I recently restored an interesting Stewart Warner 1865 console with a motorized tuner, and wrote up some notes on the project:

http://antiqueradio.org/StewartWarner1865Radio.htm

The radio had been mostly recapped, but I think it took more time to undo the wiring mistakes and correct sloppy work than if nothing had been done.

Interesting tuner, anyway, and now it sounds great!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

P.S. If anyone has a couple of spare button covers, send me a PM.

Holy Cow!

On the button covers, you might try Mark Palmquist...he has made a beautiful set for the Detrola/Silvertone Egyptian.
I am sure he could make you a set...at what cost, I don't know.
Beautiful radio and work!

Paul

Thanks, I did contact Mark and he mailed me photos of the Egyptian covers. Beautiful work, but they are machined and rather thick, whereas the rims of these are thinner metal formed like typewriter key covers. The Egyptian covers could be modified, but that might be as much work as fabricating new ones from scratch.

Regards,

Phil Nelson

What a project! What a result!
I can only imagine your reaction when you first saw the radio.
How do you keep from stuttering or drooling or overpaying
when you go to buy something like thatt?

That's an amazing radio, probably heaps of fun (?!?!) to work
on and the results are incredible. That's one of the beefiest
looking motorized tuning setups I've ever seen, too.
Nelson

Wowee!! Is that the one we goaded you into buying, Phil?

What a nice job!!

I'm envious, that's a great looking radio. Harry

Being my screen name is decojoe, you can bet I love that console! I've never seen such attractive bold veneer graining on a console! In it's day it must have looked ultra-modern. Today, it looks like ultra-gorgeous!
To think we all had to coax you to get it! Haha - just kidding - enjoy!

I think that you are probably happy that we talked you into buying this radio..
You did a fantastic job with it , VERY NICE,,,,,,,,,I am glad to have been of assistance with your motorized tuning.. Since you posted that little piece about how you worked on the set,it got me thinking that when I recapped mine I did not realize that there were so called bathtub caps... NOW I have to remove my chassis and see if I have those,,,, that I did not change..And you know how heavy that chassis is.
If I run across any push button covers i will let you know..

Yes, this is the one that I mentioned before. I was dubious when I saw the mess underneath, but the audio from this thing is terrific.

Only one problem -- we have no place to put it! Seems much too nice to use as a shop radio, but that's where it lives for the time being, and even there it is in the way.

All it's missing is a Phono jack in the rear so that I can pipe music from my iPhone. I suppose adding a discreet Aux jack in the back wouldn't do any harm.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Phil,

Beautiful job. Well worth the extra time and effort.

Regards, Bill