04-21-2014, 09:33 PM
Hi my phriends! 
I bought this big boy last friday. It's a Philco (of course) model 18B, with a code 121 chassis.
As you can see, it received a thin coat of dark paint at some point in its life, probably in the 50's I'd say. I am currently struggling to determine what I should do out of it. This cabinet design looks amazing in my opinion, and the wood grain is awesome. I'm dying to refinish that one to an original look.
However, this radio has a lot of history. On the power cord is attached a label saying it was repaired at "Victor Perkins Radio Service", Brewer, Maine. I went ahead and typed the address in google maps. Man, what a good surprise I had when I saw that building, still with the "Victor Perkins" sign on the front, and some Zenith advertising in the window. I can't help but think I should leave that paint there, because I'm sure it was applied by the same guy that wandered in at the Victor Perkins radio shop in the 50's to have his Philco fixed...
Do you understand my dilemma?
Anyway, thanks for your inputs. Time for a bit of eyeballing
POST EDIT : yup, I think that's some rodent damage you see on the chassis. Lovely. At least it seems easily reversible.
I bought this big boy last friday. It's a Philco (of course) model 18B, with a code 121 chassis.
As you can see, it received a thin coat of dark paint at some point in its life, probably in the 50's I'd say. I am currently struggling to determine what I should do out of it. This cabinet design looks amazing in my opinion, and the wood grain is awesome. I'm dying to refinish that one to an original look.
However, this radio has a lot of history. On the power cord is attached a label saying it was repaired at "Victor Perkins Radio Service", Brewer, Maine. I went ahead and typed the address in google maps. Man, what a good surprise I had when I saw that building, still with the "Victor Perkins" sign on the front, and some Zenith advertising in the window. I can't help but think I should leave that paint there, because I'm sure it was applied by the same guy that wandered in at the Victor Perkins radio shop in the 50's to have his Philco fixed...
Do you understand my dilemma?
Anyway, thanks for your inputs. Time for a bit of eyeballing
POST EDIT : yup, I think that's some rodent damage you see on the chassis. Lovely. At least it seems easily reversible.
