Westinghouse WR-8 "Columnaire" scored
 

I just picked this set up on the south side tonight. The seller actually had it powered up and playing when I arrived Nice to know the xfrmrs are good, but I never would have plugged it in without going over it first :no:

It's filthy and the veneer is in rough shape, but it appears to be all original and unmolested. I'm not sure about that finish though. It's kind of a dull brown - not very attractive.

It's very, very heavy. I'm guessing 90+ pounds :drool:
It'll stay in the garage until I can round up some help.

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I'm not sure if the clock is working yet or if there should be glass over it.
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The speak is in rough shape. There are large tears in the cone and I have no idea how it should be covered. Cloth?
Seems like a bad idea to point the speaker straight up accoustics-wise.
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Looks like one of the original wooden knob is missing.
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The chassis looks to be in good condition.
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Lots of nice, old Sylvania tubes with the green leaf label including some 245s. Filthy, but they clean up real nice.
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I really don't know anything about this model so any info or advice is much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bob

More pictures here if you are interested.

Almost forgot - I grabbed this "bowtie" antenna while I was there too. Tons of old stuff in that basement!

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Great score Bob! :thmbsp: Love those green-leaf syvanias. :yes:

Thanks. There are lots of 120+ year old buildings in Chicago packed with goodies in the basement. Usually the sellers have no idea what they have though so the listings on CL can be tough to find.

You guys in chicagoland always so damn lucky. I never find anything around here. :sigh: I bet zenith stuff is common place there.

You're in Michigan - right? I've seen some good stuff on CL up your way.
I see a lot of Admirals, Motorolas and RCAs around here. Some Zeniths, but not too many. I don't have any in my collection yet.

Lots of old radios too, but they're all over the midwest. I hope you start finding some good stuff.

Wasnt Zenith based in Chicago? I would think they would be easier to find for that reason. I could be wrong however, because they were sold everywhere.

The only nice CL listing lately (too expensive):

http://muskegon.craigslist.org/ele/1504182063.html

Yes, I believe Zenith was based in Chicago too.

Depends what you're into I suppose. I did some quick searching and I grab any of these. Including a Philco Predicta for only $50 :banana:

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/atq/1499782098.html (Predicta)
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/atq/1461406120.html (nice Philco)
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/atq/1468302861.html (nice Sparton)

That thing is just insanely cool. I would have been all over it like a fly on a dog turd.

I've gotten some more info on this set. It is supposed to have glass over the clock. It shouldn't be too hard to fabricate a replacement.

Apparently, there has a wicker screen with a wood frame that protected the speaker on top. If I can find a decent picture, maybe I'll try out my non-existent basket weaving skills :o

Man ! I wish you were closer-I have a guy who is an absolute WHIZ at furniture refinishing...And his wife re-canes chairs...This would be a "Cake" job for them...And I'm sure Terry could have the set "talkin'", too...

I have never seen anything like that. Very cool.

Neither had I. I'd seen Philco grandfather clock/.radios before but nothing like this. I thought it was a "frankenset" at first so had to ask around.

I sure wouldn't mind a little help with the cabinet restoration. Turns out it doesn't have any wicker on top though. That's a different model. The older and less common the set , the harder it is to find accurate info.
This one just has cloth and I have a small of what I hope is original material.

I finally got it up two flights of stairs and took some more photos.

I don't see any evidence of there being glass.
Any thoughts on cleaning the clock face? I think it may be nickel plating ?
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Nice wooden knobs. I'm missing one, but have a lead on a replacement already :D
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Here's the speaker in more detail and my little fragment of cloth.
It sure needs a re-coning!
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Should there be horizontal bracing at these two points? Seem like somethings missing.
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Veneer damage. The separation isn't so bad - I can glue it back down. The missing bits are another story. Any guesses on the wood? I figure it's either mahogany or walnut.
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Try some Windex on a paper towel on the faceplate. Get a little, hidden spot first - sometimes those inks/paints don't react well to cleaners.