and also safety ( since it's a dynamic speaker ). Are
: there sources for old-fashioned cloth-covered wire?
: Does anybody have favorite techniques for expunging
: the accumulated gunge on top of the chassis, tubes,
: transformers, etc? Think I'll stop at the grocery
: store for some Q-tips.
: I got up early this morning and Restored a Knob.
: Actually, one of the art-deco channel pushbuttons.
: Warm water and an old toothbrush :-).
: - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
Hi Jerry
Now you are ready for fun. Yes you can buy old style cloth covered wire and decals are available but I don't know about the word Firestone. They do have Philco, Zenith, Atwater Kent and many more. I agree with you it's hard saving the original decals and even if you can there will be a mark between the old finish and the new. Try Antique Electronic Supply at tubesandmore.com for supplies. Their phone number is 602 820-5411. Contact Alan at alan@antiqueradios.com for information on refinishing the radio. He has great ideas and writeups for different finishes. If it's buildup on the chassis you want to remove, household cleaner like 401 will work. Don't get it on the dial as the ink will wipe off on some. Also be sure everything is dry before powering up the radio..
Good luck
Norm
: : Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: : Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: : restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: : on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
: : First impressions: the cabinet finish has
: : "alligatored" - I imagine it was nitrocellulose
: : lacquer. Also, there are some dings and gouges. Right
: : now, I'm leaning toward stripping the lacquer with
: : "Formby's", seeing how the stain looks, and possibly
: : just relacquering it. Although I bet I'll need to
: : touch up the stain as well. Might be simpler to just
: : strip it to bare wood, sand it somewhat, stain and
: : lacquer. Thoughts?
: : There are some decals on the front panel - "Firestone",
: : "sw", "bc", that sort of thing. If I apply serious
: : chemicals to the panel, those decals will be history,
: : and I doubt that new ones can be found. Anybody know
: : of a "Decals-to-order" source? Luckily, the front panel
: : is in pretty good condition - it was protected and over
: : shadowed by the top and sides. So I think I can get by
: : with just a good coat of wax for that part. Probably
: : preceeded by some wax stripper to get rid of any old
: : stuff.
: : Complication: the front panel, sides, bottom, and
: : top are really one part, all glued together. To apply
: : serious chemicals to the rest of it without trashing
: : the front panel ( and those decals ) I could try
: : masking it off with tape. But my experience with
: : masking tape is that unless you are VERY careful, stuff
: : creeps under it. So maybe I should try to disassemble
: : the cabinet????
: : A couple of the wires to the speaker look pretty
: : perished - new wires will be needed. For appearance,
: : and also safety ( since it's a dynamic speaker ). Are
: : there sources for old-fashioned cloth-covered wire?
: : Does anybody have favorite techniques for expunging
: : the accumulated gunge on top of the chassis, tubes,
: : transformers, etc? Think I'll stop at the grocery
: : store for some Q-tips.
: : I got up early this morning and Restored a Knob.
: : Actually, one of the art-deco channel pushbuttons.
: : Warm water and an old toothbrush :-).
: : - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
: Hi Jerry
: Now you are ready for fun. Yes you can buy old style cloth covered wire and decals are available but I don't know about the word Firestone. They do have Philco, Zenith, Atwater Kent and many more. I agree with you it's hard saving the original decals and even if you can there will be a mark between the old finish and the new. Try Antique Electronic Supply at tubesandmore.com for supplies. Their phone number is 602 820-5411. Contact Alan at alan@antiqueradios.com for information on refinishing the radio. He has great ideas and writeups for different finishes. If it's buildup on the chassis you want to remove, household cleaner like 401 will work. Don't get it on the dial as the ink will wipe off on some. Also be sure everything is dry before powering up the radio..
: Good luck
: Norm
: Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
*** Unfortunately, the schematic is not accurate. It
shows a three-section tuning capacitor. What's actually
there is a turret that pulls ferrite cores in and out
of four coils. :-(
The SAMS data includes a picture of the chassis.
There are similarities and differences. Same tube
lineup, transformer and filter cap in the same place.
But there's that 3-section tuning cap! Interesting,
the pictured chassis says
"STEWART-WARNER"
"Model 9001-E"
...Wonder if I could look up a Stewart-warner radio?
It does make sense that Firestone ( a tire manufacturer )
would have subcontracted the electronics to a radio
manufacturer. Didn't Stewart-Warner make car radios?
The audio works - the IF and second detector work.
Unfortunately, the local oscillator appears not to be
oscillating.
- Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
: : Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: : Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: : restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: : on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
: *** Unfortunately, the schematic is not accurate. It
: shows a three-section tuning capacitor. What's actually
: there is a turret that pulls ferrite cores in and out
: of four coils. :-(
: The SAMS data includes a picture of the chassis.
: There are similarities and differences. Same tube
: lineup, transformer and filter cap in the same place.
: But there's that 3-section tuning cap! Interesting,
: the pictured chassis says
: "STEWART-WARNER"
: "Model 9001-E"
: ...Wonder if I could look up a Stewart-warner radio?
: It does make sense that Firestone ( a tire manufacturer )
: would have subcontracted the electronics to a radio
: manufacturer. Didn't Stewart-Warner make car radios?
: The audio works - the IF and second detector work.
: Unfortunately, the local oscillator appears not to be
: oscillating.
: - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
Hi Jerry
Send me your address by email and I'll mail you some schematics from Rider Vol #15. I recently bought Rider on CD ROM's. There is even a page called "clarified schematics" showing the ganged front end. It looks like you only use 3 sections at a time, the forth being for short wave. I find no reference to Stewart Warner just Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.
Norm
i have recently been givin a firestone airchief radio. Of all the radios I have looked at online I have failed to find any information reguarding my new treasure. I don't know the make. But I can describe it. It's measurements are approx. 36"tall x 16"wide.
It has a muffler shaped antenna inside the radio, with the firestone logo. On the front where the dial is located it has push-button "station finder" with controls for volume, voice/bass/music, am/for/aut, and dil contrl. on the dial cover it includes the words "amateur", "aircraft", Berlin, geneva etc. It is in excellent condition. I don't know much about old radios and am looking for some info. Like I said, all the other airchief models I have looked at are table top models this is clearly a floor model radio. Please help me to locate some info on this .
: : Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: : Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: : restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: : on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
: *** Unfortunately, the schematic is not accurate. It
: shows a three-section tuning capacitor. What's actually
: there is a turret that pulls ferrite cores in and out
: of four coils. :-(
: The SAMS data includes a picture of the chassis.
: There are similarities and differences. Same tube
: lineup, transformer and filter cap in the same place.
: But there's that 3-section tuning cap! Interesting,
: the pictured chassis says
: "STEWART-WARNER"
: "Model 9001-E"
: ...Wonder if I could look up a Stewart-warner radio?
: It does make sense that Firestone ( a tire manufacturer )
: would have subcontracted the electronics to a radio
: manufacturer. Didn't Stewart-Warner make car radios?
: The audio works - the IF and second detector work.
: Unfortunately, the local oscillator appears not to be
: oscillating.
: - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )
: : : Well, it arrived yesterday. My "new" Firestone
: : : Airchief 4-A-22. I'm all primed and ready to start
: : : restoring it. I've got the complete Sams info packet
: : : on it, including schematic and alignment instructions.
: : *** Unfortunately, the schematic is not accurate. It
: : shows a three-section tuning capacitor. What's actually
: : there is a turret that pulls ferrite cores in and out
: : of four coils. :-(
: : The SAMS data includes a picture of the chassis.
: : There are similarities and differences. Same tube
: : lineup, transformer and filter cap in the same place.
: : But there's that 3-section tuning cap! Interesting,
: : the pictured chassis says
: : "STEWART-WARNER"
: : "Model 9001-E"
: : ...Wonder if I could look up a Stewart-warner radio?
: : It does make sense that Firestone ( a tire manufacturer )
: : would have subcontracted the electronics to a radio
: : manufacturer. Didn't Stewart-Warner make car radios?
: : The audio works - the IF and second detector work.
: : Unfortunately, the local oscillator appears not to be
: : oscillating.
: : - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry@tr2.com )