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Old School Stereo Cabinets

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shunter2005

New Member
I don't know where else to put this thread, but if it's in the wrong place, please move it to a better location.

I looked for a long while and finally found an old school stereo cabinet, I feel would be perfect for my newest vintage system to go in my den. I have stripped most of it down and it's in the refurbishment stage. It won't be perfect when done, but I don't want it perfect. It needs to retain some of the old character from being many years old. It has a very thin piece of wood veneer paneling on the back, but somewhere down the line someone cut it down, basically butchering it. I believe the rear of the cabinet was originally completely covered with this veneer. I would like to replace it, so it looks better than it does now. The cabinet is 24" X 48" and I believe the remaining veneer is about 1/16" thick.

Does anyone know if the veneer piece has a proper name or if it's just a veneer sheet? I have found a couple of places where I think I can get a piece, but need to check this week. If anyone knows of a good place, I would love to know.

I could take of the remaining cruddy looking piece and just leave it open in the back, but I think it would look like s%*(. It really needs to be closed in the back. I'll post up a few pics later tonight or in the morning. TIA.
 
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You're in Houston. Either Home Depot or Lowe's will have that. I don't know the exact name, but if you walk around in either of those stores, you'll see it.
If you don't care about the "already butchered" portion, take a piece with you to show someone.

Sounds like a cool project. Let us know how it goes.
 
Might look around a Habitat Restore for some veneer sided plywood that is used for kitchen cabinet back side facing. A thicker sheet on the back would strengthen the cabinet some for that heavy equipment.
 
shunter2005 said:
I don't know where else to put this thread, but if it's in the wrong place, please move it to a better location.

I looked for a long while and finally found an old school stereo cabinet, I feel would be perfect for my newest vintage system to go in my den. I have stripped most of it down and it's in the refurbishment stage. It won't be perfect when done, but I don't want it perfect. It needs to retain some of the old character from being many years old. It has a very thin piece of wood veneer paneling on the back, but somewhere down the line someone cut it down, basically butchering it. I believe the rear of the cabinet was originally completely covered with this veneer. I would like to replace it, so it looks better than it does now. The cabinet is 24" X 48" and I believe the remaining veneer is about 1/16" thick.

Does anyone know if the veneer piece has a proper name or if it's just a veneer sheet? I have found a couple of places where I think I can get a piece, but need to check this week. If anyone knows of a good place, I would love to know.

I could take of the remaining cruddy looking piece and just leave it open in the back, but I think it would look like s%*(. It really needs to be closed in the back. I'll post up a few pics later tonight or in the morning. TIA.
Click to expand...
Here's a few snaps. Mind you, it's dirty as it can be right now. Still have to sand part of the inside, then a finish sand with 220. Thinking about putting a little amber shellac on to "maybe" look a little like the Marantz stuff that's going in it. All new hardware to add to the double glass doors. More pics as I go. Should have gotten some before I started, but I forgot about it.
 

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Back in the day, stereo cabinets tended to be backed with a cheap (easily modified) hardboard panel... something like a 3/16" ply would be a slightly more upmarket option, offering a little more rigidity too.

While I appreciate the aesthetics of closing the back, that's about the worst thing you could do for the health of your Marantz units - you need to maximise ventilation, to get rid of the heat they're generating, esp. if you have it almost closed at the front too. Access for cable connections, power supply, interconnects etc., also has to be considered. It was common to leave large 'open' areas for exactly those reasons.
 
Goldie99 said:
Back in the day, stereo cabinets tended to be backed with a cheap (easily modified) hardboard panel... something like a 3/16" ply would be a slightly more upmarket option, offering a little more rigidity too.

While I appreciate the aesthetics of closing the back, that's about the worst thing you could do for the health of your Marantz units - you need to maximise ventilation, to get rid of the heat they're generating, esp. if you have it almost closed at the front too. Access for cable connections, power supply, interconnects etc., also has to be considered. It was common to leave large 'open' areas for exactly those reasons.
Click to expand...
Hmmm..... Had not thought of the need for ventilation at this point. Thanks for the info. With that in mind, I may go with 24 x 24. I was going to drill 2" holes for connections anyway, so I will need to look at how much room the turntable will take at the top and go from there.
 
A lot of them were constructed from 15mm or 18mm veneered chipboard, so tended to only survive a few years at most - yours looks much more solid already, but still only as 'solid' as the 4 corner joints can hold it. I'd try to keep the back as large as possible, e.g., instead of 24 X 24, I'd consider say something like 48 X 24, but with maybe a 20 X 20 cut-out, so there's still a couple of inches of rear panel fixed all around, for additional support - anyway, just a thought - I still have one with only half the back covered, and it's not as rigid as I'd like...
 
Those back panels, thin as they may be, are structural.

They keep the unit square.

You need at least one across the top, that extends down the sides a ways, and the same at the bottom.
Otherwise it will want to collapse. The middle can be left open for access and ventilation.

A couple of weeks ago I found a real wood (solid, not even ply) stereo rack that uses truss metal rods to hold the sides to the top and bottom.
The back is still a cheap, thin board, but even with the truss rods, needs to be in place.
 
Before I built the Dual Flexy rack I currently use I had two of the old style racks with adjustable shelves and double glass doors. Without the flimsy back panels they flexed so much it made me uncomfortable. I eventually had to use braided wire and turnbuckles because the sides started bowing out. My next step was the Dual Flexy.
 
This might not be related but for my outside deck stereo I used a weather proof husky tool tote stood up used the top tray slid in as a shelf drilled a 1/2 hole used a wire clamp to seal around the cord box has s weather proof seal and one for the speaker wires have 2 Dayton all weather speakers my $10 goodwill find a sherwin reciever and a rocket fish Bluetooth adaptor reciever stays out in spring till Halloween when I close my hottub
 
IMG_7335.jpeg IMG_7337.jpeg IMG_7338.jpeg IMG_7339.jpeg IMG_7326.jpeg IMG_7330.jpeg IMG_7333.jpeg I'm seeing some great mod's. I've rehabed several great cabinet's. As far as the back is concerned, I've used a 3/16" baltic birch ply, it's stable and will provide structure and rigidity. Cabinet 1. Found this roadside in poor shape. The interior back is a cast gypsum wave panel, continuous across the back with lighting, Typically my other table is where the lamp is,I made the lamp as well. Cabinet 2. I gutted this one and in the reconstruction, created a secret compartment........unseen storage for accessories. Cabinet 3. Functional but yet to be refinished. I have an extensive background in architectural furniture and lighting design/manufacturing. If I can help let me know.
 
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Does anyone know if the veneer piece has a proper name or if it's just a veneer sheet? I have found a couple of places where I think I can get a piece, but need to check this week. If anyone knows of a good place, I would love to know.
Click to expand...

Clarks in the Heights will have what you need. 1/4 ply lots of choices on veneers to match the grain pattern of your existing piece. If your further north or more west it might be closer to go to Houston Hardwoods. Prices are a little better at Houston Hardwoods but selection is a little more limited.
 
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