On a whim (I'm an electrical engineer with a liking for old equipment), I picked up a Crosley 18AN at a thrift store last week. I've spent the last couple of days scouring the internet learning about rebuilding old sets and plan to make this my first.

Some notes on the unit: The wooden case is in good shape, though missing 2 knobs. The back panel is missing. The speaker cone has 2 large tears in it. The unit currently works, though poorly (I hadn't yet found the "don't power it up" advice before I did so).

I have seen several sites detailing the steps involved in other restorations and have located the schematics for the unit.

Can anyone offer advice on this project? First of all, how much effort is this model worth? I think it'd be fun to replace all the wiring and components and have it all shiny new, though I don't want to get myself in too deep.

Should I leave the old capacitors in to hide the new ones, or should I just clip them out?

The label on the bottom is peeling off. What is the best way to reattach? Clear-drying glue? A coat of varnish?

Finally, the speaker has 2 large tears in it. I've seen mentions of gluing tears in the cones. Should I attempt this? I don't know if I want to go for the $50 reconing for this.

Some images:

front:
http://imgur.com/vDDNv

label:
http://imgur.com/2JKmO

Thanks for any advice you can offer

Mike

Sorry. I didn't realize I could embed images.

The front of the unit

The label on the bottom

That's a fine radio to start off with. Replace all the old paper capacitors, don't leave to old ones in. If the speaker is still working, you can just patch it with paper. Rubber cement is okay. For that plastic dial cover, you could use wadding polish called " Nevr-Dull " For replacement knobs there are reproduction ones. I think the GE models used about the same type looking ones. For the bottom label, clear lacquer is fine. The matter of " worth " that only means what it's worth to you. Sometimes " value " is the self satisfaction restoring an old radio. Here is a picture of what it should look like. Good luck, hope you have some fun with this hobby.

http://radioatticarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=7222

Mike Q, welcome. For each area you mentioned (re-cap, repair speaker, suffing old new caps in old, etc.) there is information on the subject. Have you been to Antique Radio site? They have archived some of this info by subject matter. Barring a "rarely found" old radio the re-builts do not bring in much. Market value is subjective to buyers desire. Good luck with the set and welcome aboard. PL

:That's a fine radio to start off with. Replace all the old paper capacitors, don't leave to old ones in. If the speaker is still working, you can just patch it with paper. Rubber cement is okay. For that plastic dial cover, you could use wadding polish called " Nevr-Dull " For replacement knobs there are reproduction ones. I think the GE models used about the same type looking ones. For the bottom label, clear lacquer is fine. The matter of " worth " that only means what it's worth to you. Sometimes " value " is the self satisfaction restoring an old radio. Here is a picture of what it should look like. Good luck, hope you have some fun with this hobby.
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:http://radioatticarchives.com/radio.htm?radio=7222
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