View Full Version : A visit with John Wentzel Alladin Electronic Radio Repair San Francisco 2011


shedshrine
05-03-2018, 11:41 PM
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.
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/753e932c92403f43/P1050863.jpg

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.
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/bb511d2964502691/P1110410.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/ba294a1e85e42b96/P1110408.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/3fccdad74b7517c5/P1110357.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/e1fb9fd449e8efc3/P1110354.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/932accc8dbbdc5c9/P1110358.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/d48906a3a760282b/P1110385.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/2a9cb703799374ac/P1110382.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/935f71725ca3c7bc/P1110349.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/7b19bf2b8ee12ed1/P1110348.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/821b23cb8e2e3b7e/P1110332.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/055cdd42b93bba63/P1110334.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/732892bad99c41b4/P1110390.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/1aad100b9d936078/P1110376.jpg
https://static.imgzeit.com/large/4e3261a6f3a1b4b0/P1110757.jpg

Celt
05-04-2018, 07:32 AM
Very nice! :yes:

fixmeplease
05-04-2018, 08:08 AM
A real step back in time. I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing!

dieseljeep
05-04-2018, 12:39 PM
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. :thmbsp:

old_coot88
05-14-2018, 11:32 PM
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-70-years-of-aladdin-radio

shedshrine
05-25-2018, 04:06 PM
Thank you Mr Coot

WISCOJIM
05-25-2018, 05:23 PM
Nice looking shop. Soon there will be none left.

http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=197151&stc=1&d=1527283502

G.B.
05-26-2018, 02:02 PM
Is this place still Here.
What Address?
I hope So.

old_coot88
05-26-2018, 02:57 PM
Here is a more recent write up from a year ago.

https://sfrichmondreview.com/2017/05/07/aladdin-radios-john-wentzel/

dieseljeep
05-28-2018, 11:59 AM
Very nice! :yes:

The cat in your avatar looks like the kitten I got about 5 months ago. :thmbsp:

decojoe67
05-28-2018, 05:40 PM
The exterior of that shop is off-the-charts cool! Screaming art-deco.

MadMan
05-28-2018, 05:43 PM
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.

old_coot88
05-28-2018, 08:01 PM
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#).

Electronic M
05-28-2018, 10:51 PM
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...