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  #1  
Old 05-03-2018, 10:41 PM
shedshrine shedshrine is offline
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A visit with John Wentzel Alladin Electronic Radio Repair San Francisco 2011

April 2011 I won an ebay auction for a Telefunken Opus 7. It arrived in great shape and was touted as having to need going over. I assumed it would need a rebuild, just wanted one that looked like it hadn't been abused, and had been stored properly.


Looking around for someone who could restore it, I came across John Wentzel's shop in San Francisco. Over an hours drive, but he had been in the business a very long time. In fact he was training an understudy and preparing to retire as I recall while talking to him there. Here are some photos he allowed me to take of himself and his shop.














Last edited by shedshrine; 05-03-2018 at 10:46 PM.
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Old 05-04-2018, 06:32 AM
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Celt Celt is offline
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Very nice!
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Old 05-04-2018, 07:08 AM
fixmeplease fixmeplease is offline
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A real step back in time. I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing!
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Old 05-04-2018, 11:39 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
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A real step back in time. I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing!
The Good old days are never to return.
Did anyone notice the cat pictures on the wall? It must be a trait of old radio collectors.
I love the wrought iron gate on the 1611 entry.
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Old 05-14-2018, 10:32 PM
old_coot88 old_coot88 is offline
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Here's another nice writeup about John. Met him a couple of times. Just a wonderful gentleman in every way.

https://hoodline.com/2013/09/nearly-...-aladdin-radio
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Old 05-25-2018, 03:06 PM
shedshrine shedshrine is offline
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Thank you Mr Coot
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Old 05-25-2018, 04:23 PM
WISCOJIM WISCOJIM is offline
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Nice looking shop. Soon there will be none left.

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Old 05-26-2018, 01:02 PM
G.B. G.B. is offline
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Is this place still Here.
What Address?
I hope So.
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Old 05-26-2018, 01:57 PM
old_coot88 old_coot88 is offline
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Here is a more recent write up from a year ago.

https://sfrichmondreview.com/2017/05...-john-wentzel/
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Old 05-28-2018, 10:59 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
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Very nice!
The cat in your avatar looks like the kitten I got about 5 months ago.
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Old 05-28-2018, 04:40 PM
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decojoe67 decojoe67 is offline
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The exterior of that shop is off-the-charts cool! Screaming art-deco.
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Old 05-28-2018, 04:43 PM
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MadMan MadMan is offline
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That is a big ass radio. lol it looked like a little tabletop. There's no perspective until I got down to the pic with John poking it.
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Old 05-28-2018, 07:01 PM
old_coot88 old_coot88 is offline
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Being strictly old school, John never got into computers or digital stuff at all, AFAIK. Never seen any online contact info for Aladdin Radio or John (other than the telephone#).

Last edited by old_coot88; 05-29-2018 at 12:03 AM.
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Old 05-28-2018, 09:51 PM
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Electronic M Electronic M is offline
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That is a big ass radio. lol it looked like a little tabletop. There's no perspective until I got down to the pic with John poking it.
German table radios: I've seen some that make a 20" table model TV feel small...
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