Radiola/Electrola RE-57 advice
 

Kind people,
I'm picking up a Radiola/Electrola RE-57 this weekend. I've restored 40's and 50's radios, tv's, and amps. I've restored early mechanical acoustical machines. But I've never done anything from 1931 before, and I know almost nothing about the electrola pickups. Looks like it maybe contains a big horseshoe magnet with a moving coil?

Anyway, I would be deeply appreciative of any advice/experience you might want to share with me about recapping/restoring this thing. And if anyone knows where I can get schematics/manuals for both the radio and the phono amplifier, please let me know. I'll post some photos after I pick it up Saturday.

Let me thank you in advance.
Paul

You can download the radio schematic here.

I've been slowly restoring a Radiola 82 which has a very similar power supply / audio amp chassis. All the capacitors are tar filled metal cans and are quite likely still good. Even though my radio was operational, I did choose to restuff them. It's a messy job, but I figure it'll be good for another 80 years now :) You can read about it here.

I've never worked on an RE-57, but I do have a chassis for an RE-73. The mechanical tuning mechanism is a real work of art!

I don't have a cabinet for it and plan on parting it out. So if you end up needing any replacement parts, let me know.

Good luck,
Bob

Thanks for the pointer to the schematic, Bob, and especially for the pointer to your restoration of the WR-8. What a nifty looking receiver. Can't wait to pick my Electrola up tomorrow and open it up.
Paul