[NJARC] Not what it appears to be

[Aaron Hunter]

A couple of years ago I bought a nice looking Philco Model 80 Colonial 
Clock radio.  The cabinet appeared to be in good condition with only 
minor problems and original finials.  The chassis appeared complete and 
untouched but the clock had major problems or concerns.  There was no 
cord coming out of the housing (a bad sign) and the shaft (missing knob) 
 for setting the time would fall out.  Since the set has a home in the 
living room, the stationary hands finally got to me and action had to be 
taken.

The first order of business (for me) was to get the clock working.  A 
clock that doesn't do anything bothers me more than a non working radio. 
 In order to get the clock motor out, you have to disassemble the entire 
set.  Out came the chassis, board assembly it sits on and the speaker as 
a unit.  When I peered inside to see how the front panel came out (this 
would normally be a door on a shelf clock), imagine my surprise when 
instead of two holes, I saw five!  Looking closely at the veneer on the 
front, I realized a piece of veneer had been nicely applied but not 
perfectly fitted.  This was the stick on, pre finished veneer that had 
started to curl on one edge.  The cabinet had started life as a Model 
551 Colonial Clock and the Model 80 chassis probably came out of the 
plain looking box or table model.

When disassembling the clock motor, a rusty sheet metal screw fell out. 
 This probably jammed the mechanism allowing for someone to twist off 
the time setting shaft.  , With new/old cord attached and shaft 
repaired, the clock motor is now running.  I feel better now that the 
motor is running and feel there is hope for this radio.  I now have to 
try my hand at finishing a piece of veneer and then fitting it in place. 
 I don't want to attach the veneer first as I might mess up the original 
finish on the rest of the cabinet.

I feel slightly taken, not necessarily by the seller as he might not 
have known about the retrofit, but in the end, I will have what I 
wanted, a working colonial clock radio.