5 New Converted Philco Radio/Jukebox builds!

[Meph]

My first Philco Conversion build was completed last December and since then I have been looking for my next project.  I have had 3 more touchscreens sitting here waiting for something to use them in.  As luck would have it a listing came up on Craigslist for 4 Philco radio cabinets and 1 GE radio cabinet.  The price was right so I jumped.  I'm not really certain what I want to do with each but I figured I would start the project thread now.  Without further delay, here are the 5 cabinets I have to work with.













The last one is in the best shape of them all.  I'm not really sure what I can do with the first one because it is so narrow and it has no angle to the top.  I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Here is the link to my first build for reference: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=112421.0

[drventure]

Oh you bastard.

Nice find! Those are some really nice cabinets to play around with.

I just picked up my second about a month back. 5 in one go? Sweet.

[Meph]

I got a really good deal for them.  I have been looking for a while for another cabinet but people just want too much money.  I had to jump on this sale, i'm very lucky I was off from work today.

Edit: Oh and I forgot to mention, the 2nd from the last one pictured is also a phonograph.  The front of it opens up, I will get some more pics of that.  The big wide one in the middle also has a domed cover that pulls up over the radio controls.

[bluemini17]

one word, AMAZING

If only i lived near you! (as he checks flights  )

[drventure]

Can't wait to see what you do with them.

You planning all touchscreen jukes? Going to build and sell them?

[laminarflow]

oh please dont destroy such lovely radios for the sake of cabinets...  But im biased. I restore antique radios as another hobby and the thought of people doing this breaks my heart.  Its like someone taking an original  Pong cabinet and turning into a drinks cabinet. I cant even lay my hands on Radio consoles that nice in my area to restore as radios... 

[drventure]

I can understand the desire to preserve. There's a lot of folks that would say you should never Mame an arcade cabinet either.

But realistically, just getting the parts to restore some of those old radios would be ridiculously expensive and then, what have you got? A beautifully restored AM (or maybe AM/FM) radio that sounds like total crap (cause it's a single paper cone speaker with all of about 8 watts).

Personally, I think you're doing them just as much good by refinishing them, preserving the overall look as much as possible, but upgrading them with better audio, digital capability, internet radio, etc etc.

I'd never think of taking a +working+ radio cab, or even one that didn't work, but was more or less fully intact, and converting it, but the ones I've picked up were shells, no guts at all (except that one still had the crappy speaker, paper, and completely rotted out).

Can't tell from the pics whether these have any guts or not, but, I'm guessing if he got a good price, they're nothing but shells also.

[laminarflow]

I guess, it also depends on whats common too. Old radios and old arcade cabinets are both rare enough where I am that I'm always horrified when people do that!  Yet I know if its a part of the world where there are lot of these things and they are cheap then financially and historically the value is perceived different!  round my area an old console radio cabinet with nothing working and most internals missing and people still want $100 or more.   usually a lot more.   Same with arcade stuff   Non-working arcade machines for $250!!  But I understand if they are not rare in your locations its different.

Also don't think all old Radios sound bad,  there are some lovely radios when mixed with an SSTRANS AM transmitter sound amazing.   But anyway, back to arcade stuff  

[Meph]

Actually some of these do have the chassis in them.  None of them are working and some of the tubes are missing.  Some have had their wires cut.  They are all in various states of disrepair.  I fully understand your point from a restoration aspect but aside from the sentimental value people place on these radios, they are practically worthless from a collectors standpoint.  Fully restored they don't go for much more than what people sell them for in this condition and most people just buy them for the "furniture" aspect of them.

I don't see what I am doing as destroying them.  If anything I think its improving them.  I can take a piece that was rotting in someone's barn and turn it into an entertainment showpiece in their living room, which is what they were intended for back in the 30's-40s when these were made.  I know plenty of "collectors" who have rooms full of pieces that they intend to restore, but the reality is that they will just end up sitting around for another 20 years.

As for any internal parts that might be in working or salvageable order, they will either be sold to someone that IS restoring a piece or donated to the local restorer who gave me my first cabinet.  I know there are 2 sides to this fence and I don't imagine I am going to make you see it any other way, but that my view on it.  The beauty of these cabinets is exactly why them make such great jukebox projects.  I'm happy to restore them in my own way to what they were intended for, entertainment, rather than museum pieces.

[Meph]

laminarflow, pricing isn't much different here.  I have been searching since December for a single cabinet to use because most people have wanted $150 and up for their beat up pieces.  I just found a gold mine here and couldn't pass it up.  My first project was actually donated to me from the biggest restorer in my area.  He has owned the local music store for the last 45 years and has about 100 restored radios on display in his store.  When we first discussed what I wanted to do he was all for it.  This type of project seems to really lend it self to mixing the old and new.  I really can appreciate your view and I have some plans for a couple of these cabinets that will require no physical change to the outside of the cabinet.  I will post more about it shortly.

[drventure]

I have some plans for a couple of these cabinets that will require no physical change to the outside of the cabinet.  I will post more about it shortly.

Looking forward to those plans.

I think for this radio cabinet I'm now working on (an Erla?), I'm going to lean a little more to the steampunk side. Just not sure how yet. This one is one of those with a completely flat front (no lean-back at the top that makes an excellent touchscreen mount point)

[Hockeyboy]

Just out of curiosity, are you planning on doing the same thing with these 5 that you did with the Philco from last year? Can you give the rest of us a picture, or a link to your build, so we have an idea?

I'd love to see what you did to restore one of these, and how it looks now, all completed and restored.

[Meph]

The link to my previous build is in my signature.  My plans for these 5 are ever changing.  Once I decide exactly what my plans are for them I will post.