Love it or hate it! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

vinrads · 15th Mar 2020, 10:37 am

Personally I love it, it's a French Excelsior 52, this I purchased last NVCF. It was originally painted and the dreaded rust had got at it in places. I had seen chrome ones on a French radio site, so decided to go chrome. The plastic piping was a horrid mucky off white, so the decision was made to paint it black also the plastic part of the knobs were painted black.
This is the first one of two that I am giving the chrome treatment, Hope you like it! Mick.

Radio Wrangler · 15th Mar 2020, 11:12 am

It does indeed look good, but it sort of leaves you needing the rest of an American roadside diner to go with it.

David

Herald1360 · 15th Mar 2020, 11:47 am

Love it!

Gives the Oceanic Surcouf a run for its money

Nickthedentist · 15th Mar 2020, 11:54 am

Beautiful, Mick.

How exactly did you "go chrome" though?

N.

ajgriff · 15th Mar 2020, 12:18 pm

Presumably it's been professionally chrome plated?

Alan

vinrads · 15th Mar 2020, 12:20 pm

Hi Nick a lot of hard work to save money , the cabinet comes apart top, bottom, two sides, then the base.I removed most of the paint using stripper ,then finished off with fine sanding disk , The chrome plating cost me £300. a lot of money I know, but look at the finished radio. Mick.

alanworland · 15th Mar 2020, 12:55 pm

A great looking set!

Alan

The General · 15th Mar 2020, 2:48 pm

I like it. A good custom job & the original finish would have been very hard to reproduce. No such thing as too much chrome IMHO.

15th Mar 2020, 2:53 pm

Like most very shiny things, lovely until it gets a little dirty. Take glass buildings vs. brick, brick ones look good when a bit tatty.

Oh, love it!

electronicskip · 15th Mar 2020, 9:31 pm

looks fantastic! Encore!!

M0TGX Terry · 16th Mar 2020, 12:01 am

To my untutored eye that looks EXACTLY right for a set of that style. Well worth the cost, in my view. Excellent job. Does it sound as good as it looks?

Kevin Hoyland · 16th Mar 2020, 12:39 am

mick.

as always a first class job.
kevin.

fetteler · 16th Mar 2020, 2:53 am

WOW!!! Superb

Very well done and worth every penny - who cares if it 'gets a little dirty' this level of style is hard won. Brilliant - literally - brilliant!!

Steve

Andrew2 · 16th Mar 2020, 1:42 pm

Even though it looks more like a kitchen appliance I like it...kind of. I particularly like the tuning dial, very neat.

HamishBoxer · 16th Mar 2020, 3:31 pm

Yes,I too like it!

15th Mar 2020, 10:37 am	#1
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,764	Love it or hate it! Personally I love it, it's a French Excelsior 52, this I purchased last NVCF. It was originally painted and the dreaded rust had got at it in places. I had seen chrome ones on a French radio site, so decided to go chrome. The plastic piping was a horrid mucky off white, so the decision was made to paint it black also the plastic part of the knobs were painted black. This is the first one of two that I am giving the chrome treatment, Hope you like it! Mick. Attached Thumbnails

15th Mar 2020, 11:12 am	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,899	Re: Love it or hate it! It does indeed look good, but it sort of leaves you needing the rest of an American roadside diner to go with it. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

15th Mar 2020, 11:47 am	#3
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Love it or hate it! Love it! Gives the Oceanic Surcouf a run for its money __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

15th Mar 2020, 11:54 am	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,861	Re: Love it or hate it! Beautiful, Mick. How exactly did you "go chrome" though? N.

15th Mar 2020, 12:18 pm	#5
ajgriff Nonode Join Date: May 2004 Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,587	Re: Love it or hate it! Presumably it's been professionally chrome plated? Alan

15th Mar 2020, 12:20 pm	#6
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,764	Re: Love it or hate it! Hi Nick a lot of hard work to save money , the cabinet comes apart top, bottom, two sides, then the base.I removed most of the paint using stripper ,then finished off with fine sanding disk , The chrome plating cost me £300. a lot of money I know, but look at the finished radio. Mick.

15th Mar 2020, 12:55 pm	#7
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 802	Re: Love it or hate it! A great looking set! Alan

15th Mar 2020, 2:48 pm	#8
The General Hexode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 329	Re: Love it or hate it! I like it. A good custom job & the original finish would have been very hard to reproduce. No such thing as too much chrome IMHO.

15th Mar 2020, 2:53 pm	#9
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Love it or hate it! Like most very shiny things, lovely until it gets a little dirty. Take glass buildings vs. brick, brick ones look good when a bit tatty. Oh, love it!

15th Mar 2020, 9:31 pm	#10
electronicskip Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 2,150	Re: Love it or hate it! looks fantastic! Encore!! __________________ Oh I've had that for years dear!!

16th Mar 2020, 12:01 am	#11
M0TGX Terry Hexode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 262	Re: Love it or hate it! To my untutored eye that looks EXACTLY right for a set of that style. Well worth the cost, in my view. Excellent job. Does it sound as good as it looks? __________________ Terry the Morganist

16th Mar 2020, 12:39 am	#12
Kevin Hoyland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 559	Re: Love it or hate it! mick. as always a first class job. kevin.

16th Mar 2020, 2:53 am	#13
fetteler Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 1,479	Re: Love it or hate it! WOW!!! Superb Very well done and worth every penny - who cares if it 'gets a little dirty' this level of style is hard won. Brilliant - literally - brilliant!! Steve __________________ Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking...

16th Mar 2020, 1:42 pm	#14
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: Love it or hate it! Even though it looks more like a kitchen appliance I like it...kind of. I particularly like the tuning dial, very neat. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

16th Mar 2020, 3:31 pm	#15
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Love it or hate it! Yes,I too like it! __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S