You are an inspiration to all of the radio restorers out there on UA-cam. Your ability to fix what looks unrepairable David is utterly mind blowing. Cheers, Steven.
If you have a radio that doesn't work - write to Dave, ask him to extend his hands and virtually "put his hands on the radio" - it will probably be fixed as a result. 😉🤣 It is amazing to watch the work you do; you have raised the bar for the work I do. I don't have a lathe, so that would not have been possible for me to make anyway. Otherwise, your resourcefulness and thought process is an inspiration.
Dave, you have brought another phoenix from the ashes - What a great transformation. Your use of time and example of patience is a lesson to us all - And we get the entertainment and jokes as a bonus
Such an unpromising start, such a spectacular result! I didn't think it looked too bad to begin with but when you compared images of before and after near the end of the vid, the difference was astonishing!
Oh how I needed a new radio video tonight David .. with Victoria dropping into lockdown I needed some cheering up and your videos always are wonderful! Mission achieved! And you know you love a challenge!
@David Wanklyn Good work David, hopefully the vax will eventually get us in a more normal position. We are Covid free here but keep getting outbreaks from incoming passengers in hotel quarantine spreading it to workers in the quarantine hotel. Victoria has just come out of a 5 day lockdown.
What a great turn-around. From "I can't do anything with this hunk-a-junk," to "Good as new!" in 43 minutes. Great work all around. I particularly enjoyed the dial glass. And I am *STILL* fascinated with that peroxide hoo-doo magic. Another good'un, sir!
Haha... it is hoo-doo, I am always amazed. It was looking a little desperate at the start but I was lucky to have picked up the other spares radio a few weeks before. Thanks Steven 😀
Dave from Alabama in the USA I am impressed. Us southerners have an expression (as 1 of many) you made a silk purse from a sow's ear! Wow if anybody ever pulled that one off in fine and rare form you did!! Bravo!! I share your chagrin for eBay. I collect vintage watches and wow can they look ssoooo goooood in the pictures then look like stink when they arrive! But undaunted you pressed on and amazed us again. I cannot say it enough how impressed I am. Best and fondest regards from a BIG fan in Mobile, AL USA!!! Cheers!
Thank you John, I very much appreciate your comment. I use eBay a lot but second hand goods are a gamble. Thanks and take care in Mobile AL, (we toured there a few years ago. well... we went to Huntsville) 👍🙂
After the initial setback, another marvellous restoration. Such a 60s space age look to the design. Enjoyable viewing as here the snow falls and the thermometer fails to get up to 0c, no chance of bleaching items in the back garden for us!
It was looking a little grim there Ken, luckily I had the second chassis to draw from. I wonder if the bleaching is from heat more than or as well as UV because it works on arears that are not subjected to sunlight. I can't imagine living in zero temperature, stay warm 👍😀
Hi David. Superb job as usual. If anybody can make a silk purse out of a sows ear, you can. Good that you had the spare parts. The end result is stunning. Thoroughly enjoyed as usual.
"It looked good on eBay." Famous last words. I bought a Grundig Satellit from a German guy on eBay. It arrived absolutely mute; it hadn't been packed very well. I spent £300 getting it restored. I must say, it DID look good on the outside. You did a fantastic job on this one, David.
Awesome job. The radios just had a certain style back then. Funny to say back then when almost everyone wants one of these when they see them today. Thanks for the great videos.
i like your restoration videos but seeing the dedication and affection that you apply to your work makes them even more enjoyable. (my apologies for my bad english is not my first language.)
@@DavidTipton101 It may give us Yanks a perspective on Australian Wireless, seeing what they did the same, and what they did differently (case in point: inductive tuning in an "All Australian Five"😄). I'm wondering if a radio running on the higher voltages (US tube radios used only 120V, with no voltage multiplier) were louder and/or more sensitive than American radios.
As usual,your skills as a craftsman and technician are exponential. GREAT job, bravo. You are a treat to watch, I only wish we were neighbors so I could join in the fun.!! Be well Dave.
And another radio one saved, well done and as always your videos blow me away. You must have the patience of jobe and making that new dial on the lath just goes to show how talented you are. Thanks once again and now i'm happy that i have had my weekly fix of you repairing yet another radio.
Ah, eBay. You pay your money and you take your chances. Excellent job in taking a hopeless case and turning it into a gem. Thanks for the video, David!
Superb restoration! All of it, but I did like most that new plastic dial cover. You make things look easier than they really are. The radio is beautiful and the Jetsons will be happy to have it on their home.
We have watched several radio and tv repair peeps over the years and wanted to write to you to tell you that your videos are special. For starters, you take more care and devote more attention to detail, restoring not just the best sound these radios can produce, but also doing your level best to make them look as good as they possibly can. We know you aren't planning on going anywhere, but want you to know that you will be sorely missed if or when you do. There just aren't any good alternatives.
Hi Anthony, thank you for your kind comment. It has been a real pleasure presenting the videos and although the early ones left a lot to be desired I have slowly improved. Thank you for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it 👍🙂
To say it looked so shabby and not as described it looks amazing now. Fantastic job once again. I have seen other restoration channels use UV floodlights and place items in a clear plastic storage box with the UV lights on top. This may be an option for you in winter if you have to bring some plastic back but have little sunlight available. As alway, look forward to your next resto.
Hi Gary, thanks it looks amazing. Queensland has sunshine all year round even in 'winter'. I have been thinking about using plastic containers but haven't needed to yet 🙂
Yes, made in Melbourne, in those halcyon days when we still had industry and we still made stuff in Australia. Back in the 80's my work sent me to the Philips factory in Clayton to study their techniques for high volume circuit assembly and soldering. I didn't get to see much of the factory but what I did see was amazing. I thought you might have tried to straighten that "melted" concave area on the top of the cabinet. In any case, it came up fantastic. What also surprises me is that there are so many stations in Queensland playing music on AM.
Those days are long gone unfortunately Ellesmere. If I had to paint the case I would have fixed the back but I would have little chance straightening it without cutting the cooling ribs. I was happy to leave it as it was 🙂
We never doubted that you would get her going... That was a massive improvement! Th plastic heat sag just ads to the charm, and isn't really visible anyway.
Once again, nice restoration David, thanks for putting out all the very useful videos. It's a good thing you had those iron cores left over in the parts bin, or this radio would be joining that classification as well. Strange that the chassis in that radio is tilted, I guess there is a good reason for that. Always living in the US (where only frequency is listed on the dial), I'm still slowly getting used to the dial labeling used in Australia. In this video, I discovered the dial configuration is based upon which territory you live in - Interesting! Thanks for explaining the combined IF and audio amp stage with that 6AD8 valve, I have never seen that before in a US radio; clever idea! I appreciate all the restoration tips, I have been restoring old radios since 1970 but, there are always more useful tips to be found, making the job easier and more effective. I had not heard of the hair lightening peroxide and sunlight idea for whiting yellowed plastics; good idea! I will be putting that to use in the near future, as I ordered a radio off of eBay recently with the same problem. I do like your perfectionist attitude to a point; it's nice to make the radio original or slightly better, although I am also a perfectionist, I have to limit myself, otherwise it turns into an obsession. I am enjoying seeing all those power transformer powered radios you have over there. I'm rather sick of the 2 series string, 5 tube/valve lineup RCA pretty much mandated in the 1940's to 1960's due to all their patents. In addition to being stuck with a half wave rectifier and a chassis tied to one of the AC mains, in that design, the rectifier (35Z4 and 35W4) and audio output (50L6 and 50C5) tubes/valves used excessively high dissipation (by a factor of about 3) on the cathodes to "soak" up the remainder of the filament voltage. This ends up causes hot spots the plastic case must endure. The car radio audio output 6V6 (octal base) and (7 pin miniature base) tubes/valves used with power transformer sets was a much better choice.
Thanks Bill. I was very lucky with the slugs having picked them up only a few weeks prior. The chassis was tilted to position the tuning rack in the vertical centre of the cabinet. The dial layout often gets a number of queries especially from the US. There a lot of useful tips out there, we never stop learning do we. Haha... it's a fine line between a perfectionist and lunacy. I have done a couple of AA5s which I enjoyed but thankfully over here didn't take it up, maybe due to the cost of the RCA patents.
Hi Dave, During the first few seconds I saw this Astor Vintage Radio in this video I began to think of a time of fairly fast transition from “an old way of living” to one that spoke of offering a brighter, and prosperous future for everyone. Life for ‘the housewife’ cooking and cleaning in an old drab kitchen was on the way out, and being replaced with bright white, cream, and pastel colours; modern appliances of similar colours, and all being easy to use and keep clean. It was the beginning of a time of full employment; loads of spare cash; owning you own home; holydays; the latest car; fine clothes, and still having sufficient cash to buy a second radio. I pictured your Astor APK, new and shiny, in a modern domestic setting during a time slightly after the launch of Sputnik 1, through the era of Yuri Gagarin’s orbit round the Earth in Vostok 1, and on to the launch of the communication satellite, Telstar 1. By that time (1962) I imagine the Astor APK production run had come to an end. So, your Astor radio, which I love its shape and general design, is of the beginning of an era that become known as, “The Space Race.” It was also of the atomic era but we’ll set that to one side LOL. I see its general shape as based upon early console computers seen in late 1950s, and early 1960s science fiction movies LOL. Conclusion: the Astor design teams certainly knew how to capture the era, or an essence of the era by applying current affairs, and ‘modern’ trends to the look of some of their late 1950s table radios. In my opinion, some radios of the late 1950s, such as the Astor APK, are contributing artefacts that speak of a particularly momentous time in twentieth century history. I can definitely see your attraction towards buying it. Lovely chatting with you Dave - hope to catch you later.
Hi Phil, you sure got a lot out of the first few few seconds! I also pictured this in the 1950's 60's kitchen with bright coloured laminates and checkerboard floor tiles, hence the video thumbnail, the dawn of the space race and the our perceptions of the future, hence The Jetsons reference. I haven't seen this model radio before and is why I gambled on an eBay purchase. I have another Astor radio of the same vintage, I think the same year, and it bears no resemblance to this one in appearance. I would like to know how it came to be. Thanks Phil and take care in old Blighty 🙂
I know it was a matter of luck that you happened to have that slug just laying around but I bet anyone except for you would have given up right away on this one. Great restore David! Brilliant video with lots of fun edits as usual. Thanks for posting.
Hi Jac, it was very lucky, I only picked up the second chassis a few weeks before but I probably would have found another way. What I don't understand is what happened to it, why was it broken and missing 🤔
Dear Mr. Tipton, two comments, The tuning system on this radio is very interesting, That is the same on type of tuning system that I restore, that was a TRF type, I do not remember what it was, but I remember it tuned good. The Radio you are working on is a very nice looking radio. You always do a GREAT job with these radios. Nice work!!!
Hi Mark, thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The tuning on this set is called permeability tuning, I quite like it, it's very accurate. This radio a great example of 50s hysteria or trend of space travel 🚀🙂
The finished radio looks like new! Thanks for all the tips. I am planning on using the one where you added the red line to the dial. My Hallicrafters sx100 frequency dial glass was replaced with plain glass. Thanks again!!!! John
Beautiful ending to a questionable motor condition. Your attention to detail is amazing. One suggestion is applying the Liquid Tape with a small artist's brush as as the look of the speaker was not in keeping with the rest of the perfection to detail of your radio restoration. Thank you for making videos, I learn so much each time I view.
Hi David. This little Astor has blossomed into a very nice looking set. You have done a cracking job here. You are not alone in Ebay what have I done purchases. I have one and it sits on top shelf above my bench labeled 'twit'. My wife used another term. Still it's all about learning from mistakes. Still good fun though. Cheers Bob.
Interesting! Fantastic rescue of a nice looking radio! I'd never seen one with slug tuning before, though I had wondered in the past if there was such a thing. Now I know. I will also have to remember that teabag liquid tape trick of yours.
Outstanding work David! Thank you very much. Lucky you had a spare tuner eh? The moral there is: Never throw old bits away - you never know when you'll need them...
Yet again, you've done a great job. With the weather we have here in Northern England at the moment I think that the peroxide would take forever to work! Further to one of your earlier videos I was repairing a speaker earlier with a teabag and it does the trick nicely. Regards Adam
I'm starting out my "radio repair" journey with a 1961 FM Only set I just bought on eBay. My father repaired electronics for a living, but I never took advantage of his knowledge. Age 64 . . . . .we'll see if I can make him happy up in Heaven by getting it working! :-) Enjoyed your video! ---Mike
Hi Mike, good luck with your project, I started out with very little radio knowledge but understand enough to get me into and out of trouble now. The internet is a big help 👍🙂
Congratulations David making a silk Purse out a Sows ear I think originally Output Transformer failed as said before a leaking Cap on the Output Valve when stuck the same problem on fitting a replacement Transformer I fitted a replacement cap from Plate to Screen and not to chassis plus a new cap on the Grid of output valve, I admire your Machines skills anyway David as always a top job,Ian.
Hi Ian, thank you. I suspect the coupling cap was also leaky. I changed it when I replaced the OP transformer and before I put power on. The output valve was in poor condition and had overheated the smoothing capacitor next to it and deformed the back of the case. The Cap from plate to screen on this radio actually goes from plate to chassis ground and not the screen. I also replaced this cap before applying power as I have had problems with these before. Thanks Ian, Cheers 👍🙂
A rule of thumb I now follow based on recent instances - "Forewarned is forearmed. If it looks good on eBay, it most probably isn't in reality. Caveat Emptor. Dave you truly possess the Midas Touch - just about every radio you get your hands on turns to virtual gold and works beautifully once again. Excellent triple-R method in this video (Repair, Restore, RetrObright).
Haha... yes, triple R 😀 I got lulled into buying it because the design looked good, luckily it turned out in the end but I was disappointed when I got it in the mail 🤦♂️🙂 Thanks RJ
Very nice job as always Dave. Who would have thought Tea Bags and Peroxide were the secret to a successful restoration. Always learn some great tips and tricks from your videos
Fantastic alright there Dave well done , this radio has the look ,stunning job of expertise work has made this radio look like a million dollars, Great job , and enjoyed watching the process.
David, A while back YT algorithm pointed me to your page. Having grown up on tube radios, I have affinity for these oldies. Have watched 10+ entries. Fantastic craftsmanship; learned quite a few restoration tricks. The best one is bleaching plastics. Someone asked for a tour of your collection. Could we at least get an idea how many radios you have restored? Milan
You are an inspiration to all of the radio restorers out there on UA-cam. Your ability to fix what looks unrepairable David is utterly mind blowing. Cheers, Steven.
Hi Steve, thank you 😀
Everything that leaves your hands looks fantastic, Dave!
Well said! Great skill in all aspects of the reatoration, not just electrical. I would trust him to work on my best radio any day!
Thanks Horatio Hornblower 😀
If you have a radio that doesn't work - write to Dave, ask him to extend his hands and virtually "put his hands on the radio" - it will probably be fixed as a result. 😉🤣 It is amazing to watch the work you do; you have raised the bar for the work I do. I don't have a lathe, so that would not have been possible for me to make anyway. Otherwise, your resourcefulness and thought process is an inspiration.
Thank you Tim, your kind words are much appreciated. Sometimes it takes a little more than that 😄
A magnificent result, David. Your wide range of skills paid dividends again.
Thank you EuroScot 😀
Dave, you have brought another phoenix from the ashes - What a great transformation. Your use of time and example of patience is a lesson to us all - And we get the entertainment and jokes as a bonus
It's a quirky little set xyredmax, and it looks so good on our TV unit. Thanks xyredmax, I'm glad you enjoy my videos 😀
Great job Dave. You brought another little piece of history back to life. As always, enjoy you very much. Thanks.
Thank you Monte 😀
As usual its always a pleasure watching you restoring these wonderful radios. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching Terry 😀
Such an unpromising start, such a spectacular result!
I didn't think it looked too bad to begin with but when you compared images of before and after near the end of the vid, the difference was astonishing!
Hi Paul, it looked worse in the flesh than on camera but it looks brilliant now 😀
@@DavidTipton101 Doesn't it just? Superb work and a great watch as usual!
Thanks again Dave. You're a master at making silk purses out of sow's ears.
Thanks Tim 😀
WOW! Just WoW. Well done.
Thanks Jay 😀
Got my friday entertainment sorted then, thanks David❤
Hi Jerker, thanks 😀
Fantastic David, another masterclass for the rest of us to aspire to. Thank you.
Thank you Graham 😀
You amaze me with how nicely you are able to refinish the radio dial and case and so forth. Just a great job every time.
Thanks Jeff 👍🙂
Hi David, fantastic work and result. Many thanks for the videos. From Nr Liverpool UK.
Hi Geof, thank you 😀
Looks brilliant. Just goes to show that keeping a few junker chassis can be a life saver. Very nicely done.
Hi Ian, thanks. That was my first step when I started this hobby, get as many junk sets I could, it's paid off 🙂
Oh how I needed a new radio video tonight David .. with Victoria dropping into lockdown I needed some cheering up and your videos always are wonderful! Mission achieved! And you know you love a challenge!
Glad to oblige Chris. These mini lockdowns are a reoccurring event. Hopefully you will get on top of it quickly 👍🙂
@David Wanklyn Good work David, hopefully the vax will eventually get us in a more normal position. We are Covid free here but keep getting outbreaks from incoming passengers in hotel quarantine spreading it to workers in the quarantine hotel. Victoria has just come out of a 5 day lockdown.
@David Wanklyn good luck mate.... vax roll out is slow here... first shots today... months away for most of us.... grrrr
What a great turn-around. From "I can't do anything with this hunk-a-junk," to "Good as new!" in 43 minutes. Great work all around. I particularly enjoyed the dial glass. And I am *STILL* fascinated with that peroxide hoo-doo magic.
Another good'un, sir!
Haha... it is hoo-doo, I am always amazed. It was looking a little desperate at the start but I was lucky to have picked up the other spares radio a few weeks before. Thanks Steven 😀
David, I am in awe as usual. That is a real beauty! Well worth saving for all to see. Thanks again!!
My pleasure! John, thank you 👍🙂
Dave from Alabama in the USA I am impressed. Us southerners have an expression (as 1 of many) you made a silk purse from a sow's ear! Wow if anybody ever pulled that one off in fine and rare form you did!! Bravo!! I share your chagrin for eBay. I collect vintage watches and wow can they look ssoooo goooood in the pictures then look like stink when they arrive! But undaunted you pressed on and amazed us again. I cannot say it enough how impressed I am. Best and fondest regards from a BIG fan in Mobile, AL USA!!! Cheers!
Thank you John, I very much appreciate your comment. I use eBay a lot but second hand goods are a gamble. Thanks and take care in Mobile AL, (we toured there a few years ago. well... we went to Huntsville) 👍🙂
After the initial setback, another marvellous restoration. Such a 60s space age look to the design. Enjoyable viewing as here the snow falls and the thermometer fails to get up to 0c, no chance of bleaching items in the back garden for us!
It was looking a little grim there Ken, luckily I had the second chassis to draw from. I wonder if the bleaching is from heat more than or as well as UV because it works on arears that are not subjected to sunlight. I can't imagine living in zero temperature, stay warm 👍😀
Greetings David. Another wonderful melbourne made treasure restored to as new condition. Look forward to more of your craft. Stay safe
Hi John, thank you 😀
Liquid electrical tape! Learn something new every day! Great video thanks again! What an amazing transition!!
Thanks Norri 😀
Hi David. Superb job as usual. If anybody can make a silk purse out of a sows ear, you can. Good that you had the spare parts. The end result is stunning. Thoroughly enjoyed as usual.
Thank you Christopher. I was lucky with the spare chassis 😀
She scrubbed up very nice well done.
Thanks Shayne 👍🙂
"It looked good on eBay." Famous last words. I bought a Grundig Satellit from a German guy on eBay. It arrived absolutely mute; it hadn't been packed very well. I spent £300 getting it restored. I must say, it DID look good on the outside. You did a fantastic job on this one, David.
Haha... yes, famous last words. There are some horror stories out there 😟🙂
I think you are a very talented individual and I find your 'radio adventures' very worthwhile!
Haha... thank you John 😀
Awesome job. The radios just had a certain style back then. Funny to say back then when almost everyone wants one of these when they see them today. Thanks for the great videos.
Thanks James, they can look good in a modern home 🙂
What can i say Dave another great restoration thanks for keeping us all entertained during lockdown
Thanks Paul, my pleasure 🙂
Absolute craftsman, great job restoring something that was landfill !
Thank you very much Peter 😀
@David Wanklyn Haha... maybe 😀
i like your restoration videos but seeing the dedication and affection that you apply to your work makes them even more enjoyable.
(my apologies for my bad english is not my first language.)
You English is perfect SenK Ak 👍😀 Thank you for your kind comment.
Love how you start off trying to talk yourself out of doing it. Then you cant give up and end up doing the normal fantastic job
Thanks Steve, it was a bit like that wasn't it 😄
Well done.
Have you ever thought about giving as a tour of your radio collection?
Good idea!
Yes, but it's pretty dull, I'll have a go one day 👍
I think a tour with a brief history on the manufacturer and model would be fantastic. Great idea.
@@DavidTipton101
It may give us Yanks a perspective on Australian Wireless, seeing what they did the same, and what they did differently (case in point: inductive tuning in an "All Australian Five"😄).
I'm wondering if a radio running on the higher voltages (US tube radios used only 120V, with no voltage multiplier) were louder and/or more sensitive than American radios.
As usual,your skills as a craftsman and technician are exponential.
GREAT job, bravo.
You are a treat to watch, I only wish we were neighbors so I could join in the fun.!!
Be well Dave.
Thanks Frank, you could probably give me a few pointers 😀
@@DavidTipton101 ...thanks Dave for your kind words, but you are as good or better than a lot of people in this business..!!
Lovely work David. Thanks once more for your superb work! Stay safe.
Thank you Neil 😀
That Astor APK does look futuristic looking with its styling. Another beautiful restoration job David. It is always a joy to watch you work.
Thanks LUCKYLARRY 😀
And another radio one saved, well done and as always your videos blow me away. You must have the patience of jobe and making that new dial on the lath just goes to show how talented you are. Thanks once again and now i'm happy that i have had my weekly fix of you repairing yet another radio.
Thanks Stephen, I was lucky the dial glass was easy to make 😀
I absolutely love watching you work.
Great job... can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks ljetronic 😀
good work bringing the radio back to life i thought it would end up as spares
Me too Angelo 👍🙂
Another incomparable restoration, well done!
Thanks BillsOldiesUK 😀
From a wreck to a winner as usual. Congratulations to 10000 + subscribers, I just discovered this!
Thanks W Rex. 10,000 who would have thought??? 😀
Ah, eBay. You pay your money and you take your chances. Excellent job in taking a hopeless case and turning it into a gem. Thanks for the video, David!
Thanks Tim. eBay is a gamble for sure 🙂
Superb restoration! All of it, but I did like most that new plastic dial cover. You make things look easier than they really are. The radio is beautiful and the Jetsons will be happy to have it on their home.
Thanks Rádios Antigos & Cia Ltda. The dial 'glass' was pretty easy. The Jetsons will need to wrestle off my wife, she's taken a shine to it 😄
Great work and a very nice looking radio
It's a great looking radio Paul. My wife grabbed it and put it on display in the family room 😀
@@DavidTipton101 I'm not surprised !
Meet George Jetson! Lovely job. Very snazzy design for the modern home of the late 50's. Space Age 🚀😊
Hi Pauline, it's a sparkling looking set, visitors pick it out every time 😀
We have watched several radio and tv repair peeps over the years and wanted to write to you to tell you that your videos are special. For starters, you take more care and devote more attention to detail, restoring not just the best sound these radios can produce, but also doing your level best to make them look as good as they possibly can. We know you aren't planning on going anywhere, but want you to know that you will be sorely missed if or when you do. There just aren't any good alternatives.
Hi Anthony, thank you for your kind comment. It has been a real pleasure presenting the videos and although the early ones left a lot to be desired I have slowly improved. Thank you for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it 👍🙂
fantastic - every minute is interesting and informative - thanks for posting -
Thanks for watching Skip 😀
Great job bringing her back to life.
Hi Ripley, thank you 😀
As usual David you are the best restorer in my opinion because you work with the cabinet als not only the radio😀.
Thank you Claes 👍🙂
Nice job, you always wow us with your beautiful ideas
Thank you Elc.Eng. Ihsan Al mutari 👍🙂
Another brilliant restoration David, the case looks brand new and the new dial glass finishes it off perfectly, excellent job, all the the best mate.
Thank you Mick, all the best 👍🙂
Fantastic looking radio and you did a great job of restoring it as usual.
Thanks Jonathan 😀
Definitely another famous Tipton restoration! Just always amazed at your ability to make these radios look wonderful!
Thanks zorka4098, it was a good radio underneath the mess 😀
Wow!! Me quede muy sorprendido, sobre todo que casi lo habías descartado. Hiciste un trabajo impresionante y te quedo fantástico.
Gracias Enrique. Se ve muy bien 😀
I may have to rip off that awesome styling and build a radio out of wood to match that. Love that design. Awesome restoration David.
Thanks Dave, the look is why I bought it, it's unique 😀
Another great video! Thanks Dave!
Thanks Keith 😀
Beautiful work, David... thanks for sharing. :-)
Thank you Terry, thank you for watching 👍🙂
@@DavidTipton101 You're welcome David :-)
To say it looked so shabby and not as described it looks amazing now. Fantastic job once again. I have seen other restoration channels use UV floodlights and place items in a clear plastic storage box with the UV lights on top. This may be an option for you in winter if you have to bring some plastic back but have little sunlight available. As alway, look forward to your next resto.
Hi Gary, thanks it looks amazing. Queensland has sunshine all year round even in 'winter'. I have been thinking about using plastic containers but haven't needed to yet 🙂
Brilliant David! another creation of art!
Thanks Moshe 😀
Yes, made in Melbourne, in those halcyon days when we still had industry and we still made stuff in Australia.
Back in the 80's my work sent me to the Philips factory in Clayton to study their techniques for high volume
circuit assembly and soldering. I didn't get to see much of the factory but what I did see was amazing.
I thought you might have tried to straighten that "melted" concave area on the top of the cabinet.
In any case, it came up fantastic. What also surprises me is that there are so many stations in Queensland playing
music on AM.
Those days are long gone unfortunately Ellesmere. If I had to paint the case I would have fixed the back but I would have little chance straightening it without cutting the cooling ribs. I was happy to leave it as it was 🙂
retrobrighting works on clear plastics too. Another great result, thanks!
I tried it on clear plastic benjdymond and it didn't work for me, I'll have another go 👍🙂
Awesome result, all the hard work was well worth it, really enjoyed this one, keep them coming, regards, Tim, Blackburn UK
Thanks Tim from Blackburn UK 👍🙂
We never doubted that you would get her going... That was a massive improvement! Th plastic heat sag just ads to the charm, and isn't really visible anyway.
Thanks Dennis, yes the back is not visible so it doesn't detract from it on display 👍😀
Once again, nice restoration David, thanks for putting out all the very useful videos. It's a good thing you had those iron cores left over in the parts bin, or this radio would be joining that classification as well.
Strange that the chassis in that radio is tilted, I guess there is a good reason for that.
Always living in the US (where only frequency is listed on the dial), I'm still slowly getting used to the dial labeling used in Australia. In this video, I discovered the dial configuration is based upon which territory you live in - Interesting!
Thanks for explaining the combined IF and audio amp stage with that 6AD8 valve, I have never seen that before in a US radio; clever idea!
I appreciate all the restoration tips, I have been restoring old radios since 1970 but, there are always more useful tips to be found, making the job easier and more effective. I had not heard of the hair lightening peroxide and sunlight idea for whiting yellowed plastics; good idea! I will be putting that to use in the near future, as I ordered a radio off of eBay recently with the same problem.
I do like your perfectionist attitude to a point; it's nice to make the radio original or slightly better, although I am also a perfectionist, I have to limit myself, otherwise it turns into an obsession.
I am enjoying seeing all those power transformer powered radios you have over there. I'm rather sick of the 2 series string, 5 tube/valve lineup RCA pretty much mandated in the 1940's to 1960's due to all their patents. In addition to being stuck with a half wave rectifier and a chassis tied to one of the AC mains, in that design, the rectifier (35Z4 and 35W4) and audio output (50L6 and 50C5) tubes/valves used excessively high dissipation (by a factor of about 3) on the cathodes to "soak" up the remainder of the filament voltage. This ends up causes hot spots the plastic case must endure. The car radio audio output 6V6 (octal base) and (7 pin miniature base) tubes/valves used with power transformer sets was a much better choice.
Thanks Bill. I was very lucky with the slugs having picked them up only a few weeks prior.
The chassis was tilted to position the tuning rack in the vertical centre of the cabinet.
The dial layout often gets a number of queries especially from the US.
There a lot of useful tips out there, we never stop learning do we.
Haha... it's a fine line between a perfectionist and lunacy.
I have done a couple of AA5s which I enjoyed but thankfully over here didn't take it up, maybe due to the cost of the RCA patents.
You can really turn things around. Thanks Dave for helping warming up this cold morning(-20).
Hi Leif, thank you. Wow, I have my freezer set to -19 😲🥶
Hi Dave,
During the first few seconds I saw this Astor Vintage Radio in this video I began to think of a time of fairly fast transition from “an old way of living” to one that spoke of offering a brighter, and prosperous future for everyone. Life for ‘the housewife’ cooking and cleaning in an old drab kitchen was on the way out, and being replaced with bright white, cream, and pastel colours; modern appliances of similar colours, and all being easy to use and keep clean. It was the beginning of a time of full employment; loads of spare cash; owning you own home; holydays; the latest car; fine clothes, and still having sufficient cash to buy a second radio. I pictured your Astor APK, new and shiny, in a modern domestic setting during a time slightly after the launch of Sputnik 1, through the era of Yuri Gagarin’s orbit round the Earth in Vostok 1, and on to the launch of the communication satellite, Telstar 1. By that time (1962) I imagine the Astor APK production run had come to an end.
So, your Astor radio, which I love its shape and general design, is of the beginning of an era that become known as, “The Space Race.” It was also of the atomic era but we’ll set that to one side LOL. I see its general shape as based upon early console computers seen in late 1950s, and early 1960s science fiction movies LOL.
Conclusion: the Astor design teams certainly knew how to capture the era, or an essence of the era by applying current affairs, and ‘modern’ trends to the look of some of their late 1950s table radios. In my opinion, some radios of the late 1950s, such as the Astor APK, are contributing artefacts that speak of a particularly momentous time in twentieth century history. I can definitely see your attraction towards buying it.
Lovely chatting with you Dave - hope to catch you later.
Hi Phil, you sure got a lot out of the first few few seconds!
I also pictured this in the 1950's 60's kitchen with bright coloured laminates and checkerboard floor tiles, hence the video thumbnail, the dawn of the space race and the our perceptions of the future, hence The Jetsons reference.
I haven't seen this model radio before and is why I gambled on an eBay purchase. I have another Astor radio of the same vintage, I think the same year, and it bears no resemblance to this one in appearance. I would like to know how it came to be. Thanks Phil and take care in old Blighty 🙂
I know it was a matter of luck that you happened to have that slug just laying around but I bet anyone except for you would have given up right away on this one. Great restore David! Brilliant video with lots of fun edits as usual. Thanks for posting.
Hi Jac, it was very lucky, I only picked up the second chassis a few weeks before but I probably would have found another way. What I don't understand is what happened to it, why was it broken and missing 🤔
@@DavidTipton101 it's a Valentine's day miracle 😄
Dear Mr. Tipton, two comments, The tuning system on this radio is very interesting, That is the same on type of tuning system that I restore, that was a TRF type, I do not remember what it was, but I remember it tuned good. The Radio you are working on is a very nice looking radio. You always do a GREAT job with these radios. Nice work!!!
Hi Mark, thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The tuning on this set is called permeability tuning, I quite like it, it's very accurate. This radio a great example of 50s hysteria or trend of space travel 🚀🙂
Wow! How lucky can you be to have a tuning slug that fit this radio! Your living the good life. As always great video and thanks for sharing. Cheers.
Thanks Bruce. I only picked the radio up at the club Xmas car boot sale. I was surprised when I saw it had the correct parts 😀
The finished radio looks like new! Thanks for all the tips. I am planning on using the one where you added the red line to the dial. My Hallicrafters sx100 frequency dial glass was replaced with plain glass. Thanks again!!!! John
Thanks John, good luck with your painted line 👍🙂
You are a master, very entertaining. Thanks David.
Thanks Junior Ocicat 🙂
Superbe travail . Une nouvelle vie pour ce magnifique appareil . Bravo
Merci beaucoup Numéro 6 😀
Beautiful ending to a questionable motor condition. Your attention to detail is amazing. One suggestion is applying the Liquid Tape with a small artist's brush as as the look of the speaker was not in keeping with the rest of the perfection to detail of your radio restoration. Thank you for making videos, I learn so much each time I view.
Hi Thomas, thank you. Yes, I was less than impressed with my speaker brush effort too. I will tend to it next time 👍😀
Hi David. This little Astor has blossomed into a very nice looking set. You have done a cracking job here. You are not alone in Ebay what have I done purchases. I have one and it sits on top shelf above my bench labeled 'twit'. My wife used another term. Still it's all about learning from mistakes. Still good fun though. Cheers Bob.
Hi Bob, eBay is best steered clear of for radios. You are keen displaying your eBay failing, I hid this one 😄
Your determination and skills never, ever fail to impress me, I salute you, sir.
Thank you RSP 👍🙂
What beautiful work....well done. And, hello from Florida.
Hi Stephen in Florida, thank you 🙂
Interesting! Fantastic rescue of a nice looking radio! I'd never seen one with slug tuning before, though I had wondered in the past if there was such a thing. Now I know. I will also have to remember that teabag liquid tape trick of yours.
Thank you Sincerely Yours, I did one a few months ago and I think I have another one somewhere, all Astor radios 😀
...I understand that auto radios used slug tuning extensively because it is far more shock resistant than tuning capacitors-!
Outstanding work David! Thank you very much. Lucky you had a spare tuner eh? The moral there is: Never throw old bits away - you never know when you'll need them...
Thanks berniestep. I usually keep things for 20 years and throw them out the week before I need them 🙄🙂
That's boss that David looks new love your channel thanks for sharing it with us. Can't wait and till the next one.
Thanks Paul 😀
Yet again, you've done a great job. With the weather we have here in Northern England at the moment I think that the peroxide would take forever to work! Further to one of your earlier videos I was repairing a speaker earlier with a teabag and it does the trick nicely. Regards Adam
Thanks BrumAdam. Haha... it might take a while longer 😄 The tea bags work well 👍
That was a parts radio at first look. That was a d**n fine restoration there Mr. Tipton. Well done.
Thanks iaenmor 😀
Thanks David, I really enjoy your channel.
Thank you Ian 👍🙂
Sir you r work is beyond EXCELLENT! WOW WOW WOW!!!!
Thank you Eduardo 👍🙂
Mr Tipton, You didi a great job on the radio!!
Thank you Mark 🙂
Great restoration. This is becoming a lost art.
Hi Tim, thanks. you may be right unfortunately 🙂
Very nice job David and a lovely radio to.............................................Berni
Thanks Berni 😀
I'm starting out my "radio repair" journey with a 1961 FM Only set I just bought on eBay. My father repaired electronics for a living, but I never took advantage of his knowledge. Age 64 . . . . .we'll see if I can make him happy up in Heaven by getting it working! :-) Enjoyed your video! ---Mike
Hi Mike, good luck with your project, I started out with very little radio knowledge but understand enough to get me into and out of trouble now. The internet is a big help 👍🙂
Thank you, David!
...FM radios are more complicated than AM radios- especially when it comes to alignment-(!)
Great video! Just what I needed when it's 10 degrees in Texas. Suppose to be minus 6 degrees tonight.
Thanks Series1969. I hope that is 10 degrees Centigrade! We expect a top of 30C today (86F), much better 👍😉
@@DavidTipton101 I wish it was 86F here!
@@Series1969 😀
Congratulations David making a silk Purse out a Sows ear I think originally Output Transformer failed as said before a leaking Cap on the Output Valve when stuck the same problem on fitting a replacement Transformer I fitted a replacement cap from Plate to Screen and not to chassis plus a new cap on the Grid of output valve,
I admire your Machines skills anyway David as always a top job,Ian.
Hi Ian, thank you.
I suspect the coupling cap was also leaky. I changed it when I replaced the OP transformer and before I put power on. The output valve was in poor condition and had overheated the smoothing capacitor next to it and deformed the back of the case. The Cap from plate to screen on this radio actually goes from plate to chassis ground and not the screen. I also replaced this cap before applying power as I have had problems with these before. Thanks Ian, Cheers 👍🙂
A rule of thumb I now follow based on recent instances - "Forewarned is forearmed. If it looks good on eBay, it most probably isn't in reality. Caveat Emptor.
Dave you truly possess the Midas Touch - just about every radio you get your hands on turns to virtual gold and works beautifully once again. Excellent triple-R method in this video (Repair, Restore, RetrObright).
Haha... yes, triple R 😀 I got lulled into buying it because the design looked good, luckily it turned out in the end but I was disappointed when I got it in the mail 🤦♂️🙂 Thanks RJ
Very nice job as always Dave.
Who would have thought Tea Bags and Peroxide were the secret to a successful restoration. Always learn some great tips and tricks from your videos
Thanks 1974UTuber 😀
It came out fantastic Dave! Great job!
Thanks Andy 😀
Beautiful restore of an awesome radio!
Thanks Jon it's a ripper radio 😀
Absolutely brilliant a well done job excellent restore & always interesting.
Thank you Alun 😀
Great restoration David! You should play the Tea for Two Cha Cha to test out that speaker repair!
Haha... I need you as my comic content adviser 😄 Thanks John
That's a weird radio with its diagonally mounted chassis. Your restoration is fabulous. You must be really pleased with the result
Hi Tony, the angle chassis was surprising but very happy with the result 😀
Fantastic alright there Dave well done , this radio has the look ,stunning job of expertise work has made this radio look like a million dollars, Great job , and enjoyed watching the process.
Hi Dave, thank you. It looks stunning on the cabinet my wife put it on 🙂
How to make a silk purse out of a pigs ear. Another great video. Best radio repair channel on you tube.Best wishes Terry uk 🇬🇧
Thanks Terry in the UK 😀
I've not seen a tuning dial without frequency markings. Looks great.
Hi Nigel, it was pretty common in Oz to just have the station call sign 🙂
Bleaching process is fantastic.
It surprises me every time Ged 👍🙂
David,
A while back YT algorithm pointed me to your page. Having grown up on tube radios, I have affinity for these oldies. Have watched 10+ entries. Fantastic craftsmanship; learned quite a few restoration tricks. The best one is bleaching plastics. Someone asked for a tour of your collection. Could we at least get an idea how many radios you have restored?
Milan
Thanks Milan. A quick count just then revealed 50 plus radios restored 😲🙂