Minimalism--a term referring to styles displaying pared-down design elements--is a popular trend in home décor. It is in one word--simplicity. Everything must have clean lines; be clutter-free, sleek and simple. 
The concept strips a household to the bare bones. It suggests austerity to me,  I can see only one advantage. A look so understated, that it defies time, might at times, serve a purpose.
Most of us can recall a decorating trend from the past we now find laughable. The yellowish-brown shag carpeting that wilted underfoot in the family room, the dark faux wood panels that heralded the den, or the pink mini-roses wallpaper slapped up in the bedroom. It's understandable how an new idea could develop to buck the backlash of a timeworn trend.

Minimalism offers stone cold hard granite, sleek stainless steel, concrete and lacquered surfaces to create a modern aesthetic. More (as I'm referring to an older aesthetic) or (maximism as Russ refers to it) offers warmth, softness, and a pleasant comfy surrounding. An ascetic, I'm not; I have to admit I love comfort.  And, I don't think of myself as old-fashioned.

I have an anti-gravity chair, a Keurig K60/K65 Special Edition Brewer and an iPad. But to be truthful, on a foggy, chilly, winter evening,  I'd much rather lounge in an overstuffed chair with a cup of slow-brewed tea and a good book. I want the reassurance of things familiar--like an old friend. I want to turn on the old radios and listen to music I've heard before. I want to know that in a world--where change happens at such a fast pace,  at times it seems almost possible to get thrown off--that some things are still predictable; that they haven't changed.

 Minimalism is full of adjectives that seem to me  to be antonyms of what creates a home. I'll take old radios, warm kitties, soft blankies and sink-in-so-deep-you-get-lost plush chairs over minimalism-- any day.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

What do you think? Are old radios a good decorating idea?

It began as a joke. Russ had reached a milestone birthday--won't say which one;  I decided to brainstorm a memorable gift.  Applying a thought process far too convoluted to explain, I came up with an idea.

I'll take one of his favorite things--old radios, and make them related to his age in a humorous way.
I scurried to the craft for supplies. Paint, precut letters, wood glue and a flower (to serve as a wink.)

Let's see...Old Russ' Radios, Russ' Old Radios, how could I make it confusing enough to be mistaken as Old Russ' Radios?   I scooted the letters around, tried different configurations and finally arrived as the sign below. That's it,  I thought. The sign still graces the entryway to the Old Radio Museum today.

What do you think? Did I nail it? Let me know.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue
phlog's blog

maybe.  I'm guessing San Francisco and Denver will be facing it off in the Super Bowl. I predict Denver will take it all. Why? Because I know someone who's a Broncos fan and he said so. Why is this on Russ' Old Radio Repair website? 'Cause you're reading it.  ;)  Might as well look at the radios while you're here.

Till next time,

Regards,

Sue ;)
phlog's blog

https://www.facebook.com/russoldradiorepair

 New link to RORR Facebook page- Give us a look.
We'd like, if you'd like.  :)

I remember back in the early 90s, before the internet, I was so happy to find a place to purchase old tubes. After all they were 65 years old (then). Certainly there could not be more than a handful of 01As left. They were $14 in the AES catalog from 1991, an increase of more than 40% from the year before, but, GOOD FOR ME!

Today a good price for an 01A is about $14, maybe less, all thanks to Al Gore's internet. AND I won't even use an 01A because there are so many UX201s and CX301s available for not much more.

Ah, those were the days, before reproduction grill cloth. Kind of like today - AFTER (most) reproduction grill cloth. Still AES was a boon to most radio collectors, especially those located outside of the big cities.

Remember, any prices listed here are a LITTLE out of date. Here are some pages copied from the 1989, 1990 and 1991 AES catalogs.:

Attention:  DIY's  (Do It Yourselfer's)
The repair business has been going great, so great that I don't have time to get to  all of the radios that we acquire. So, we are going to post some of them here -  As Is. You might see one of these disappear from here and reappear all finished  on the FOR SALE page. But until then, here are a few nice unrestored radios to DIY. Have fun!

Silvertone 6050 "Bullet" from 1947      $45 ( plus shipping)
Nice cabinet. Radio works.
The only noticeable defect, other than the finish, is that chip out of the trim  on the top left . Needs Knobs, dial, dial lens and a  back. This radio works. It has been recapped mostly by  re-stuffing the original paper caps. But, it still has about 6 - 12 pieces of the  original rubber wire (that I would strongly suggest be replaced.)