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.
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.
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