Westinghouse console radio model 512

-
Westinghouse Model 512 console radio with Seth Thomas Adamantine clock on top

 I am not really sure that this radio, made in 1936 by Westinghouse Canada, is a model  512 but the radio chassis certainly is a 512. There is no doubt about that. What I have learned from other projects is that the radio chassis number does not always correspond to the model number as the chassis may have been used in a number of sets at the time.

Otherwise the radio you see is original, the knobs, grill cloth radio chassis are all original. There is an inlay at the top sides of the radio which appears to original. If I stripped the radio I would have a hard time replicating the design. Bottom line, leave it alone.

Trim piece with a few nicks
So, do I strip it down? The advice that I have been given by expert re-finishers is that I look at repairing or reconditioning only those sections that need a little TLC, not the whole radio cabinet. The trim needs some work, that is clear. I think if I focused on the trim alone the improvements will be dramatic.

The dial face, made of plastic has faded badly and needs to be reconditioned in some way. A replacement would be nice but I think I would have a difficult time finding one. One person suggested the same stuff that folks use to revitalize automotive headlights. We'll see.

I think it is worth spending some time on this radio. It is a good design and represents the period perfectly.
Grill cloth
Front dial plate and knobs


Back of radio showing the chassis
Faux inlay design
Top of radio showing some staining



Chassis 512 showing tube layout

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seth Thomas Round Top Mantel Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Dome clock I wrote about this clock a few months back and at that time it was only running for a couple of days. I was pretty happy with my purchase since I had picked it up at a junk / antique store just about a 1/2 hours drive from here. It has, in fact been running wonderfully for several months now. It's a bit idiosyncratic in that despite being an 8-day clock it does not like being wound right down because the count wheel for the strike gets confused and strikes the hour on the half hour instead. Could be it needs some adjustment. Keeping it wound without it stopping has proven to work. It also ticks quite loudly but it is in our dining room and certainly not intrusive in that location. It has been oiled and seems to runs just fine. The walnut case is in excellent condition and a good rubbing with Murphy's Soap has virtually restored the cabinet. I make it a point not to redo the clock finish if it has minor nicks and scratches. I have an assortment of ...
Read more

Seth Thomas Gothic Beehive Mantle Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Beehive Mantle clock circa 1928 This is a Seth Thomas Gothic beehive mantle clock. The face has Henry Birks & Sons inscribed on it and obviously the company contracted the clock out to Seth Thomas at that time. The movement is an 89AL which was used in a variety of clock between 1922 and 1928 so I would put this clock at around the 1928 period. There is a little plaque inside the back access door giving the reseller location which in this case is Amherst, Nova Scotia. I has been running all day now and I am just waiting to see whether it gains or loses time. I will know in about 24 hours. The beat is good but the clock chimes the hours on the half hour which is obviously not supposed to happen. It means a minute hand pin adjustment once I know that the clock can run steadily. As is typical of these old clocks there was a lot of dirt and grime on the finish. Rather than take the dramatic step of refinishing the clock it is far easier to take a good cleaner, in my...
Read more

Photography Rant – Is It A Rant Or Just Some Observations?

-
Image
Panasonic G6 with 45-175mm zoom On my last holiday trips outside this country I was surprised to see so many people using cell phones to take photos. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, the world of technology is changing and changing very rapidly. I was also equally surprised to see so few people using cameras and most of what I saw were larger DSLRs (I am a mirrorless user myself). Some were even using their iPad which in and of itself is rather amusing to watch. Cell phones have virtually hosed the lower digital camera market and must be a blow to the bottom line of camera companies who saw much of their profit in these small entry level cameras go out the window in recent years. So, along comes the cell phone, the new Kodak Instamatic.  If you are into a phone contract as most people are you might as well take advantage of as many features of the phone as you can and that includes taking photos and immediately posting them for all the world to see. Cell phones have o...
Read more