Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Antique Radio

Notices

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-13-2013, 03:14 PM
radiotvnut's Avatar
radiotvnut radiotvnut is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Meridian, MS
Posts: 6,025
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



Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-13-2013, 06:41 PM
truetone36's Avatar
truetone36 truetone36 is offline
electronics packrat
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Trumann, AR.
Posts: 942
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.
__________________
Dumont-First with the finest in television.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-13-2013, 06:47 PM
Kamakiri's Avatar
Kamakiri Kamakiri is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 5,109
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
__________________
"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-14-2013, 12:59 PM
Reece's Avatar
Reece Reece is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cleona, PA
Posts: 2,178
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.
__________________
Reece

Perfection is hard to reach with a screwdriver.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-14-2013, 03:36 PM
radiotvnut's Avatar
radiotvnut radiotvnut is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Meridian, MS
Posts: 6,025
I can tell you this much, I'm not even finished with the chassis and it's already a fairly hot performer.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #6  
Old 11-14-2013, 03:55 PM
Sandy G's Avatar
Sandy G Sandy G is offline
Spiteful Old Cuss
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rogersville, Tennessee
Posts: 9,571
Kinda sounds like its wormin' its way into your heart...Slowly but surely...Yeah, I know-DON'T call you "Shirley"... (grin)
__________________
Benevolent Despot
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-15-2013, 02:56 PM
Electronic M's Avatar
Electronic M Electronic M is offline
M is for Memory
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pewaukee/Delafield Wi
Posts: 15,445
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy G View Post
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...
__________________
Tom C.

Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off!
What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-15-2013, 09:32 PM
Sandy G's Avatar
Sandy G Sandy G is offline
Spiteful Old Cuss
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Rogersville, Tennessee
Posts: 9,571
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electronic M View Post
I just wanted to let you know good luck, and we're all counting on you...To make 'Airplane!' references...
"You EVER seen a Grown Man Naked ?!?" Didn't care for the "Airplanes !" when they came out, but they've kinda grown on me...
__________________
Benevolent Despot
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2013, 08:49 PM
DavGoodlin's Avatar
DavGoodlin DavGoodlin is offline
Motorola Minion
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: near Strasburg PA
Posts: 3,500
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.
__________________
"When resistors increase in value, they're worthless"
-Dave G
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-19-2013, 09:33 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavGoodlin View Post
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.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #11  
Old 11-19-2013, 08:53 PM
DavGoodlin's Avatar
DavGoodlin DavGoodlin is offline
Motorola Minion
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: near Strasburg PA
Posts: 3,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by dieseljeep View Post
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.
__________________
"When resistors increase in value, they're worthless"
-Dave G

Last edited by DavGoodlin; 11-19-2013 at 08:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:07 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.