Picked up and restored a Grundig 2077

[drh4683]

Just so you know, I do step outside of the Zenith spectrum every now and then!

I was able to find one my favorite radios locally. My neighbor in Downers Grove Mr. Hagan had this same radio. As a kid, I was amazed with the way it looked and the sound. Seeing the glow of an EM84 for the first time was something I won't forget. I picked up this Grundig 2077 at a local estate sale in Cicero last weekend. It was in great shape, just needed a good cleaning of the knobs and dial glass. I took all of it apart to clean it right.

I also recapped it, which I did Sunday night. Spent about 6 hours on the radio from start to finish. Its a very tedious recap on these. Ive done a few before, Saba's and Grundigs. My only other Grundig table radio is a 1088. Ive always liked this model as it has the eye tube in the dial glass.

Fortunately, I was the first to service the radio. The interlock screw was still in place and all the adhesive strips were still on all the tubes.

The radio did work when I first found it but not too well. I knew it had alot of potential. All 16 ero caps got replaced immediately. Every one of them leaked off the charts. Ive never seen a good one! They are the worst caps ever. I used cornell dublier caps as they were small like the eros and fit neatly under the chassis. I did use 3 sprague orange drops as I needed some odd values that were not made by CD. Spragues are much more bulky and large, thats the only reason I didnt use them in this radio, as I wanted to maintain an original cap placement and lead dress. Im a stickler on lead dress and not clipping cap leads from the old cap and solder them to the new caps. I always install new caps like they would have been done at the factory. Its more time consuming, but it looks better and its more rewarding when the job is done.

The push button selectors were dirty, so that got cleaned up too, and everything dedusted of course.

You can see some pics of before and after of the chassis and the radio now that its cleaned up. Certianly a keeper for the collection and one to use anytime as well. Typical grundig sound too. Sounds like a live performance.

Anyone know what exact year this model is? Im thinking around 1959-60?

[radiotvnut]

Nice radio and restore job! I've got this exact model on my "to fix" list. Mine came from an older lady who was cleaning out her late husband's radio stuff.

[Sandy G]

I've got a 2066 that looks like the double 1st cousin to yr set. Yeah, 1959-60. I think mine is needing a spritz of De-Ox on the pushbutton "transmission", though. Other than that, excellent performer.

[anden]

Nice looking radio. How woulds you compare the sound quality of this Grundig to the 8 tube Zeniths with electrostatics - Y832, B835 or the later H845. They have a similar number of speakers of close to the same size.

I really like the Zeniths, and they seem to be the best sounding domestic sets.

I recently found a fantasic RCA model 67 QR 73 FM-M made by Graetz in about 1955. Four speakers, only a single EL84 output but it really puts out some nice sound. It seems that U.S. makers decided not to compete with the biggest German sets, so this was RCA's answer.....have Germany make it and put the RCA label on it.

But love those Zenith's, they put up a heck of a fight and can give many German sets a run for their money in terms of performance !