A client requested the restoration of a family heirloom for his father. This radio had been in their family since the 1930s and had been nonfunctional for around 60 years. It was in poor condition, with a worn and damaged cabinet and electronics that hadn't been tested in decades, making it a cozy home for many spiders.
I began by disassembling everything and thoroughly cleaning both the cabinet and components.
I replaced all capacitors, tested resistors, and swapped out any that were faulty. All tubes were checked and replaced if they were weak or dead, while the controls were cleaned and lubricated. The dial lamp and speaker were replaced, with the latter being an original duplicate, and the grille cloth was updated with a period-appropriate fabric. A new fabric-wrapped power cord was also added.
Instead of stripping and refinishing the cabinet, I opted for hand polishing and touch-ups, preserving the completely original finish that showcases over 80 years of beautiful patina!