Retro DVD Player

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An old vintage radio transformed into a slot loading DVD player. The 4 buttons control power, play/pause, stop, and eject and it can also be controlled via remote control.

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Step 1: The Original DVD Player and Radio Case

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I got the case from a vintage radio repair man in town. The DVD player is a slot loading Insignia model http://www.insignia-products.com/p-140-insignia-progressive-scan-dvd-player-with-hdmi-output.aspx which I picked up for $50 at Best Buy. I needed a slot loading DVD player for this project and was a little surprised to find there are not that many slot loading DVD players on the market.

randy9582 says: Feb 4, 2013. 8:23 PM

cool project!

bricabracwizard says: Apr 12, 2011. 8:55 PM

Absolutely great instructable and a good looking DVD player, now if you can only mod the remote control to look as if it came from the same period.

Golem100 says: Apr 8, 2010. 3:48 PM

This is a fabulous project! I love the way the slot load doesn't require cutting into the case.

Now, what would be even cooler would be to take a car DVD player and have the radio dial fold back out of the way so the screen could slide out and pop up.

davidprosser says: Oct 11, 2008. 8:31 AM

Great project!!! I love re-casing stuff like this. Although I prefer the older look, so would use a yellowy LED or incandescant bulb instead of a blue LED. Also you could mount the DVD display where the original display is possibly.

solis365 in reply to davidprosserMar 14, 2009. 1:44 PM

I'm not sure what the backing material is on that dial, but if you got some yellowed/faded parchment that matched it and put it right behind the glass, then mounted some amber LEDs behind that, it would give a nice yellow "incandescent"-ish glow, so long as the amber LEDs were properly diffused (you'd probably have to get a diffuser or sand them. the parchment would help with diffusion as well.) I can see it now, watching a movie in a dark room, with this little box sitting in the corner emitting a little warm light... classy!

Phoghat in reply to solis365May 23, 2009. 9:23 AM

Not only that, but if you could get some kind of fiber board resembling that which was originally used for these old radios and cut out a space for the display. Hey alinke, you do good.

alinke (author) in reply to davidprosserOct 14, 2008. 9:27 AM

thanks for the feedback Dave

easyrider8 says: Sep 20, 2007. 3:26 PM

Seems a shame to destroy a $100.00 radio to make a $29.00 DVD player

alinke (author) in reply to easyrider8Sep 20, 2007. 4:20 PM

just the radio case was purchased, nothing was destroyed

Phoghat in reply to alinkeMay 23, 2009. 9:20 AM

No radios were harmed in making this Instructable?

N1CK4ND0 says: Mar 14, 2009. 4:22 PM

This is my type of Instructable haha. But knowing me it would end up looking like $#!T.

tinkernaut says: Apr 12, 2008. 12:50 AM

Great job! As a long-time electronics re-casing DYIer, I really appreciated this project! Keep up the good work (and post the instructables)!

pyrocop1 says: Mar 19, 2008. 2:35 PM

I really like the old radio cabinet. I think a whole computer system would be cool.

DIY Dave says: Jan 30, 2008. 7:09 PM

cool

AT says: Sep 20, 2007. 8:09 PM

Very nice! Next you should take an old TV case and put an LDC panel into it.

noelix says: Sep 20, 2007. 4:47 PM

Cool. Looks fairly complex though, I think I'd need a little more hand-holding if I were to attempt it myself! For your next task you should make a home theater pc in one of those old radios!

Peter3D says: Sep 20, 2007. 1:46 PM

Cool ! Why not use a 'standard' DVD player, mount it a bit recessed and glue a piece of veneer, that matches the type of wood of the case, on the front of it. Gives you a bit more freedom.

alinke (author) in reply to Peter3DSep 20, 2007. 1:59 PM

thanks for the feedback, that would have been a lot easier probably could have been done without taking everything apart but I really wanted slot loading