I haven't posted in a while

Since it's rainy, and I can't do much here in the garage, I guess I'll update what's been going on. I recently had to strip the laquer I put on my RCA Victor 96-T-1 because I saw an imperfection. That went from a one day thing to a two day issue. I used some stripper that would remove any finish, but it was a little more caustic than my skin could bare. I had a few chemical burns beause of that stuff. It ended up needing sprayed twice to get everything back off. This time, I sanded a bit different that I normally would do. I started with 180 grit, then moved to 280, then some fine steel wool. That gave the wood a very satiny feel, and it made the wood look like it glowed. I'm probably going to sand that way from now on. Anyway, I then re-stained it, and re-sprayed the laquer. So far it's looking better than it ever did.

I wish it wasn't so humid. Iit's so bad here, that I can't even sand the cabinet right now. I finally figured out what model the wooden Zenith is I have. It is a 6-S-643AT. I'm getting excited about it now. Soon as I can start working, hopefully I can recap and re-wire it and start using it. Well, more later.

The Shop

Well, I made a change to my shop today. Previously, I was using my old computer desk, and a work bench I made for when I would work on my vehicles. Now i have a relatively large table to use, so now I have double the room. I don't have any pics just yet, but when I finish getting everything rearranged, I'll try to get a few pics to see.
Hopefully tomorow, I will finally get to calibrate my EICO oscilloscope. At the moment, it's decently accurate, but not well enough for me. Also, I'll be posting some more manuals on www.thevintageattic.net tomorow.

Needing more parts

For some reason I seem to be putting off ordering some wire and some parts for a friend. I at least need to order the wire so I can rewire the Stromberg Carlson. Hopefully tomorow, I can order the wire and parts, and get some more work done on the RCA Victor 96-T-1. I need to get the finish done on it soon, so I can replace the speaker. Anyway, hopefully more interesting things will be posted tomorow.

No clue what to name this

Well, I thought it would be good to start a blog for The Vintage Attic site. Since this is my first entry, I'll tell more in depth about what's going on with the site, from me just not having anything to work on, to how i fix or repair different radios. As of right now, I'm working on 3 radios. A RCA Victor 96-T-1, a Stromberg Carlson console, and an unknown Zenith table model. Actually, make that 4. I'm also trying to fix an Atwater Kent Model 44 and E2 speaker. Here's what's going on so far. The RCA Victor needs a speaker, a re-cap, and posibble re-wire, the Stromberg Carlson just needs a re-cap, and to be re-finished, the Zenith needs a re-cap, the AK 44 needs and audio transformer, and the AK E2 needs some repair work done on the cone.

I've been refinishing the 96-T-1 for about a week now. It still needs one final sanding and another coat of laquer. I would have had it done already if I had just used some filler to fill in the imperfections and low spots. The way I'm doing it though, I think let's it show it's character.All the veneer was in very good shape for its age. I plan on giving it as a gift to some very nice friends of the family, so when I replace the speaker, I will just use a permanent magnet speaker. The friends have a beautiful house in Banner Elk, NC that was built in the late 1800s, and I think this radio wouldn't look right anywhere else.

I just can't ever remember the model number of the Stromberg Carlson. It isn't anything special by any means. I bought it for the price, and because it has a tuning eye. It's the first into my collection. It's a plain jane AM/shortwave console, but when it's finished, should be a very beautiful radio. I got it before I got my Variac, so it was just plugged in and turned on. I'm glad it didn't catch fire or anything. It picks up several AM stations, but the shortwave band was VERY staticy.

The table model Zenith I really have no clue about at all. I posted on ARF to try to figure out what model it was with no luck. If anyone comes across this, its a wood, multiband radio with a 7 tube setup. Hopefully when I can get this one finished, it'll be my daily driver. Just the thought of listening to different shortwave stations just seems so much fun.
Besides a crack in the veneer in a curve(unfortunately, and now it's fixed), it was in pretty good shape for being rained on outside for who knows how long.

And finally, the Atwater Kent Model 44 and E2 speaker. The look of these radios makes me think of an old rusty toolbox :). I remember when I was younger seeing one of these at an antique shop. I had no clue what it was, but I was a tinkerer, so I wanted one. Finally, on the tenth this month, my birthday, my fiance bought me one. All the tubes are good, and the case is in very nice shape. A few chips in the paint, but nothing major. I powered it on today, first with no tubes, then the first second and so on. I finally got it powered on with all the tubes, and no smoke or fire. Awesome., less work. Then I put the rectifier in, and hooked up the speaker and slowly powered it up. Hmm. No sound at all, and I know the speaker still works.

Well, more later or maybe tomorow. I'm tired and getting ready for bed now. Later.