Admiral bakelite console restoration

[Phil Nelson]

Having worked in magazine publishing, I can testify that you often write things that don't appear in print until months later. Besides the natural delays in getting things printed & distributed, it was common for an article or feature to get bumped to a later issue because they ran out of room, etc.

These little "what's new" bits are press releases from manufacturers, reprinted by the magazines. At our rag, technical folks like me were busy doing real writing. Bits like this would have been picked out and edited lightly (if at all) by a marketing drone or editor -- a glorified secretary, in some cases -- who might have little knowledge or interest in the subject matter.

Phil Nelson

[M3-SRT8]

Seven Guys standing on an Admiral bakelite cabinet, and here I am treating them with kid gloves when handling them, afraid they'll crack when I lift them.

Mine seem to be in great condition, plastic-wise. I wonder how well bakelite ages under various conditions?

[M3-SRT8]

"....origionally built for the Russian Government."

Makes sense, for two reasons:

One, the sheer size of the thing.

Two, the Commies were big into plastic resin/phenol-formaldehyde impregnated materials, particularly in aviation, beginning in the 30's.

One wonders what they were going to do with the beast, post-war. It's my guess they weren't building consumer goods with it...

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by M3-SRT8

Seven Guys standing on an Admiral bakelite cabinet, and here I am treating them with kid gloves when handling them, afraid they'll crack when I lift them.

They may have had to take that picture a few times until they got one that didn't break...