1935 Aetna (Walgreen) 4 Tube TRF Radio
Posts: 384
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Joined: Mar 2015
City: Waxahachie, TX
I just finished restoring a 1935 Aetna 251. A 4 tube TRF radio. I replaced all11 caps, all 5 resistors. I added a capacitor and a 0Ohm 25W resistor to the filament string and got rid of the resistance line cord. It still had all 4 original tubes in it. However the 25Z5 has 1 cathode short and I put in a Sylvania one till I can get an engraved Aristocrat 25Z5 tube. I added a fuse to the chassis and rewired the power cord so that the "hot" line is switched. This is a hot chassis.
The cabinet was stripped, grain filled, stained, toned, sealed and clear coated with Mohawk products. I replaced the worn and torn grille cloth with some needle point fabric.
This is a minimal performing radio!
I'll post the before pictures, then the the after pictures.
[Image: http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t458...vxdqtk.jpg]
[Image: http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t458...ikfqqx.jpg]
[Image: http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t458...gjih6v.jpg]
[Image: http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t458...nwaixp.jpg]
Crist
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City: Waxahachie, TX
Posts: 1,519
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Joined: Nov 2012
City: Kansas city, MO.
Very nice Crist. I like that dial scale and grill work. The cabinet looks great. 
Good job on the electrical work also.
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[Image: http://car54.homestead.com/gunny1.jpg]
Oooooh, Ooooh, very nice.
Paul
Tubetalk1
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State, Province, Country: California
Crist,
Beautiful job. Richmond Designs has that exact original speaker cloth. It's their Small Herringbone. It was used on tons of 30's radios. I have some and it's dead on to the original....
Steve
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City: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Nice job! Cute little radio. How does it perform? I did not know Walgreens was around in the 30's...
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City: Southport NC
Nice work on that little Aetna. It's one of those interesting companies we dont see too often that contracted with Detrola, Warwick, Climax, Wells Gardner etc to build sets for them. Once you look thru all the models its pretty easy to see the manufacturers "fingerprints" on most if their models.
And a nice find by the way.
Posts: 384
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Joined: Mar 2015
City: Waxahachie, TX
Guys, thanks for the kind words.
I saw that Richmond Designs pattern but didn't want to spend $24 when all I needed was a 6 1/2 square. Thanks for the source.
Crist
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City: Annapolis, IL
State, Province, Country: USA
Very nice Crist! Chassis looks amazing. Did you paint? Did you make the back cover? Great resto, keep it up!
If I could find the place called "Somewhere", I could find "Anything" 
Tim
Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me , believes not in me but in him who sent me" John 12:44
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City: Black Mountain, NC
03-21-2016, 02:19 PM
Very good job. I like the phrase "This is a minimal performing radio!"
With the low component count that may be where Muntz later got his TV design and cost savings ideas. 
Mike
Cossor 3468
GE 417A
Philco 118H
Radiola 17/100
Scott 800B6
Silvertone 6130
Stromberg 535M
Truetone D1952
(This post was last modified: 03-21-2016, 02:20 PM by PhilcoMike.)
Posts: 384
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Joined: Mar 2015
City: Waxahachie, TX
(03-21-2016, 02:10 PM)Madmurdok Wrote: Very nice Crist! Chassis looks amazing. Did you paint? Did you make the back cover? Great resto, keep it up!
Yeah, I used Rust-Oleum Metalic Matte Nickle. Yeah, on the back cover too. I wanted to ventilate the top of the radio to help get rid of the heat from the tubes, especially from the 25Z5 tube.
Crist
Posts: 384
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Joined: Mar 2015
City: Waxahachie, TX
(03-21-2016, 02:19 PM)PhilcoMike Wrote: Very good job. I like the phrase "This is a minimal performing radio!"
With the low component count that may be where Muntz later got his TV design and cost savings ideas.
Mike
Thanks.
Crist
Posts: 765
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City: Dallas, TX
Very nice job Crist, I have some of that herringbone cloth at the shop . Come over and i will cut you a piece to fit your radio 
Posts: 384
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Joined: Mar 2015
City: Waxahachie, TX
(03-22-2016, 07:55 PM)Frederick W. Taylor Wrote: Very nice job Crist, I have some of that herringbone cloth at the shop . Come over and i will cut you a piece to fit your radio
Will do Fred! Thanks.
Crist
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