Can you make a Roberts Radio better?

Roberts RD60 re-covered.
Welcome to my video of re-covering a Roberts RD60, bought from an eBay seller and advertised in dreadful cosmetic condition. The covers on these all fall apart in the end... but is the radio itself any better than its cover cloth? And can I make it look good?
You can buy collectables from my ebay shop:
www.ebay.co.uk...
See vintage items, including radios, listed on RadiosAndMore.co.uk:
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Thanks for watching!

[@kendom33]

Many thanks Tony

[@bethdavis1812]

Half the battle with restoration projects is having all the stuff to do a good job.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Agreed. I find, generally, I use the same tools and materials - and now keep a good variety in my workshop. I actually restored a great number of radios before discovering KZbin. If you want to see some of those, please feel free to see the slideshows at radiosandmore.co.uk

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

Your videos are nicely presented and beautifully explained you deserve many more subscribers. Good show regards Chris.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Many thanks for your positive comments, Chris.

[@coltronex]

Saw your site for the first time,a well presented project,a very good outcome,well done,regards Colin.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Thanks for watching and your comments.

[@towaho]

I used to do this as a business. Better to add the fittings once the fabric has been totally finished.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Not sure what you mean - I thought I did that. I see it as a fairly good amateur attempt. A successfully sold it on eBay for much more than I bought it for and the buyer loved it - but, having done around 3 're-covers', it's just not time/cost effective so I do very few of these. I'm guessing you packed it in for the same reason?

[@kendom33]

How do you get the bloomin covering off. I'm thinking of spraying mine . Any thoughts?

[@towaho]

@@kendom33 Take it all apart and use a blunt chisel to scrape it off. You are lucky it's already a bad one. You may find the cloth substrate is loose in places as well so dampen it and tear it off totally. It allows you to use a decent cushion or curtain fabric.

[@2009bigchief]

looks a class job my friend i love these wee radios i bought one well actually bought 2 from ebay as ky wife took the 1st one and i wanted one for my man cave internet roberts stream 93i

[@NoTaboos]

Thanks so much. Going to do mine now.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Let me know how you get on - and how long it takes!

[@MBIKES21]

Great job, well done.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Thanks, Michael.

[@mightymo4502]

hi there, having a similar issue i so agree with your opinions about there exterior quality im seriously considering doing the same thing, i wish you should how you restored the handel . by the way you should be proud of the achievement a much deserved cup of tea 🙂

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Thank you! But I think I need something stronger than that! I'll let you into a secret... I didn't restore the handle at all!

[@mightymo4502]

@@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore much appreciate the reply. Love the channel

[@sophiemurray6215]

Next time you can you a stabiliser ( therm o web no sew) and that gives good adhesion and no fraying. Thank you for this video. Pity Robert’s can’t do a repair service.

[@raceingdemon6464]

Lovely Job Paul !! Never Had a Dab Radio Not Really a Fan Prefare Old Analog Sets Like My Roberts R200s And Yes I Use Shoe Cream For My Roberts R200s But I Must Admit It Turned Out Lovely..Regards mike

[@thebiggerbyte5991]

Looks much better! Roberts has really taken a nosedive in quality, as they sadly can't compete in today's marketplace. I have a few Roberts sets, and although I've had a few Sangeans as well, it's not the same. I have just bought a Gemini 41, and I am planning to put it into an old Roberts casing and get the best of both worlds. A project for sure, but a worthwhile one.

[@towaho]

A fabrics expert once told my that they are made in India and the animal glue which they use is acidic and rots the plastic from behind.

[@kendom33]

Great video Paul. I've got one of these. How did you get the covering off? I intend to spray mine ???

[@drawingsbydave7794]

The brass plate where the aerial and jacks are located does come free, I’ve managed to remove mine damage free, just need to be patient and not apply too much force.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Yep, Dave I was aware of that. But looking at (and dealing with) the generous squirts of glue applied to the modules I think I chickened out!

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Hi everyone. And thanks for watching/subscribing! I'm just uploading a new video, similar in vein to this one. In it, I re-vamp a non-working Roberts Expression. Enjoy!

[@bethdavis1812]

Roberts 606 has a awesome sound

[@bethdavis1812]

Nice video you done a very good job

[@MBIKES21]

You do a great job.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Thanks.

[@MBIKES21]

Great job.

[@EnidAgnusDei]

Never ever understood why Roberts are so highly rated ESP the newer and DAB stuff, they look cheap are built cheap . I have a R505 and love it but wouldn't touch one of those. Sadly Roberts is trying to live on it's past glory and it may work short term but given their build quality they are only fooling themselves. Great video and great job.

[@ruzziasht349]

Only fooling themselves? don't be a wee daftie - they sell for up to 200 hundred quid - they sell shed loads of them!

[@EnidAgnusDei]

@@ruzziasht349 They are still junk no matter how you look at them and some know it.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

@@EnidAgnusDei I agree that the Revivals are over-priced. There are better radios out there.

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

These days, of course, they are no more 'Roberts' than Bush radios are Bush(es). Google 'Glen Dimplex' - they just bought the badge, as many similar companies bought brands like Bush, Goodmans, Akai, Lenco...

[@ianhand5006]

Ours has done the same thing.

[@christopherhulse8385]

The UK should have gone DAB+ from the very start.

[@Forhesa]

How did you recover the handle?

[@cjwaywell]

The vital thing that we needed to know was how to get it apart, like how does the handle come off?

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

I suppose I do have a tendency to miss out the obvious. I did mention it somewhere , near the end I think - anyway, there are a couple of spring clips, like gripping washers around the handle spindles that go through the holes. They're similar to the ones on the original 1950s R200 but minute in comparison. Once you have attacked them they're finished, so I think I used plastic washers to hold the handle spindles in when I put it back together - ones with holes that were slightly too small so I could make them just big enough to grip the spindle and prevent the handle from falling off.

[@donaldasayers]

Inside the radio on the ends of the spindles are two small circlips, they can be pulled off with care, if you locate the open side of the clip.

[@drawingsbydave7794]

have the handle in the “carried” position and gently push downwards and the handle will unclip.

[@towaho]

@@drawingsbydave7794 That's if you are lucky to have that type, the vast majority have a rod that is held by small "e" clips. These have to be pushed off with a couple of jewelers screwdrivers

[@isabelletudor349]

Hey Paul.. great video. Do you take commissions?

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Not really, it started out as an experiment - with reasonable results, but I can't justify the enormous amount of time my restos take when I'm busy selling on eBay. I did one commission for a film company who found me and had a very large budget, but this was just a glorified clean-up. Be worth your while trawling Etsy - I don't use it, but there's a growing number of sellers who upcycle radios with varying results. Some even do commissions. Good luck Isabelle, and thanks for asking.

[@donaldasayers]

What is that crap stuff they covered them with?

[@SH-vv7zq]

Nice colour match with your jumper Paul :)

[@PaulEvansRadiosAndMore]

Ha Ha, Simon. Many collectors have a 'red' obsession, though - a red example will always fetch more money on eBay.

[@uttaradit2]

looks like new

[@DrJRMCFC]

I have bought 3 of these over the years for my parents and other half. Look great for a few years but then fall apart like this. Absolutely shocking. Terrible quality. Such a shame as the radio is great.

[@265petsar]

Come on Roberts you can do better than this. Your quality has nosed dived for the sake of profit.