Admiral bakelite console restoration

[TheNixer]

Chassis decals.

[TheNixer]

Originally Posted by 7"estatdef

Hi Guys
Somewhere around here I've got an article from Popular Science back in 1949 about the making of those cabinet. I'll see if I can post in on flicker.
Terry

I noticed old issues of Popular Science were on line and searchable. I didn't find any articles but I did find a sort of ad. I think Bandersen has already posted this photo but it's all I could find. It's from the September 1949 issue. I saw mention of Admiral in a later issue where they compare portables in 1955 but that was all. Needless to say I won't be gathering six of my best friends any time soon to re-enact this photo.

It states here the cabinet was made by Molded Products Corp. Is that to say Admiral didn't make the cabinet in house?

[bandersen]

That photo has always puzzled me. That screen bezel doesn't match the 24A12 or 20X122.

Something else that puzzles me is that the Riders lists four 'plastic' cabinet models using the 20X1 chassis.

20X11 - Ebony
20X12 - Mahogany
20X121 - Ebony
20X122 - Mahogany

and these two with the 20A1 chassis
24A11 - Ebony
24A12 - Mahogany

I've never seen or heard of a 20X11, 20X121 or 24A11 ebony model. Can anyone confirm the existence of these models ? Maybe these are the ones that were outsourced to Molded Products Corp ?

[TheNixer]

You know, I never noticed the differences in the bezel before. That cabinet appears to be empty though. I suppose it's possible they might have made a mock bezel out of paper just for the stunt photo.

As for offering the set in ebony, it sure make sense but there seems to be no proof they ever pulled the trigger on one. If I didn't fear the thought of sounding staker-esque I'd hit up the Siragusa family once again. I doubt they'd know, either way.

[bandersen]

What's also odd is that September, 1949 date. The 20X122 had been using this cabinet since 1948 and the 24A12 wasn't part of the 1950 offerings.
So what is this "new" 10" model they are referring to

[Phil Nelson]

Having worked in magazine publishing, I can testify that you often write things that don't appear in print until months later. Besides the natural delays in getting things printed & distributed, it was common for an article or feature to get bumped to a later issue because they ran out of room, etc.

These little "what's new" bits are press releases from manufacturers, reprinted by the magazines. At our rag, technical folks like me were busy doing real writing. Bits like this would have been picked out and edited lightly (if at all) by a marketing drone or editor -- a glorified secretary, in some cases -- who might have little knowledge or interest in the subject matter.

Phil Nelson

[M3-SRT8]

Seven Guys standing on an Admiral bakelite cabinet, and here I am treating them with kid gloves when handling them, afraid they'll crack when I lift them.

Mine seem to be in great condition, plastic-wise. I wonder how well bakelite ages under various conditions?

[M3-SRT8]

"....origionally built for the Russian Government."

Makes sense, for two reasons:

One, the sheer size of the thing.

Two, the Commies were big into plastic resin/phenol-formaldehyde impregnated materials, particularly in aviation, beginning in the 30's.

One wonders what they were going to do with the beast, post-war. It's my guess they weren't building consumer goods with it...

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by M3-SRT8

Seven Guys standing on an Admiral bakelite cabinet, and here I am treating them with kid gloves when handling them, afraid they'll crack when I lift them.

They may have had to take that picture a few times until they got one that didn't break...