I bought this Marconi model 85 yesterday. I really like the radio and I do have the piece of wood missing on the bottom. There is one knob that is wrong and the convex glass is missing.. I did find a supplier who can sell me the convex glass for $260.00.
Well I might think about that for a while. In the meantime maybe one of you guys has a supplier who can make the convex glass. it is 9 3/8 X 6 7/8 inches.
I did search the internet and ran out of ideas on the glass.
It was suggested that I put in a piece of flat glass but the dial would rub on the glass.. If I moved the chassis back I don't know if the knobs would stick out far enough.
I have not taken the chassis out yet so I am not sure how it will work out.
The cabinet is in good condition and need a good cleaning and I think it will keep it's original finish.
Dan in Calgary
I have a friend who repairs clocks, maybe he could help, how about a plastic cover, it looks so nice i do not think the glass is what people would focus on.
Beautiful radio! Paul has a good point about a plastic cover.... Mark Palmquist could make you a nice plastic cover while you source a more reasonably priced glass:
I've known a few people whom have acquired Canadian Marconi sets with the convex oval lenses over the dial either missing or cracked, they simply replaced them with a piece of flat glass and never had and mechanical interference issues, that would include a Model 84 which is similar. $260 is a complete ripoff for a replacement glass, that sounds like a "Go away and don't bother me" price, and I would take your business elsewhere. I would check into clock restoration suppliers, but that might be a dead end. If flat glass won't work making a molded plastic lens would be a respectable replacement, I think that some "Airline" sets may have used this.
Regards
Arran
(This post was last modified: 01-19-2017, 06:49 AM by Arran.)
I contacted Mark Palmquist about making one yesterday, and I haven't heard from yet.
He has one for the model 84 but the size is different.
I am not bent on getting a glass one but it would be nice to have it original.
I am going to look into getting some special kind of plastic and making my own. I know the basics , but am not sure about the melting in the oven part. I have heard [on ARF] that they use some kind of different plastic.
It will be a learning experience.
I did try a lot of clock restoration sites but most of the clocks are round and the ones that were oval were the wrong size..
Dan in Calgary
I did pick up some of the plastic made for forming in the oven, and I got it locally.
The radio is all recapped and aligned and it picks up far away stations very nice. I took out the glass and cleaned it,and now it is very bright. . Next is to get the cabinet in order, which won't take much.
I made my own dial cover from plastic, and it worked out very well.
Here is the radio all done. I find that the after photos don't look very much different that the before photos.
In person it is quite different.
I will have to redo the knobs when it gets warmer, but the radio plays very good and the eye tube works just as it should.
I do like these Marconi cabinets with the big dials.
Dan in Calgary
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