I've been very anxious to get this nice ole' RCA Radiola 61-9 restored ever since Ken, my painter/collaborator, told me about the ideas he had for this cabinet.

However as sure as night follows day the best laid plans are always delayed. I posted another thread here earlier "Like Giving birth" that describes all the problems I had bringing this one back to life.

As you can see the original cabinet was a puke-green disaster job that I bought on Ebay for a few bucks I think a year or two ago.

I really like the new handsome styling that brings a whole new character to this cabinet model.

We used Metalic-Gold and Liquid-Black paying attention to all the fine details in the block pattern across the lower front and once again using that brushed silver to enhance the grille work.

It was a lot of work getting this "chicken-coop reject" radio to rise up from the ugly green ashes to take it's place in the sun.

I hope you guys agree with the new look. What do you think?

Looks good, as usual. Don't tell the NA guys or somebody will rank on you for getting rid of that "classical" puke green color.

that why I painted a old Truetone Red is was that lovely puke green

That is not "puke green" unless you ate something terrible! My dad always referred to that color as hen.... green.
Curt

That "puke green" reminds me of those God Awful "avocado green" appliances, of the '60's.

The new look is nice.

What's worse. Puke Green or Buzzard Snot Yellow?

That is one good looking set, regardless of what color it is.
Curt

Hello Peter,
He did nice job with the paint .
At least mine has never been painted and the bakelite cabinet is in good shape but I know by what you had to good through with those IF cans .
They will be tough I'm not looking forward to doing them thats why the set is not restored yet.
Sincerely Rich

That is FAR more tasteful than that previous color scheme.

Which previous color scheme are you referring to? The Blue & Black? or the Purple? or which?

Not every color scheme appeals to everyone, of course,... and though my personal taste is very conservative with a bias toward the earth-tones I often choose colors for myself.

However I have found that many folks out there seeking 'period' radios seem to gravitate to the more bold colors. So I often take cues from my painter and others such as car-lovers of the 40s & 50s who like to have a collector radio in matching tones and of the same style period as their collector cars.

I restore many radios and only some are kept for me alone....as my shelves runneth over...lol
....So "a little this and a little that" seems to strike the best balance as I sell and/or gift these treasures to many other folks along the way.

I think he was talking abut the "puke green" color scheme. Not one of your other restorations.

What I meant--The way you have it now looks a whole lot better than that pukey green.

Thanks
I'm very pleased because I think since this cabinet style just begins to show a trend away from the art-deco style.. and more leading into the modern style of the 50's look... we caught the perfect sense of the colrs matching the slightly more modernistic style.

I would like to see one done in metal flake grey with some white trim like I had my old 57 chevy

We'll keep that idea in mind Dan... thanks

Another knockout, Peter

Thanks Dave... though I do enjoy the planing and initial color choice discussions and steering the completed radio into it's final form.
.. I cannot however take any credit for the actual painting techniques and skill Ken uses.
.. I can only take full credit for the selection of the radios we use, the initial color pallets... and of course all the chassis restorations and electronics are mine alone... along with all the photography, graphics and text presentation.

Hello Guys I have Jusr finished a radiola 61-9 and I am in need of 2-Knobs in any color i can repaint them also I missplaced 1 RCA Victor same exact knob but in brown bakelite anyone know where i can Obtain these sincerely william

can look I have some rca knobs pm sent

Hi Peter,

I like the color scheme (without referencing animal descriptions). It's a nice
variation/departure, & works great! Nice job!

Jimmie

During your restoration of the Radiola, did you run into IF can problems with silver migration? If so, did you replace with ceramic disc caps or silver mica, and was there enough room to place them internally? I think I see silver mica caps above the IF lugs in your chassis photos.