Valve Radio Restoration: AWA Radiolette

Well finally I have finished the restoration of a 1935 AWA Radiolette valve radio. Mind you I have only done the cabinet, the replacement of capacitors and such will have to wait, but this part of the restoratrion took well over 3 months on and off.

When I bought this radio it was in really bad condition, there was water damage to the cabinet and bits where the veener was missing. The water stain was on both sides and the front towards the bottom as you can see from the before pics. Normally I would just strip the old varnish and recoat with a poly or shellac, but the water stain was all the way through the veneer which meant replacing it. The first problem that I had was that I could not just replace the bits that were missing and or stained because the new venner would not match the old, both in grain and colour. The second problem was that if I was to replace all the veener I had to delicatly take the radio apart which is exacly what I did as you can see from the second pic. This was not easy to say the least, hide glue does a good job of keeping it together.

I managed to find some OLD (at least 10-15 years, going from the packaging) QLD Red Ceder veneer and I have finished it with at least 15-20 coats of shellac. Most radios of the era were not finished with shellac but I like the way it draws out the colour of the veneer compared to a poly.

There will be more restorations to come in the future but for now I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I did restoring it.

Beautiful Job Castaway. It looks great. :2tsup:

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

Beautiful Job Castaway. It looks great. :2tsup:

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Thanks NCArcher.

Thought I'd throw these up. This is my grandfathers STC console radio this is what got me started on collecting vintage radios. I restored this for my mother so she could listen to it again as it had been a long time between broadcasts. It has a great sound and I like the way it looks. Let me know what you think.

Excellent!

Makes me want to rush out and find an old radio.

Excellent finish on the STC gram :2tsup: It would be very intresting reading in how you restored the radio and cabinet to such a fine finish.

remember them monsters. used to pull them apart for the bits to build other radios etc.

Had quite bitey power supplies in those days (350 to 400v DC)

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Originally Posted by Wood en I

Excellent finish on the STC gram :2tsup: It would be very intresting reading in how you restored the radio and cabinet to such a fine finish.

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Thanks Wood en I, as with most radios of this era the varnish had gone off and turned yellow/brownish so it was a matter of stripping the old varnish off and then applying about 3-5 coats of a satin finish, sounds easy but it's the time it takes that is the biggest thing. there were a few black highlights here and there on the radio which were done in a matt then hit with the satin as well to achieve the same sheen. I then polished the bakelite station surround and knobs and placed them back on the radio. As you can see from the photos there is a big crack in the station dial I left it there because as far as I know its been there a long time. Sentimental stuff.
As for the restoration of the chassis, at the time I had no idea on that side of things so I found a guy who did and him do it. Since then, which was the end of last year, I have joind the local Radio Society and have started learning the tech stuff. Zap zap.

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Originally Posted by Avery

Excellent!

Makes me want to rush out and find an old radio.

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Thanks Avery, yeah the bug bit me after I had done my grandfathers STC console.

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Originally Posted by DavidG

remember them monsters. used to pull them apart for the bits to build other radios etc.

Had quite bitey power supplies in those days (350 to 400v DC)

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David, there are some that do make better spares that actual restoration but I try not to butcher too many radios as once there gone thats it they aint gunna make another, I only have a few big consoles like the STC too big to collect alot.

Castaway Just a quick note. If you intead to work on any radio chassis never do so without using a earth leakage safety switch as some of the older radios are AC DC sets they are lethal as they can be a LIVE chassis. A real trap for the unwary.

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Originally Posted by Wood en I

Castaway Just a quick note. If you intead to work on any radio chassis never do so without using a earth leakage safety switch as some of the older radios are AC DC sets they are lethal as they can be a LIVE chassis. A real trap for the unwary.

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Yeah I have heard, and am very vigilant when it comes to working with these sets, ya dont muck around with the 'silent killer'. The guys at our local radio society club have said its more common to have a live chassis when someone has tinkered with a battery set and converted it to AC/DC by chucking in a transformer and have solderd something onto something they shouldnt have in, the process making the chassis live. It's great learning from theses fellows as we have former radio techs, ex army communication technicians and so on. Lots of knowledge and experience. They have seen it all.

Castaway Good to hear that you are aware of the dangers and have a group that can advise you.

I have restored a number of bakelite and early plastic case radios still have quite a few to go. I have also recently acquired a 1950s wooden case Philips model 125 radio is
working condition but I will go over it again and the cabinet needs restoring, hence the reason I was so intrested in the nice work you had done on your radios.

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Originally Posted by Wood en I

Castaway Good to hear that you are aware of the dangers and have a group that can advise you.

I have restored a number of bakelite and early plastic case radios still have quite a few to go. I have also recently acquired a 1950s wooden case Philips model 125 radio is
working condition but I will go over it again and the cabinet needs restoring, hence the reason I was so intrested in the nice work you had done on your radios.

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So much to learn but I think I have found a good group of fellas to learn from. Can you post a pic of the Phillips 125. Its a great hobby, but it does'nt take long for it to become an obsession.

The photos of the Philips model 125 look better than the radio actually is. The top coat needs to be removed and all the black finish needs to be redone also. I will need to also make a transfer for the radio control legends and I am thinking of using a product called "waterslide". You create the layout and corel or paint works and print it onto the product and spray a light coat of acrylic clear and then place it in a bowl of water for a minute and then slip it on.

Yes I have seen that water slide transfer stuff. Very easy to use. I have a similar phillps set but different dial. Have not started it yet, one day.

I forgot to answer your reply - it does'nt take long for it to become an obsession. In my case that was 3 restorations now they follow me home. Another one today a HMV late 50s cabinet is junk but chassis is in good cond.

Your philips - could you tell me what is the model no ? I have not seen this one before. The cabinet is very similar to the 125. It also has the same colour style and it should come up very nice.
I wonder whether it has the same chassis but just a different dial drive. Incindentally
what did you finish the STC with - water based poly ? also the black.