Restoring Philips Radiogram

QUAD S-2 Bookshelf Speaker
prem said:
Shafic, I am so happy you decided to restore it. How could you even think of throwing it out?:)

All the best for your restoration.
Click to expand...
Thank you Prem.
As a vintage enthusiast, I couldn't leave it to it's fate. It would have been chopped up in to pieces.
I spent time, money and effort to atleast save this cabinet. But it's complete restoration is another story. I will try my best.
I don't have much technical knowledge. I will have to take the help of experts. Let's see how much i can do. Time will tell.

Regards
 
shafic said:
Restoring Philips Radiogram
F9X 38A/05 Made in Holland


Recently I got a call from one of my acquaintance regarding a radiogram with couple of photographs. It looked huge and in bad shape. I thought the speakers could be of use to me. I was not interested in that cabinet.

I sent my people to collect that radiogram from an old Parsi couple. As it was very heavy they dismantled some components ( TT, RTR) and brought everything down from 3rd floor. I was thinking of throwing away the cabinet.

My person sent me couple of pics of catalogue, service manual and NOS styli etc etc. I browsed the net and came to know that it was a top of the line product of Philips, Holland.

This made me feel that giving away that cabinet in scrap was like throwing away a piece of history. Although I am very short of space I could not bring myself to let this piece be destroyed.
I decided to try and restore it.

It had been abandoned for years, maybe decades. Each components had thick layers of dust on it. Otherwise everything was intact and original although little rusty.

The first step was to get the cabinet in to a presentable shape so that I could bring it in to my house.

It took three people one week of hard work ( scraping, cleaning, polishing etc) to bring it to a decent shape. I changed the veneer of the top panel, put some sunmica in the bottom. It is made of particle board layered with real wood veneer. Finally now it rests in my living room.

As for the components, there is a long road ahead.

I am very happy that I could save this rare historical audio piece from going to scrap.

Here are some pics.

Thanks for reading.

https://imgur.com/U66Es1O

https://imgur.com/2iZN3Pn
https://imgur.com/nJ7lz6E
https://imgur.com/yy1lZY3
https://imgur.com/XsNh4d0
Click to expand...
Hi,
Beautiful Set !! Collection worthy !! Lovely work done on cabinet. Kudos !!
Radio part , get it done. Pandu Rajan Sir, he is the best in Philips Radios !
All the best

Uday Kalburgi
 
Great job done! Back in the day a radiogram in the drawing room was the real status symbol. They may not be the best sounding devices but used to be highly valued possession for a family. Congratulations for the great acquisition and wonderful restoration. Keep it up!
- vnmathur57
 
vnmathur57 said:
Great job done! Back in the day a radiogram in the drawing room was the real status symbol. They may not be the best sounding devices but used to be highly valued possession for a family. Congratulations for the great acquisition and wonderful restoration. Keep it up!
- vnmathur57
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
Brilliant !!! What a beauty you have restored it to Shafic.
I see one lying at my cousin's place too in one corner of his home as it hasn't been used since eons as it sopped working.
I can show him this thread to motivate him :)
 
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