Atwater Kent 82 - "Good Condition"(?)

4/15/2018

Craig's List item. Before and after.
Yeah, the radio chassis had a few issues, but, so did the cabinet.

Fortunately, in the process of replacing the front veneer with a single sheet of Mahogany, the seller did not get the damaged front panel firmly glued to the arch. Unfortunately, the original trim was lost.

Since the back side of the panel was also damaged, I found it was easier to just make a new panel. The picture above shows the original front after it was reglued and cleaned up. At one point I was going to re-veneer but other damage caused me to reconsider. Much of the grill area had been "patched" with a filler similar to Bondo or some sort of wood filler.

The geometry of the arch trim is a somewhat more difficult than most people would think. Not impossible, but, just try to calculate the inner curve (at a tangent to the outer curve).

The rest was router work and adding the Zebrawood veneer.

IF the most important consideration regarding the restoration of a chassis is the amount of rust, then this one was not so bad. Unfortunately the power transformer had been replaced and was missing it's cover. Another interesting deficiency was discovered in the tuning cap. There was just enough oxidized metal deposited on the insulators to cause the volume control circuit not to work.

This volume control is much better than a simple rheostat placed on the antenna input but also more complicated. If you get a chance, it can be seen here:

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/480/M0001480.htm

Aah, Spring, fresh flowers and old radios!

P.S. No, I didn't pay $100 for it.

Russ

5 Comments

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7/8/2018 08:15:43 pm

That radio cabinet looks wonderful. It is a waste to just throw such a thing that looks so expensive and vintage. I am glad that you did a good job in fixing that radio chassis and its cabinet. You have restored it to its former glory and now it looks good enough to be a center piece in your living room. I love furniture that are antiques and I am willing to pay good money for it that is why I think that throwing one is not an option.

Dave Slusarczyk

6/13/2021 01:27:09 pm

AMAZING work!! I am very particular about my restorations as well. Your cabinet work is nothing short of AMAZING!!
My hats offto you!!

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6/8/2023 01:15:11 am

I think it is not easy to make this one. The materials are very inexpensive but very worth it.

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2/27/2025 01:59:38 pm

In 1949, I was given an Atwater~Kent Model 82 radio that was beautiful on the outside and shiny on the inside. Reception unaided was a out on a par with any table or clock radio of the time; however, with a 50-fooet wire hooked to the antenna lug, the sensitivity was unbelievable. In midday, I could listen to stations a few hundred miles away, that were ot even faintly audible of other sets. And selectivity was utterly astounding. The audio was rich and full, if a bit leaned toward a strong bass. I used this radio on a daily basis, until my home burned to the ground in 1972. I tried to rescue the charred hulk which had been this mag incentive radio, but it was no use -- even after keeping it inside of the warmth where I was staying for three months, simply to be sure that no water remained in it. The entire top was charred off, and the heavy paper cone burnt out of its speaker. The dial was melted, and everything on the chassis was black from smoke. At least three of the tubes had cracks and had lost their vacuum -- and at that point, I gave up. In 1984, I away one of these when a friend took me to a radio-fest. The cabinet was in sos-so condition, and someone had drilled a hole in the left side to put-in some sort of an off-on switch (very old) which was wired to nothing. The radio, I was told, worked, but not all that well, and it needed work. The vendor wanted $800.00 "as-is", but he would take $750.00: I passed. I now have receimently acquired on in a nice original-finish ca inet which will be shipped to me shortly. I paid plenty for it, and I now am wondering what it will take to restore its operation, what the I.F. frequency is, etc.? (The one I originally had came to me working excellently, and so I never had investigated how to service and/or align it. And thoughts on, once I have the radio in my hands, where I should start? Thanks so much for any suggestions! I can't seem to scroll-back and edit this before sending it, so please excuse any typos (I have no computer -- I am using my cell'-'phone).

Atwater Kent 82 - "Good Condition"(?)

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