As mentioned previously, Bill Reid has donated the remainder of his collection to the museum. I did not count, but it was several hundred radios in total. Bill's main interests were boat-anchors/amateur gear and radios produced by the Crosley company, mostly from the 1930's and 1940's. (more on the big receivers later).
So when I was not playing fireman (see post below), after the soot cleared from the air, I was able to work on a few of the cabinets. I had started with the big 8, 9, and 10 tube radios first. When I came to the 5-tube radios that Crosley called Fivers I would normally have set them aside, possibly offering them for sale as projects, but here was an almost complete collection. I saw it as a case of the total being greater than the sum of the parts, not to mention one of the fivers being a 25 Hz mains unit.
So when I was not playing fireman (see post below), after the soot cleared from the air, I was able to work on a few of the cabinets. I had started with the big 8, 9, and 10 tube radios first. When I came to the 5-tube radios that Crosley called Fivers I would normally have set them aside, possibly offering them for sale as projects, but here was an almost complete collection. I saw it as a case of the total being greater than the sum of the parts, not to mention one of the fivers being a 25 Hz mains unit.
These radios were all restored as a group. The cabinets were finished with nitrocellulose lacquer that had been slightly modified for less gloss - between gloss and semi-gloss. All of the cabinet had been refinished previously and several were missing parts, mainly base molding, which I reproduced with my table router.
The chassis had also been worked-on. Some of them did function and a few, particularly the 25 Hz mains unit (center) did not. Check out the size of that 25 Hz transformer! This thing is heavy and the chassis weight might have tested the rather simple cabinets.
The later chassis (typically 517 model) is on the left and a 515 is on the far right. The 25 Hz unit is marked 555-5. YES(!) Crosly model designation can be confusing. On the web you can find examples of the model 555 and a console model 5555 but don't confuse either with this one (555-5).
The later chassis (typically 517 model) is on the left and a 515 is on the far right. The 25 Hz unit is marked 555-5. YES(!) Crosly model designation can be confusing. On the web you can find examples of the model 555 and a console model 5555 but don't confuse either with this one (555-5).
The later 517 chassis
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Above : Top Left: 515 restored, Top Rt. 516 restored, Bottom Left: 555-5 Bottom Rt. 517 As Found
The chassis had many parts missing/replaced. So I had only a few of the correct by part #, original capacitors to rebuild. My stock ran out after the first couple of restorations so I had to improvise. I did use the correct brands - Crosley was not picky, Solar, Sprague, CD and Aerovox are a few of the original paper caps that can be found with the Crosley W-XXXXX part numbers printed on the caps. The other issue is that Crosley was fond of multi-section paper caps. These are seldom seen in other manufacture's units. Basically, you have a paper tube with 2 caps in it. This assembly has a lead exiting the center of the tube which often is soldered to a mounting clamp. This center lead is often connected to ground.
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By now you are probably wondering what this has to do with Greek Muses.
Thalia is the Muse of comedy and Melpomene is the Muse of tragedy. They are often seen pictured together in the theater - one smiling face and one with a frown.
Still unclear? Well, remember when I brought you this? https://www.russoldradios.com/blog/heres-looking-at-you-hes-looking-at-you
Too many lacquer fumes, some say.
Had I not restored these as a group I probably would not have noticed -
Thalia is the Muse of comedy and Melpomene is the Muse of tragedy. They are often seen pictured together in the theater - one smiling face and one with a frown.
Still unclear? Well, remember when I brought you this? https://www.russoldradios.com/blog/heres-looking-at-you-hes-looking-at-you
Too many lacquer fumes, some say.
Had I not restored these as a group I probably would not have noticed -
I probably would have never noticed that the later 517 looks less-happy than the early model.
Note the differences in that one uses a bezel and one doesn't. More to the point, the two router cuts on the right and left of the grill are different. The shorter ones seem to replicate a sad face while the longer ones make the cabinet look happy.
In trying to find original examples of these cabinets I noted that some seemed to have gold paint in the groves rather than black. So I did one each way.
Too many fumes? Maybe.
Note the differences in that one uses a bezel and one doesn't. More to the point, the two router cuts on the right and left of the grill are different. The shorter ones seem to replicate a sad face while the longer ones make the cabinet look happy.
In trying to find original examples of these cabinets I noted that some seemed to have gold paint in the groves rather than black. So I did one each way.
Too many fumes? Maybe.
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