Wreck of a '40's Sparton console
 

I picked this wreck of a Sparton up for $10 at the flea market and as you can see the cabinet is in sad shape. The chassis, however, looks decent and I actually have it playing. I had to replace the audio output transformer (open primary), power cord, shorted filter cap, and the rectifier tube. After that, it came to life; but, still needs other work in order to perform it's best. Still, my current results are not bad for something that was left to rot in the barn decades ago.

The video I posted will give better details as far as the cabinet; but, I'm not sure this cabinet is worth trying to restore. I'm sure it could be done; but, I don't have the proper equipment and it would probably cost too much to hire someone to fix it.

I don't know the model of this set; but, the chassis looks decent with it's TRF stage, flywheel tuning, and PP (6F6?, the numbers are worn off the tubes) output stage.

Even if I scrap the cabinet, it's still fun bringing this old stuff back to life that someone left for dead years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIskIYlIPIk

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps0fe4312a.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps781bd566.jpg

That cabinet may look bad, but I've repaired worse. That delaminating wood can be glued back down and then all you'd have to do is replace some veneer.

My Victor Orthophonic phonograph looked almost like that when I got it. Not quite that bad on the outside veneer, actually it looks really good from the outside, but the inside layers of wood are shot. I clamped and glued it the best I could, and it's sturdy, but you wouldn't want to move it around a lot because while the glue is holding, the rest of the wood is like balsa.

I don't use it as much as my XI, right now until I can find a cabinet, the cat's bed sits on top of it next to my desk, and that's where she sleeps all day :)

That's a keeper. I agree: remove the veneer and fix the cabinet, then re-veneer. That would be a great project. Fix the chassis this winter and the cabinet in the summer for the warm weather you need for wood working.

I can tell you this much, I'm not even finished with the chassis and it's already a fairly hot performer.

Kinda sounds like its wormin' its way into your heart...Slowly but surely...Yeah, I know-DON'T call you "Shirley"... (grin)

I just wanted to let you know good luck, and we're all counting on you...To make 'Airplane!' references...:D

"You EVER seen a Grown Man Naked ?!?" Didn't care for the "Airplanes !" when they came out, but they've kinda grown on me...

Sparton as a hot performer, now you got me thinkin' about re-prioritizin' my projects since I got two 1946 Sparton floor models in the last few months....both bargains and in similar condition.

Radio-phono consoles are fine, if you are only going to collect one.
Most collectors don't like them, as they take up too much room. If that thing was in perfect condition, it would be worth restoring. I have a real nice, higher end, RCA V301 console, that I bought reasonable, because of the limited interest. It came from the original owner and kept very well.

The Sparton 7-36 has a phono (webcor) and the other doesn't 7AM46, both similar to Philcos but with 6V6 PP outputs. Knobs missing, speakers good.
I understand the space issue and plan to get both functional and find homes.