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1936 Silvertone Tube Radio Restoration Project

RS Steve

RS Steve

Tube Junkie
Subscriber
After picking up this very cool man cave antique, I have decided to do a bit of restoration on it, and see if I can get it functional also. I was told it did light up when turned on, but no sound output. It has a very simple tuner string that is broken and should be easy to replace, power cord has a taped section so will need replacing, replacement grill cloth is ordered, and speaker has had the cone ruined by something and will need replacement cone if available. It had a few knobs included, but it turns out they are not correct, I was able to find reproductions that are available.
The wood cabinet is in very nice condition considering it has never been restored, I might possibly touch it up, and put some new clear on it. The amp itself I will try and trouble shoot and seek advice on making it work properly. I am not going to try and make this unit look brand new, but having it be a working piece of history for my listening space should be super cool. Knowing a family probably spent hours at a time gathered around this, and enjoying radio shows back in the day, can only add to it's charm.
http://www.radiophile.com/silv4586.htm

20160126_174427.jpg 20160128_084823.jpg 20160128_084837.jpg 20160128_084849.jpg 20160127_084140.jpg 20160128_084923.jpg 20160128_084910.jpg
 
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When I restored my Zenith --I replace all the caps and that brought her back. I'm sure "Simply Speakers" in Flordia can repair your speaker.1938 ZENITH.jpg
 
Well don't know --It was restored in 1980 and fully aligned in 1985 and hasn't missed a beat yet. I used Sprague orange drops. I finally found a correct grill cloth this past summer for it so that will be an upcoming project. I think those old uprights have beautiful look and sound. I listen to mine every weekend.
 
Can you get a close up of the dial face -I'm curious to see what it looks like ? Is the tuning eye tube a 6u5 or a 6t5.?
 
This unit was sitting in a local thrift store for a few months, the guy wanted it gone but started at a 300.00 price tag. I told him I would give 75.00 and to call me if he decided to make the deal. He got in a few other items he knew I would have interest in, so he put together a package deal. Klipsch Epic C-2 speakers, Webcor Holiday 124 tube turntable, Monster power conditioner, and this Silvertone 4586 tube radio.
 
Something tells me this one has been into already. The can caps that most likely ought to live on the front corner of the chassis are not there.

If looks on the speaker are not top priority, you can likely patch that thing together with a coffee filter and some rubber cement applied to the back side. Put some grille cloth in there and you'll never see it.

If you can come up with a model number, I can likely get you a clean scan of the Rider's service info for it if you don't already have it. I've got the set for all the pre-war stuff.
 
gadget73 said:
Something tells me this one has been into already. The can caps that most likely ought to live on the front corner of the chassis are not there.

If looks on the speaker are not top priority, you can likely patch that thing together with a coffee filter and some rubber cement applied to the back side. Put some grille cloth in there and you'll never see it.

If you can come up with a model number, I can likely get you a clean scan of the Rider's service info for it if you don't already have it. I've got the set for all the pre-war stuff.
Click to expand...

Is that what was in all those binders I saw you loading in your car in Sept?

Do you happen to have the one for Silvertones 1934 "Worlds Fair" console? It's a farm unit.
Model # 1853
 
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That was the Sams Photofact partial set. That one ranges from basically immediately post-war to about 1957. The Rider's set I've had a couple of years. It runs from 1925 - 1948 or so. I like documentation, unfortunately it eats a load of space.

If the model number is 1933, and this is basically the right schematic, I've got it

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/Resources/835/M0016835.htm

Unfortunately I don't have a proper index for these, so I have to rely on nostalgiaair to find stuff, then get it out of the manual. If you can't read that one, I can scan my copy. Some of the stuff on NA is pretty grainy.


Looks like this one is Steve's

http://www.nostalgiaair.org/pagesbymodel/120/M0017120.pdf
 
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gadget73 said:
Something tells me this one has been into already. The can caps that most likely ought to live on the front corner of the chassis are not there.

If looks on the speaker are not top priority, you can likely patch that thing together with a coffee filter and some rubber cement applied to the back side. Put some grille cloth in there and you'll never see it.

If you can come up with a model number, I can likely get you a clean scan of the Rider's service info for it if you don't already have it. I've got the set for all the pre-war stuff.
Click to expand...


Yep, there are some new caps hiding below. The voice coil is rubbing pretty bad on this speaker so I will try to replace or re cone. Thanks for the schematic, that will help greatly. This is just one of those things that really get me excited, the history, the fact that this is how people got the news everyday, just makes me smile. But one of the best things is that my wife thinks it's cool too. :hug:
 
Your radio as mine probably did in 1938 was to broadcast Orson Wells-War of the Worlds---Think about it . Or it could have broadcast the Pearl Harbor invasion. A lot of history in these old beauties. Of all of my possessions-my 38 Zenith is #1 above all I own.
 
JHS2RT said:
Your radio as mine probably did in 1938 was to broadcast Orson Wells-War of the Worlds---Think about it . Or it could have broadcast the Pearl Harbor invasion. A lot of history in these old beauties. Of all of my possessions-my 38 Zenith is #1 above all I own.
Click to expand...


Yeah, the great sound, massive power, and all the stuff that caught my interest in most of my stereo equipment I own, doesn't apply here. It is all about the history and cool factor, as silly as that seems. I just had to grab this thing, and I look forward to getting it up a running.
 
Interesting, looks like the electrolytic caps were done for the bicentennial if the "7621" code means what I think it means.

Looks otherwise original. Yay for awesome 1930s wax paper caps.
 
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