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First of all let me point out that this $35.00 Western Royal console radio was broken, and in my assessment would cost more to repair than to convert into a classy good sounding radio.
I was at my local thrift store a few months ago and saw this radio, its case was not in too bad a shape, but when plugged in nothing happened. I talked them down to 35 bucks, and loaded it up. When I got it home and took the frame out of it, it was apparent that it had been on fire, and that most of the point to point soldered electronics were cooked. I then researched how much a fully functional one would be and perfect ones go for about 300.00 bucks.
So I decided to modernize it, but keep the old look, and make the old controls work a new radio. It needed a full make over and a revamp of everything. The original parts are the knobs, case, metal frame, dial and bezel.
After its conversion its an AM/FM radio with MP3 player, with Bose bookshelf speakers and 150 watts of power.
This instructable cannot cover all radio conversions for all models of radio's, but is a good starting point, its also a complicated build requiring you to think on your feet and come up with your own solutions, I will give you all the information I can.
On to parts and supplies:
I was at my local thrift store a few months ago and saw this radio, its case was not in too bad a shape, but when plugged in nothing happened. I talked them down to 35 bucks, and loaded it up. When I got it home and took the frame out of it, it was apparent that it had been on fire, and that most of the point to point soldered electronics were cooked. I then researched how much a fully functional one would be and perfect ones go for about 300.00 bucks.
So I decided to modernize it, but keep the old look, and make the old controls work a new radio. It needed a full make over and a revamp of everything. The original parts are the knobs, case, metal frame, dial and bezel.
After its conversion its an AM/FM radio with MP3 player, with Bose bookshelf speakers and 150 watts of power.
This instructable cannot cover all radio conversions for all models of radio's, but is a good starting point, its also a complicated build requiring you to think on your feet and come up with your own solutions, I will give you all the information I can.
On to parts and supplies:
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Signing UpStep 1Tools, Parts and Supplies needed
Tools:
Hammer
Screwdrivers
Soldering iron
solder
drill with bits
jig saw
sanding equipment (orbital sander recommended)
Oven
Parts:
Replacement AM/FM receiver (KLOSS model 1 used here)
Small Mono or Stereo amplifier (Pyle 160 watt used here)
Speaker(s) (Bose bookshelf speakers used here)
Speaker wire
scrap particle board 3/4" thick
Supplies:
sand paper (if your case is in good shape, 400 grit to 1000 grit)
Lexan sheet plastic (available at most hobby shops in 8x10 sheets)
Carpet glue
paint (some cases including mine had black or gold trim)
Varnish
Wood stain
wood filler
1/8" plywood to make cabinet back or paneling.
Balsa wood
epoxy (5min)
Knowledge of electronics, woodworking, and mechanical skills needed for this conversion.
Hammer
Screwdrivers
Soldering iron
solder
drill with bits
jig saw
sanding equipment (orbital sander recommended)
Oven
Parts:
Replacement AM/FM receiver (KLOSS model 1 used here)
Small Mono or Stereo amplifier (Pyle 160 watt used here)
Speaker(s) (Bose bookshelf speakers used here)
Speaker wire
scrap particle board 3/4" thick
Supplies:
sand paper (if your case is in good shape, 400 grit to 1000 grit)
Lexan sheet plastic (available at most hobby shops in 8x10 sheets)
Carpet glue
paint (some cases including mine had black or gold trim)
Varnish
Wood stain
wood filler
1/8" plywood to make cabinet back or paneling.
Balsa wood
epoxy (5min)
Knowledge of electronics, woodworking, and mechanical skills needed for this conversion.
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I did kind of the same thing , slight diffrent .
Took a philips BX610A , picked it up @ a yard sale for 20 bucks
It was still working , so i kept the inside .
Bought 2 Bose 101's , small but very awesome speakers.
Bought a quality 2x25 watt amp for 120 bucks ,
Ipod dock @ the top and a build in power suppley
@ the back its just a plug and play system.
Urs looks brand new , awesome , but i like the old / worn look better
And it sounds like bose shut , Awesome !!!
I found a wireless iphone dock that I am thinking of working into this one, right now the jukebox mode of the MP3 player works great, talk radio on AM/FM gets used allot as well.
Bose sure makes good speakers, mine are over 15 years old and they still rock!
MURDERER
YOU KILLED A RADIO
YOU KILLED HISTORY
but on the other hand nice work revurbishing
(what did you do with the tubes?)
Ebay is were the tubes went, and read the instructable, I revived and improved a broken radio, sounds great to, its the life of the party!
if they are fixed they can go on up to 50 years
now it onle can 10 max
and I wont have to worry about finding parts to make a just a AM radio work.
Yes, this radio had the magic eye station strength indicator, it was one of the tubes that sold well online...
I replaced it with a piece of plastic and extended the Kloss's LED, I just extended the wires, a drop of super glue is holding the LED in the plastic, and double face tape holds the plastic to the back side of the radio's dial. This is so I can remove it should I change the design, I would like to make a digital equivalent to the magic eye.
Your old new radio turned out great.
Replaced the old power supply that doubles as heater with an efficient switch mode supply. This also reduced the weight and actually cleaned up the sound cause the oscillation that originated from the power supply is gone. Contrary to popular believe this does not affect the audio quality. The switching frequency of the supply was in a different range than any of the amplifiers so it was easy enough to filter it out.
Put in a new speaker with roughly the same characteristics cause the old one started to show aging.
Replaced the power amplifier stage with a D-class amplifier cause the old power stage was about as efficient as a hamster running in a wheel is at power generation.
FM tuner went as well cause its frequency setting was heavily temperature dependant (I was able to switch radio station by leaving the doors and windows open for a few minutes).
Though cause most of the parts were somewhat of my own design it did fit quite well. If anybody needs help doing something similar to what I did feel free to contact me and I'll see if I can find a bit of time to help :)
I to considered using the at least the preamp section of the radio, but its far to damaged, I love the tube sound thats for sure!
I would love to do something like this but I don't have a radio that size, I have 2 old tube style radios (table top models) with the Bakelite cases but I don't want to modify them as they both work (all original parts) they don't get used except as conversation pieces. I have been looking for years for a nice older radio like you found and I may find one someday.
Again wonderful job and very clever solutions to the problems encountered.
I wish you many years of enjoyment
Dan
Keep an eye out for a good old radio, thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales...
THey are out there and allot of them are in bad shape, electronically.
Most shops done have a tube tester and if they do they have no idea how it works.
Also so many components just go bad sitting there.
To me the soul of the radio is the case, knobs, and dials.... Save those and you keep the radio alive!
Originally I thought it would be an awesome custom PC case. Now I might update the interior parts instead. Thanks for the inspiration!
The current one, looks allot better and keeps the cat out the electronics...
Thanks for looking!
I always wanted to do this, but hadn't found the right radio, Id like to convert a table top one, when I find one at the right price.
I have, well rather my parents have this old box style wooden stereo with prop up lid probably some time from the 70's. It has a record player, places to hook up mic’s and of course an a track player. The stereo part works great. I even hooked up a video game system up a few times for the sound.
Maybe it might end up in a similar manner. ;)