Hi all

Just picked up an Apollo No.106W, is this worth anything? Should I restore it or leave it as original?

New to this vintage radio thing....

Thanks Dave

Contact Resurrection Radio in Melbourne. They have a lot to do with these. That silver coming off the pickup looks like its a silver Paint which is probably been put on by a previous owner it doesnt look correct. If I was to do any thing I would look at getting it chromed but that may be expensive. Fixing that name plate on the pickup may just be a matter of getting another one 3d printed which is not overly expensive. But it would look 100% better if you were to do this.
The woodwork itself looks pretty good so thats a lot of work done.

If you do go down the path of chroming go to your nearest panel beater and ask them who does it, they would have the contacts.

I'm no expert with gramophones but that looks more like nickel plating than chrome.

I'd also go for nickel.

Old Oak ! Re platting $$, big bucks now . To give you some idea , A 4in pulley wheel off a water pump was $95 bucks to re-plate,but in chrome ,so that would give you some idea $$ . I always like the look of Chrome over Brass that was used in the deco Lighthouse Lamps and Lady Lamps. I'm sure you guys know the lamps I mean ?
I dont have any , but I did years ago. It was a chrome over Brass Light house lamp.
Pete

I had some brass rods nickel-plated a few years ago surprisingly cheaply. Unfortunately the mob that did it -- Artarmon Electroplating -- has since gone out of business, thanks to Council environmental demands.

Hi G,
I think I remember that place.
But the pulley price was just an example of costing a guy gave me over the phone, I found a 50s dresser on the throw outs,,but the legs need re chroming so I was phoning around trying to get some idea of costing,
Pete

Thanks guys, appreciate the info.

I'll have a phone around and see if anyone does nickel plating.

Watched a couple of youtube videos on rebuilding the motor so will tackle that in the next couple of weeks.

Think I'll clean up the cabinet and just use a semi gloss lacquer, not like its a real collectable or anything special is it? Just need to make it look nice!

Thanks again, sure there are more questions to come....

Dave

I would suggest you take it to a cabinet maker and ask him what to use. The wood looks great and wow I think this unit could come up looking very nice indeed. aAnd yeah I would go with the nickel plating.

Hi guys

I've got this all stripped apart now and just about finished removing the old shellac. Decided to refinish it as it wasn't original....

Now the million dollar question, what level of gloss do I try and achieve?
Do I go for only a few coats so it looks more original or finish to a hi level of gloss with many, many layers of shellac? It takes a lot of work to build up the thickness to fill the grain.....

From what I understand its not worth a lot of money so why not make it a feature piece??

Thoughts please.

Cheers Dave

The level is really up to you. Your the one that will be admiring your handywork for years to come. I would have it as new original and not worry too much about the expense as it can be born over time. I love bringing them back up to standard.

Thanks, ok then :

"I love bringing them back up to standard."

How would they have been finished originally, hi gloss deep shellac or just enough finish to seal the timber?

Any idea of age??

Cheers Dave

Probably not high gloss. I would think inbetween.

Read Pete's posts on cabinet restorations if you haven't already.....

Dave,
That is English oak and it has a open large grain .If you were hand pollishing the shellac on with a cotton Pad , It would take 13- 15 coats to fill the grain if thats the way your doing it????.
The better way is to paint it on in one direction and in one long stroke.
Do that 2 times. Then buff it off with the grain using 0000 steelwool.
After that , then go back to using the Pad until its full and pollished . After that you can decide what gloss level you like, by,,, pollishing or de-pollishing off a bit.
The 3 standard finishes of that Era, are Shellac, Nitrocellulose, oil varnish. .
Going on the photos its shellac.
Depending how you stripped it ?? You should not have to stain it.
Old oak is very nice and its meant to have that large grain look to it.
All the best pete

Ps no need to strip that finish if you have not already done so? You dont need too