I am an avid radio collector/restorer. I have an affinity for the 1920s and early 30s. I enjoy sharing my videos and welcome everyone to watch and enjoy! Hopefully it will spike additional interest and help to continue to grow a very rewarding hobby!
@@Pygar2 I have used brass, and plastic. It extends into the shell about 1 inch. It is cut flush with inside of bowl. Everything is epoxies together. :)
There is a definite 'air' to these old speakers which someone unkindly desribed as sounding like a bumble-bee trapped in a bottle! The great 'plus' was good electro-acoustic efficiency which was important in the old battery-driven sets which sometimes had little more that 100mW audio output.
Great explanation! I am trying to emulate this type of speaker on a smaller scale the first effort using a 4" diameter foamed polystyrene bowl and still need to make the driver. At age 74, I can relate to the less steady hands but better to try our best rather that sit about and do nothing. Keep up the good work!
Nice radio Dave. I was wondering about using the "Dancing Ladies" speaker with the Grebe MU-1. Does the manufacturer of different pieces really matter to purists ?
@Davesradios I'm sorry, I meant that I'm trying to find someone to help me build one. I have all of the information and schematics but none of the experience
@Davesradios it's a great replication very nice. I think I remember that you have a lamp speaker or maybe I had seen it somewhere else, but weren't they creative in the good old days.
My first mindset was to hide technology from probing eyes. However, I am now convinced it was to support the fragile frame. The components are all mounted on a single rail, on 9ne side. The coils and especially the audio transformers are fairly heavy iron framed components. While being only being supported on one end and bouncing or rough handling would destroy chassis. I know this first hand after shipping a couple once the paraf9n was removed---not good!! For many years, like most, I thought it was to "hide", I am now convinced it is for support.
I did something similar when I was younger. I took a dead '01A and wired in a subminiature type of tube like you have here. I hollowed out the dead tube from the bottom but kept the glass shell intact. Then to make it look like it was still original (the getter remained silver) I wired in a small light bulb to create a glow.
Over 20 years ago i bought one of these from evilBay in somewhat coarser yet original condition. It was delivered to me by the Angry Gorilla courier company so when I got the radio it more or less resembled Ikea furniture but with more glass fragments and wood splinters. I never tried to buy another since then.
Very true! Even though this was considered portable, it is fairly heavy with a full compliment of batteries! I suspect it was not moved too much once it was in operation.
An examination is always good, as you can get lucky as you have. I never have luck like this as every audio or output transformer I open up has the break on the inner winding and usually in the last 10 feet of wire that's on the coil form.
@@johnnyallen843 I agree fully! I had previously restored this set, and replaced an audio transformer. I had not8ced a decline in performance and took it in for a "check-up". If you rewind audios, I commend you!
Very nice! I bought one of those from eBay long ago. It was handled by drunken Gorillas in shipping so it landed as kindling with broken bits of wood, glass and early plastic all mixed together.
Any undesirable fumes or odor using this method? Is your wife on-board with this? Fumes or no fumes, my wife would not be a fan of me using the oven for this purpose. I may have to purchase an old beater oven and connect it to the generator in the back yard. I like the concept and it would work well for me if I was single. Thanks Dave.
Odor is rather minimal ! Smells like sweet pine tree. It dissipates rather quickly! I fully understand the wife thing! Mine was out of town for the weekend! :)
@@N_0_I_Z_E It's not *just* pine tree sap but it's derived from it. It depends on whether there are other additives and the temperature. As long as you don't burn it and it just liquified it should be fine.
I just finished mine up and discovered the same issue with the old cone. It sounded terrible! Buford sent me one that works great. I was a little disappointed with the volume level but as you pointed out that mini driver isn't going to be as robust.
It seems that the chassis of this RCA is almost identical to the chassis of my RCA model 26. I haven't repaired it yet, I can't dare to bake it in the oven to melt the wax ))
Yes! Essentially same chassis in the AR-812, Radiola Super VIII, Radiola 24, 25 and 26. I will be posting a video of the melting of the rosin in the oven later in the week. It is not that difficult. Stay tuned!
Very much looking forward to this one Dave. I picked up one of these about a year ago but have yet to get at it. Too many other projects in the way. Cheers.
Nice set. It must have seemed like a miracle to listen to music and news over the air when this set was made. I have two 1917/1918 ww1 army sets, that they used to for communications between planes and the ground, to set up bombing targets. Oh and one very expensive 1915 loose coupler crystal set. Those are the oldest sets I own.
