Vintage Radio Restoration - STC A5130 Part 5 - Final - Speaker Repair and Case restored.

I continue with restoring the STC A5130. The speaker is bought back from the brink and with the case restored, it's time for a sound test of this classic Aussie radio.

[@NotGonnaSayFO]

Probably the 4th time I have watched this. Love that radio, and the work you put into it!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Dean. My first video I think 🙂

[@demus8757]

Another radio rescued from certain death. The sound is great, especially once the radio was inside the houding. The housing looks great, Dave, you nailed it.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you De Mus 🙂

[@terryblackman6217]

Having watched all five episodes, I especially enjoyed this rebuild as I learned a great deal from watching. Thanks again. Terry

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Terry, it's good you got something from it 😀

[@paulbennell3313]

I'm just going back over some of your earlier videos because they bear repeating. This one came up well, looks like a well kept 5 year old radio. It gave you a good few head scratchy moments but you and I learned from it and that's what it's all about. Reception sounds good and strong. I think you did the right thing with the transformer, it's good when you have the option of getting a direct replacement. I've found that much more recent stuff doesn't always have the parts availability you'd hope for, I'm talking about equipment made from the 1980's to the early 2000's!

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Paul, thanks. The replacement transformer was from a member of my radio club, a valuable resource if you are in one 👍🙂

[@paulbennell3313]

@@DavidTipton101 I'm not but I'm on a superb forum here in the U.K. which is very helpful and elusive parts can often be found on there. Profiteering is frowned upon though and it's almost like being in a radio club. Sets and parts are available cheaply but it's the parts for later stuff that I sometimes repair for other people that usually cause the headaches. Parts for my own stuff are normally no problem.

[@DavidTipton101]

@@paulbennell3313 I hear what you are saying 👍

[@osocool1too]

STC was such a household name in the day, and I used to go past one of their factories in Maidstone, Melbourne on my way to school by tram in the 1960s. Another great job David. 👍😀🥳

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Steven, I grew up in Essendon so I am quite familiar with Maidstone. STC were based in Sydney, they must have had something in Melbourne too. Interesting factoid, thank you 🙂

[@zs1dfr]

Wonderful series, David! Hats off to you on your determination and attention to detail! 12 out of 10, Sir :-)

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Dave, Thank you 🙂

[@stephencunliffe3062]

Yet another superb resto job David. Your radio handiwork never ceases to both entertain and amaze me. Thanks for the entertaining content and pleasure . Keep up the good work.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Stephen, I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@rvandijk65]

Beautiful Dave!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you rvandijk65 😃

[@ivanigorpollick6690]

great job again,Dave

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Ivan 🙂

[@loricastro3772]

Wonderfull radio; amaziing restoration! Congratulations and thanks a lot for showing.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hello Lori, thank you, you are welcome 😊

[@ethelryan257]

This was quite good work. I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Ethel 😀

[@davidhamm5626]

The case came out great, and it sounds good, too !

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks David 😊

[@firestick1121]

great job as usual Dave,, your patients is amassing love the series

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks firestick1121 👍😀

[@ferdgreenblatt6011]

I've learned a lot ,David. Love yer work.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Fred 😀

[@amaraltimimi4106]

really wonderful jop Dived you the best with all my respect to you

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Amar, all the best to you 😀

[@amaraltimimi4106]

@@DavidTipton101 you welcome

[@ManojKumar-mx7is]

Thanx, You are restoring history...for new generation...keep it up. 😊

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you manoj, I will 👍😃

[@Martin-io4wc]

You sir are a master. Nice job David.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Martin, thank you 🙂

[@EnidAgnusDei]

That case looks amazing, fair play to you and very well done David, I'd be proud of that.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Red Shutter Photography, it's amazing what a little elbow grease will do. Thank you 😃

[@bigmotter001]

Enjoyed the whole series David and learned a few things also. Thanks for sharing it with us and take care!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks John, take care 😀

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Nice Job Dave - it was interesting to follow the progression. :)

[@DavidTipton101]

Great Recycler! Thanks for the feedback

[@mikelast7918]

well done....i like this particular model

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Mike 😀

[@nicholas790]

Amazing, absolutely brilliant! You made a turd of a radio look like a beautiful turd of a radio! Loved every moment! Looking forward to your next project. Maybe we'll get a handsome design next time. Meanwhile, I can't say enough about how much I appreciate your skills and perseverance! Best restoration videos on you tube! Thank you soooo much!!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Nicholas 👍😀

[@samhatch4665]

Great video, thanks Dave 👌

[@DavidTipton101]

No worries SAm 🙂

[@ManojKumar-mx7is]

David sir, by watching your dedication and passion towards your profession, i can understand what you feel when you finished your one another project..... hats off to you..😊

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi manoj, thank you very much. I do develop an attachment to them by the time I've finished them 🙂

[@kharakim]

Nicely done! And a very handsome little table radio by my lights.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Moshe ben Asher 😀

[@lyntonprescott3412]

Lovely little radio. I like the tuning scale that covers the whole of the continent. The UK being much smaller had fewer named stations but the older sets did cover most of Europe. Sadly most of the stations are now gone.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Lynton, We did have a unique dial layout, NZ's was similar, I don't know if other countries did a similar thing. Hopefully AM lasts a bit longer 🤞

[@MrAntuan228]

Beautiful Radio 👍

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you Anthony 👍🙂

[@tubeDude48]

Excellent job!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Ted 😃

[@CraneofBoulogne]

When you have something as dirty as this radio was when you first pulled the chassis out of the case there is an alternative way to go about cleaning it and it is not expensive, yet it is a good bit quicker too. If you folks still have starting either in aerosol cans it is an excellent way to rid something of dust and grime and even oil and grease. I have always used it before painting automotive parts, it drys instantly to a clean dry finish. It is cheap enough too, just a few bucks a can. Try it sometime, you may like it too.

[@DavidTipton101]

What is the name of the product Jeff?

[@CraneofBoulogne]

@@DavidTipton101 There are many brands but, it is all called "Starting Fluid" or "Either Start". I used to walk down a row of trucks early on a cold morning at work and use a shot of an aerosol can of starting either to crank them so that the drivers could take right off once they showed up for work. It is very commonly used here to start diesels on cold mornings. It works with gasoline engines too but it must be used sparingly. I will get you a URL from a place selling it, as i am sure they use it in Australia too. It is very cheap here, a few bucks a can i think. www.amazon.com/Johnsens-6732-12PK-Premium-Starting-Fluid/dp/B00C873N7U/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=starting+ether+aerosol&qid=1585871949&sr=8-3 This is a case of twelve cans for thrity odd dollars. It is not expensive but it works well to clean off stuff and leave absolutely no residue. You will learn to work fast with it because it evaporates extremely fast and it is cold, very cold. Safe for the enviroment and useful for certain purposes. I am amazed you do not know about it, though i must admit i am suggesting a use for the stuff that most don't think about. GIve it a go as you say in Australia, it is great to clean all the oil off something you are about to paint. Nothing beats it at that task.

[@zx8401ztv]

It looks like a warm and inviting radio to listen to, loverly restoration :-D Hopefully the speaker didn't develop any more cracks since last year.

[@DavidTipton101]

It's one of my 'working' radios zx8401ztv, that is, it's plugged and used from time to time and it's sill going strong 🙂

[@KorAllRBare]

🐨 A Double Wheel Grinder with Polishing wheels attached will make quick work of polishing up these cases, especially if you use the right Cutting and or polishing wax.. APU I Dropped a 👍

[@DavidTipton101]

I've seen it done KorAllRBare but haven't tried it yet, thanks 🙂

[@brianjohn9144]

Shoe polish is good and you can get it in lots of colours, masks scratches too.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Brian, I'll try that 🙂

[@philipblick8887]

Yet another masterpiece restoration Dave. Maybe sometime a old car valve radio restoration would be interesting . Cheers

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Philip, someone offered me a car radio but I turned it down, they don't seem to interest me for some reason 😟

[@ahmedandnermoo]

Very.. very good.

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks Ahmed 😀

[@Soothsayer620]

excellent job . thanks

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks soothsayer1😃

[@jeffreyhaynes5774]

You are doing a fine job saving those old radios.Your radios are much nicer than our American radios.Thanks for the videos.Can you do one on a Grundig ks-598 stereo console?.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Jeffrey, I don't have a Grundig ks-598 to work on and I don't know if that model ever sold in Australia although Grundig was sold here.

[@ottodydaktyk]

Well done! I'm surprised that you found another transformer...

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi David, thanks. Is it was a bit of luck. I got it from the radio club president after posting it on a radio Facebook page. Most of the club members are on it 😃

[@silviowel]

ola mestre ........parabens, como não elogiar seu trabalho que vai aos minimos detalhes ate a perfeita obra entregue............saudações brasileiras a voce um forte abraço

[@DavidTipton101]

Obrigado Silvio 👍😀

[@schraubnix1583]

Hello David For dull bakelite housing I use shoe polish (colorless) so that old bakelite shines again . greets Uli ( Schraubnix )

[@DavidTipton101]

I've heard that before, thanks Scraubnix 😃

[@Radioman928]

I’ve had good luck with tung oil to restore the shine on tired bakelite. Regardless it looks great !!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Ok, thanks for the tip Ralph 👍🙂

[@GroverCricketDaisy]

Thanks

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you very much for your support @GroverCricketDaisy 👍😃

[@claesmansson9070]

Repair the loudspeaker with contact glue, the old type non waterbased that stays flexible, thats what glasslinger does.

[@DavidTipton101]

I used to use contact adhesive, I now use a rubber compound Claes 🙂

[@hanifkhan-gd4nm]

Nice work. How existing to listen sound through a vintage valve machine, its still sounds. You are among few persons who introduce our glorious past to young generation through media.

[@DavidTipton101]

It would be nice to think it motivated someone young to keep this hobby alive, thanks hanif khan 🙂

[@erin19030]

I wonder what customers thought about the new radio enclosures when going from wood to plastics. I remember the negative out cry in 1968 when Pontiac epoxied the first plastic bumpers on cars here in America.

[@DavidTipton101]

I remember the same outcry in Australia when the design rules allowed for flush plastic bumpers too 🙂 I don't know about radio cases though, well before my time 😃

[@Justplast]

Good Job

[@DavidTipton101]

Thank you ACHF 👍😄

[@user-dm4nk6gh3b]

Bravo!!! You have TALENT !!!

[@DavidTipton101]

Thanks владимир софьин 😃

[@user-dm4nk6gh3b]

@@DavidTipton101 Just super !!! I envy !!!

[@jeffreyhaynes5774]

Hi Dave ,use shoe polish on that radio cabinet.Works every time with a buffing wheel.

[@DavidTipton101]

Good tip,thanks Jeffrey 👍

[@erin19030]

Yes I am a fan of paste wax shoe polish too. It comes in colors and as a neutral. I even tried the old GI technique for spit shinning the tip of my jump boots. Carefully add a few drops of lighter fluid in the wax well, light it and put it out after 10 seconds. You will be left with a puddle of hot melted wax. Dip a few cotton balls on the wax and spread it over he area being polished. Let it stand until the wax comes to a haze, then buff with a brush. Finish it off with a soft buffing cloth or buffing wheel. The finish will come up to a water proof natural bright sheen, showing of the rubbed in colored wax rubbed into the wood grain.

[@jonka1]

The case came up superbly. Worth making a back for it?

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi jonka!, later on I purchased a back for it from HRSA an Australian radio club.

[@richardyoung4616]

How do you get the chassis so clean with just using compressed air, it looked rusty.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Richard, I don't remember sorry, this video is very old. I usually blow it off with air then clean it with alcohol and cloth or toothbrush. It it's rusty I treat it with rust converter or media blast it then re-protect it 👍🙂

[@hansverlaan4829]

Very nice radio, does it need a board on the back side? Greeting Hans.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Hans thank you. There is no board on the back and no provision for one, it was quite common to not fit one back then 🙂

[@hansverlaan4829]

@@DavidTipton101 Ok, it is a bit dangerous, i did not knew that, thanks&success Dave!

[@mauriciowilson8829]

David Tipton - ¿Realmente considera que ése aparato vale el tiempo, esfuerzo y el costo empleado en ponerlo a funcionar otra vez...? ¿Para finalmente dejarlo intalado... dónde...? -- Si es un recuerdo de la abuelita.... mejor sería una buena foto de ella...

[@DavidTipton101]

Ha-ha Mauricio, lo hago por hobby, mantiene mi mente activa y me gusta escucharlos. Los guardo como pantallas en mi casa 👍🙂

[@mauriciowilson8829]

@@DavidTipton101 -- Señor Tripton... En primer lugar debo decirle que mi comentario lo hice sin sarcasmo ni crítica corrosiva. Mi opinión nace del hecho que trabajé en lo mismo, mas de 40 años, y hoy me resisto a reparar artefactos antiguos. Un gran saludo cordial para usted, desde España.

[@DavidTipton101]

No tomé tu comentario como crítica en absoluto. Entiendo, ¿por qué me molestaría en arreglar algo viejo e inútil? Me cansaré de hacerlo algún día y pasaré a otra cosa 😃

[@alanm2809]

Hi David, did these have a fibreboard caseback?

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Alan, yes they did. Replica backs are available from HRSA. You can contact Stan Snyders if you want one: [e-mail] 🙂

[@alanm2809]

@@DavidTipton101 Thanks David much appreciated

[@jimburns348]

Never did like radios that had their speaker cones mounted upwards. Too much accumulation of dust and dirt build up into the cones. The vibrations shake the debris into the coil magnet. Particularly bad on models with no dust cap for the VC.

[@DavidTipton101]

I couldn't agree more Jim, I always expect the worst 😌🙂

[@highpath4776]

does it need a fibreboard back ?

[@DavidTipton101]

It did have one originally, I purchased a reproduction back cover from the radio club 👍🙂

[@kevinfroment2668]

David, check out Uncle Dug's Videos on reconing speakers.

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Kevin, thanks, that's where I got my speaker training. I have an enormous amount of respect for UD 😃

[@Landrew0]

Some restorers recreate the back panel from particle board.

[@DavidTipton101]

I got a new laser cut one from my radio club 👍😀

[@princesalvi3542]

No any vedio for sound problem .when all tube blowing .respected sir do something.

[@DavidTipton101]

Ok

[@waynethompson8416]

Hey Dave, I had an idea occur to me while you were mentioning the dirty sockets for the tubes. A bit of some sort of contact cleaner and some of these might do the trick to clean them out in a jiffy: www.amazon.com.au/s?k=interdental+brushes&ref=nb_sb_noss Let me know what you think. Also, I have heard, but never tried myself, that using Dawn dish washing liquid to clean the chassis works great. If you have tried this, or if you do some time in the future, let me know how it works. This was another great video. Wayne

[@DavidTipton101]

Hey thanks Wayne, I'll look at those, I need something. I'll try Dawn and see how it goes 🙂

[@matsb6463]

It sounds like you used one of the old amplifier when you made this video, a lot of hiss and crackle going on....

[@DavidTipton101]

Hi Mats B, this was my first video, it's a shocker 😒🙂

[@matsb6463]

David Tipton ok, I understand, otherwise thanks for very interesting vidoes👍