Saved an "as-is" '58 GE P780A

[Thyratron]

The other day I took a chance on one of these early SS portables for fairly cheap, a somewhat common radio, but in my opinion a great looking one (I don't have any way to post photos, but many of you are probably familiar with this one). It's the one with the thick, chrome cast-metal front and the reddish-brown plastic back, a very heavy radio for its size, especially when loaded with the six D-cells. It didn't power up at all at first, but a quick disassembly and cleaning of the battery contacts brought light to the dial and life to the radio. It could probably use caps at some point (it has some distortion to the sound, but not unbearably so), and, maybe more importantly, cleaned up beautifully with the exception of a chipped tuning knob. It really has that late-'50s "automotive" look to it, and seems to be of much higher build quality than the typical SS radios of the time.

[radiotvnut]

That sounds like a radio I used to own. Mine was a very heavy, well built radio & was also a good performer. I think I sold it on feebay for a lousy $5 when I was strapped for cash.