For those of you here who enjoy seeing restoration results, here's a nice Emerson ED-354 restore project I just completed.

I finally got around to completing this beautiful Emerson ED354.

I bought this radio back in Oct of 2007 on Ebay as a typical old dirty attic relic.

I can't even remember now why I put it on the shelf for so long .. maybe I was putting off doing the cabinet work.

Anyway I gave it the typical complete restore process. I recapped and re-aligned it and then completely cleaned and buffed up the metal chassis to try to bring it back to a nice good looking one, as I do on all the radios I restore.. That was back in 2007.

Then a few months ago I made a new dial lens and completely restored the Ingraham cabinet to look much as it might have when new. Not too shiny and not dull.

It sat around here in a pile of other radios waiting to be reassembled and if it weren't for the fact that I recently saw my cat step on the speaker and it crumbled to dust... it may have sat even longer...lol

So I got it out of the pile and re-coned the speaker yesterday and finally got it all re-assembled today.

So after some slow-going loving care and a couple years on and off the back shelf, it finally emerges again as a nice viable old beauty.

This radio was quite well put together by Emerson. I think Emerson was very conservative in it's design.

For a five-tube radio it is a very nice performer. The components are big and solid too. The power transformer doesn't ever seem to even really get hot.

This is a really solid cabinet as well! Seems all Ingraham cabinets are that way I've noticed. This is a relatively big one too at 16"x10"x8"

The audio output is also very nice from the large (now re-coned ) six-inch speaker and that nice 6v6 output stage helps. It is also especially quiet in between stations while tuning.

:For those of you here who enjoy seeing restoration results, here's a nice Emerson ED-354 restore project I just completed.
:
:I finally got around to completing this beautiful Emerson ED354.
:
:I bought this radio back in Oct of 2007 on Ebay as a typical old dirty attic relic.
:
:I can't even remember now why I put it on the shelf for so long .. maybe I was putting off doing the cabinet work.
:
:Anyway I gave it the typical complete restore process. I recapped and re-aligned it and then completely cleaned and buffed up the metal chassis to try to bring it back to a nice good looking one, as I do on all the radios I restore.. That was back in 2007.
:
:Then a few months ago I made a new dial lens and completely restored the Ingraham cabinet to look much as it might have when new. Not too shiny and not dull.
:
:It sat around here in a pile of other radios waiting to be reassembled and if it weren't for the fact that I recently saw my cat step on the speaker and it crumbled to dust... it may have sat even longer...lol
:
:So I got it out of the pile and re-coned the speaker yesterday and finally got it all re-assembled today.
:
:So after some slow-going loving care and a couple years on and off the back shelf, it finally emerges again as a nice viable old beauty.
:
:This radio was quite well put together by Emerson. I think Emerson was very conservative in it's design.
:
:For a five-tube radio it is a very nice performer. The components are big and solid too. The power transformer doesn't ever seem to even really get hot.
:
:This is a really solid cabinet as well! Seems all Ingraham cabinets are that way I've noticed. This is a relatively big one too at 16"x10"x8"
:
:The audio output is also very nice from the large (now re-coned ) six-inch speaker and that nice 6v6 output stage helps. It is also especially quiet in between stations while tuning.
:
:
:
Very nice Peter. The wood looks beautiful now!
Johnnysan-

Hi Peter,

Didn't know you did transformer sets. Glad to see you branching out.

Just kidding. Well done!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Bill Grimm

:Hi Peter,
:
: Didn't know you did transformer sets. Glad to see you branching out.
:
: Just kidding. Well done!
:
: Happy Thanksgiving.
:
:Bill Grimm
:
Thanks Bill... yeah I drift from one type to another from time to time.
I have 15 transformer wooden mantel-type sets I finished right here on the shelf next to me as we speak.. here in my office where there's no more room and then I have at least another 20 or so all wrapped up and finished out in the garage.
Most of the painted Baklelite radios, except for one or two that I've done, have been sold to the collectors out there.

::Hi Peter,
::Great job, Would love to see some pics of the Silvertone.
::
:I do have one tombstone though here that I just restored ...a Silvertone model 1962.
:
:
:
:

:::Hi Peter,
:::Great job, Would love to see some pics of the Silvertone.
:::
::I do have one tombstone though here that I just restored ...a Silvertone model 1962.
Thank you.
I posted the complete photo set of the restored Silvertone here last month or so.

Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.nostalgiaair.org/forums/messages/012/m0080012.htm

You guys never cease to amaze me. I'd kill to be able to learn this. Wish they taught Antique Radio repair or there was a course available, I'd jump at it. Keep up the fine work.

David Johnson has a number of books explaining radio restoration. I'm sure that there are other great books, too. You can get them from www.tubesandmore.com or www.radiodaze.com.

Radio restoration isn't too complicated. Cabinets take patience and imagination, and the electronics part is very straight forward.

T.

:You guys never cease to amaze me. I'd kill to be able to learn this. Wish they taught Antique Radio repair or there was a course available, I'd jump at it. Keep up the fine work.
:
Y'know.. you can learn a bunch right here on this forum.

There are lots of books and videos on youtube too.

But just asking more and more questions here and practicing on a simple AC/DC set will get you started.

If you do a little poking around you may find a radio club in your area. You may ask and try to find someone online in these forums to that lives near by to you and they can help guide and teach you.

I know that works because I've met people from this forum who live in my general area and come here to work together with me on radios.

Thanks guys, I'm going to give it my best shot!