1924 Chelsea Transcontinental ZR-4 Restoration

In this video we will take 3 Transcontinental ZR-4 "parts" radios and combine them together to create a Gimbel Brother's Branded Transcontinental ZR-4 radio, which was produced by Chelsea Radio Company in Chelsea Massachusetts. Interestingly, this model is rarely associated with the Chelsea Radio Company, but they produced the radio and sold them to two competing Department Store chains. It may not be as much of a Gimbel's product as we once believed. We will delve into that history, and then take on several challenges as we work through this restoration. Weather will cause issues with finishing the cabinet work, as sub zero temperatures sabotage our efforts to put a decent finish on the case. One of the radios had way too much lacquer on it so clean-up was a challenge. We will be creating a decal for the Gimbel's logo from scratch. Then we will encounter a rather puzzling problem that will require extensive troubleshooting. But in the end, a pristine and fully functional radio will emerge and with it there will be a lot of lesson's learned before it crackles to life!

[@kennethdaust3793]

Wish you lived next door to me. But then again I’d always be bugging you. Thank for another great video

[@stevesmith3556]

Hi will! I subscribed a couple of months ago and have enjoyed watching these videos. In the late 90s through the early mid 2000s, I had a national repair service, but real work got in the way. And, all of the old timers I used to know have passed on. I've been getting back into fixing some of my "leftovers" lately, and it's been inspiring to see the work you do.

[@antiqueradioarcheology-wil8878]

Thanks, appreciate it. Yea, the old time radio restoration crowd has dwindled in size and a lot of collectors don't do restoration work. So I always hope that my videos help get a newer group of restorers to at least try to bring some of these old beauties back to life. While it can get highly technical, there is also an artistic side that makes it so satisfying when you finally put it back on that shelf.

[@RottenAnimal]

Good video. Thanks

[@colincampbell7027]

Awesome video. Thanks for the troubleshooting. Please keep that phase of restoration in your future videos. So many creators find a problem, cut out the actual detection of the fault, come back and say, oh btw I had to blah blah without actually showing it. Thanks so much William. I'm learning a lot from you.

[@antiqueradioarcheology-wil8878]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely keep that in mind going forward.

[@CovertCulvert]

Very interesting! I've never seen anyone work on one of these.

[@Manhattanman52]

Wouldn't this cabinet have been originally finished in brushed shellac? Nitrocellulose lacquer wasn't used extensively until post WWII.

[@antiqueradioarcheology-wil8878]

You are correct. Most of the Chelsea radios are finished in shellac. This one should have been, and in hindsight that's the route I should have gone. About 1925 - 1926 Chelsea started using lacquers. I used lacquer on this one because it was thickly coated in it to begin with. despite the sanding and use of thinner, there is always some lacquer residue present in the wood and I've had some serious problems getting a decent shellac finish in those instances. I. Had I known what I was getting into on this one, shellac would have been the better choice.

[@kennethdaust3793]

Hi, I have a quick question does a oscilloscope have any use in 1920’s radio repair?

[@antiqueradioarcheology-wil8878]

Absolutely! I'm getting ready to do a video on how to use one with a 1920's radio. Great timing on the question.

[@Brother_Sonny]

Will! Dude! Had no idea you were on them You Tubes! I am back at Duhhhversified.

[@antiqueradioarcheology-wil8878]

Hey Sonny, we need to get together for lunch or something!