Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum => Topic started by: Biscuit on April 18, 2007, 10:22:54 am

Title: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: Biscuit on April 18, 2007, 10:22:54 am: Hi. I've seen some truly inspiring work in this forum. I was wondering if anyone has considered or knew of any projects that had built a juke using the carcass of an early floor model tube radio console? Collectors of these types of radios don't seem to be much interested in the ones that don't work, so they can be found relatively cheap. I think the only real problem would be integrating the touchscreen (if that's what you used) into the console. You'd have to break out the sabersaw for most of the models I've seen so far.

Any thoughts or ideas on the subject?

* Edited to add pix. These were all pulled from current Ebay listings, which I hope is okay.
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: unclet on April 18, 2007, 12:21:17 pm: Would it be possible to post some pictures of the type of old juke you are talking abot?
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: kizer on April 19, 2007, 01:24:54 am: It would be nice to have a monitor slide up from the top and slide back down to hide when not being touched. ;D
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: unclet on April 19, 2007, 06:57:56 am: I love the looks of that ..... the color and shape is very sharp. Thanks for the pictures
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: sewerrat on April 19, 2007, 08:37:39 am: I've tried that route. The problem is those old radios are just veneer wrapped around little wooden supports, so there is not much support to them.

I'm building a replica instead out of 3/4" maple to look somewhat like this

(http://www.pinballrebel.com/archive/rockola/monarch38/monarch38_a.jpg)
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: unclet on April 19, 2007, 03:04:17 pm: I wish I knew how to make something which looked like this ...... I really like the curves and stuff for a jukebox. I do not want my jukebox cabinet to look like a "cabinet" ..... I like the picture you posted, btu I doubt if I am talented enough to make it.

Any ideas how all the curved wood is made? I mean the curved corners look great.

Any chance you can post pictures of what this radio looks like from the sides and the back?
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: sewerrat on April 19, 2007, 05:41:28 pm: (http://www.pinballrebel.com/archive/rockola/monarch38/monarch38_c.jpg)
(http://www.pinballrebel.com/archive/rockola/monarch38/monarch38_e.jpg)
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: kizer on April 19, 2007, 05:52:59 pm: Wow, thanks for the old photos. My Jukebox "design" has the top sloped back like that. Nothing says I couldn't olderize it. I know its not a word, but modenize it is going the wrong way. ;D
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: unclet on April 19, 2007, 07:25:01 pm: Thanks for the pics ..... I really like that style ..... I have to learn how to woodwork a bit better ......
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: digitaldj on April 22, 2007, 12:03:54 pm: Biscuit,

If you find the radio from your first picture that you posted which is a Zenith model 586229 or S808 for short. I will buy it from you! Please don't destroy one of these!

DigitalDj
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: Barry Barcrest on April 22, 2007, 10:41:44 pm: Quote from: digitaldj on April 22, 2007, 12:03:54 pm
Biscuit,

If you find the radio from your first picture that you posted which is a Zenith model 586229 or S808 for short. I will buy it from you! Please don't destroy one of these!

DigitalDj

He said he pulled thoose pictures from current ebay listings so i guess you can find that on ebay.
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: kevink27 on April 22, 2007, 11:16:05 pm: I built mine out of i believe an Air Castle Radio. I completed the project last year sometime. The radio cabinet was in poor shape when I got it off ebay. I removed the old electronics, the faded speaker cloth, and the veneer around the tuner assembly. Then I cut out the area for a 12" 3m touchscreen monitor with a sabre saw. I then placed a new piece of veneer over the section that was removed. I sanded the outside of the cabinet and stained and polyurethaned it. Installed some screen in the lower area where the grill cloth was located. Added one of those illuminecent disks that make some nice light effects. ( I borrowed that idea from a picture that somebody else had posted here, can't remember who, sorry). I installed two street glow lights and posterboard to black out the back section of the cabinet and my electronics. I mounted some altec lansing computer speakers in the section with the lights also, but there was no room for the sub-woofer, plus I was worried about shielding. I installed pushbuttons below the touchscreen because I could never get the touch function to work accurate enough with Win2k. If I can get a picture up I will post it. I didn't document the process as I made it
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: Barry Barcrest on April 23, 2007, 10:01:30 am: That looks great :cheers:
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: Biscuit on April 23, 2007, 11:35:18 am: Agreed. That's exactly the kind of project I was thinking about. Looks great.
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: kevink27 on April 23, 2007, 05:29:07 pm: Thank you. I'm kinda pleased with it myself. My camera kinda sucks though, I don't now if it's a 1 megapixel. Doesn't do the jukebox real justice. :)
Title: Re: Building a juke from a < 1950's console radio?
Post by: Barry Barcrest on April 23, 2007, 07:55:21 pm: i looked for radios like that on the uk ebay but there were none or i was looking in the wrong place.... I love it man.