What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

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As you can see in the photographs, it is a RCA Víctor radio with the right side of the bakelite case completely destroyed and there are none of the missing pieces. It also lacks a rear cover and the three control buttons.
When I asked a colleague friend, after showing him the photos, what would you do with this radio? He replied: "return it to its owner and tell him to buy another one."
As the owner I decided first of all to see the status of the hardware. At first glance, I noticed that in its day ,someone had made a botched job adding the maritime wave coils. So, with the scheme in front, https://fotos.subefotos.com/2b7c800e...c233b973do.gif
after checking that the valves were in good condition and after changing several capacitors, the speaker, its transformer, some resistors with altered value, and restored the original format of medium and short waves, when I put it on again I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of reception in selectivity, sensitivity, as well as a clear and high volume.

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I was so surprised that I was encouraged to try for provide him with a decent "shelter".

Starting from the available piece and being fully aware that artistic modeling is not exactly one of my few skills, I started diving on the internet and in different forums looking for information on how to do the reconstruction of the Bakelite case.
At first I thought about doing it with resin but I didn't dare.
Finally, after watching a video tutorial on modeling with two-component epoxy putty, I considered that this could be the best option within my "artistic" possibilities. At least you had to try.

After purchasing a kit of Epofer EX610-A + E610-B product - epoxy putty online, I got down to business.
The first to delimit the contours corresponding to the ceiling, floor and side of the affected part, I cut two patterns in wood veneer, using the left part (fortunately intact), since this part, from the outside to the center of the case is exactly symmetrical with the destroyed part.

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As this is an ac receiver. with the corresponding weight of the transformer and loudspeaker I considered that it should conveniently reinforce the cladding and for this I began by arranging a little structure with two copper strips vertically linked horizontally with several wires, also copper, welded to them, on whose "lattice" would adequately spread a layer of the epoxy putty.

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Once all the affected part was covered and hardened, the work was patiently retouched, filling “potholes” and reducing protuberances with the help of a file and sandpaper, until achieving a surface as homogeneous as possible

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Finally, a multitude of varnish coats were necessary to the entire piece of furniture until the general aspect of it was brought as close the original as possible.

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The three control buttons were also made with the same type of putty, using a piece of PVC pipe as a mold.

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For the back cover there was no major problem using a tablex-type wooden.

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It is not a work of art, but seeing it now I feel that it has been worth the time invested..

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Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Fantastic effort. Well done.

Aub

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Good job, well done.

Adrian

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Excellent, glad you saved the set, I am sure many would have just used the item for spares. I hope it works well too!

John

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Did someone throw it away?

Not a work of art? Yes it IS a work of art- some of the things that seem to qualify as art in England are a pile of bricks or an unmade bed, so your effort alone qualifies this as art in my opinion....not to mention it is unique.

The repaired section is no doubt much stronger than the original bakelite!

The way life works, you will probably find an immaculate cabinet for that radio in a dumpster or skip next week...

Dave

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Many thanks for your kind coments Aub, Adrian, John and Dave.
Best regards.

César

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

great effort, I couldn't do anything like that!

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Well done, most people would have scrapped it. I wouldn't have the patience or skill to carry out such a repair.

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

When I was young, I would just keep the chassis and discard the cabinet, broken or not!
I would repair the radio and use it, less the cabinet. My mother would complain that it looked like junk in my room. I thought it looked neat.
Dave, USradcoll1. :wave:

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Thank you Kevin, Martin and Dave,usradcoll1 for your nice opinions.
Regards
César

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Well done! Your photo 5 from the end looks like one of those ancient Roman or Greek vases, where the restoration makes clear what parts are original and what have been created by the conservator :)

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Thank you for your good observation mark in manc.
Regards
César

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Very impressive indeed, I can appreciate how difficult doing something like this is. Some years ago I bought a Ekco A23 that got smashed badly in the post. I made a reasonable job putting it all back together, it was difficult and I had all the bits!
Making up something that isn't there is a whole new ball game!

Re: What would you do with this RCA radio?
 

Hi Clive, thanks. I remember have been many days thinking about how rebuild it, until i gave me count that the left part was intact and so it could be used as pattern for delimit the contours of the affected part. In that moment i belived see a "little light at the end of the tunnel"
Regards
César