[NJARC] Antique Radio Project

[John Dilks K2TQN]

Dear Matt,

You are talking sacrilege here.  We love old radios and hate to see 
them destroyed.  And we make fun of those that do that.

In the past we all have seen otherwise beautiful radios butchered up 
and made into bars, bookcases, fish aquariums and other ugly things, 
and it always hurts.

On the other hand, I too love new technology and think that new 
technology has it's place.

Recently I had a beautiful 36" RCA wood cabinet TV set for 10 years, 
along with a matching cabinet that held all my stereo gear. That 
combo sat nicely between my big Zenith and smaller FADA console 
radios.  All that wood just looked great together.  It always 
impressed the neighbors when they visited.

And as the 36" RCA neared 10 years of age, the picture started to 
fade, and then would flicker, and then one day - poof! - and it was 
gone. It was a sad day for me.  I tried to find another wood cabinet 
TV, but they had stopped making them.  I looked at available 
entertainment cabinets that held new TVs, and was disgusted with 
reasonably priced models. I tried to find a TV that could be placed 
into the old RCA cabinet, size wise, and found none.

So I was forced to buy a brand new, silvery plastic, 40", one-tube, 
Sony TV.  (It was the biggest tube TV made that year.)  I continued 
to look for a nice wooden cabinet to put it in and found none.  I 
finally caved in and bought the matching silvery plastic stand with 
glass shelves that only held 1/2 of my stereo equipment.  All the 
while I couldn't throw out my old RCA which had been pushed into a 
corner along with the matching stereo cabinet.

Finally as Christmas approached, and no place to put up the tree, the 
faithful until the end RCA was placed out on the side of the road in 
front of my home along with the matching stereo cabinet.  A small 
note was attached that said, "TV works OK, except it needs a new 
picture tube."  It was gone in less than an hour.

My hope is, that it found a loving home and someone who would take 
the chance and replace the picture tube and make it work again, and 
not build a bar in it.

And now my living room has the silvery plastic, one tube, 40" Sony TV 
at one end and my wooden radios along either side wall.  It's not so 
bad, especially when I watch it work. The big bright screen does a 
great job showing the nice wooden antiques on the PBS Antiques Road Show.

So why an I telling you all of this?

As a TCNJ wood working - new technology major, I'm hoping you will 
find a way to do your technology thing without messing up an 
otherwise beautiful console radio.

I would like to suggest that the radio be restored to working 
condition, the NJARC members can help you with this.  Then take it 
home and enjoy looking at it and listening to it.  Then start your planning.

See if you can make a pop-up flat screen that will stay completely 
hidden in the rear, and only appear (pop-up) when the TV is needed. 
Find another way to incorporate your DVD player without cutting the 
cabinet.  Perhaps use remote controls as much as possible.

And when it's all done, bring'er in to a meeting and watch the 
appreciative smiles and take the congratulations that will be 
given.  Who knows, you might start a new trend?

Caution though, you might like that old radio so much, that you'll 
have to find something else to modify.  Remember a radio collection 
starts with he first one.

Have fun,
John Dilks

At 01:55 PM 1/18/2007, you wrote:
>Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
>_______________________________________________
>Dear NJARC members,
>         I am a senior technology education major at The College of New Jersey
>(formally Trenton State).  I am currently taking a class called Senior
>Design which requires us to build an intensive project.  I have decided
>to make a small entertainment center that looks like an antique wooden
>radio.  When the unit is off, it will look like an antique wooden radio.
>However, when it is turned on it will open up and reveal a flat screen
>television, DVD player and speakers.
>         I have chosen to undertake this project because I feel like newer
>televisions and electronics in general have lost all aesthetic appeal and
>craftsmanship.  As an avid woodworker, I appreciate the craftsmanship
>that went into old wooden radios and how they can make a room feel warm
>and comfortable.
>         Unfortunately, I am pretty broke because I was student 
> teaching in a high
>school last semester and did not have time to work.  I would greatly
>appreciate any dials, knobs or other pieces that I could incorporate into
>the shell of the radio.  I should be able to attend your next meeting on
>February 9th to pick up any donated parts.
>         Further, I need a mentor for this project if anyone has a strong
>electronics and mechanical background.  I need to determine how I will
>automate the unit to open and close when it is turned on and off.  I also
>need to figure out how to make everything work together so that the unit
>will open and the television will turn on with one click of the remote.
>I thank you for your time and would greatly appreciate any parts, advice,
>or help you can provide.
>
>                                    Sincerely,
>                                    Matt Arena
>                                    (609) 576-4300
>                                    arena3 at tcnj.edu