Just got an Allwave 15...

[Kevin Richardson]

Guys,

Just inherited an Allwave 15 and wanted to get your thoughts on it. I am not new to antique radio collecting and have had many consoles, etc over the years.  This particular radio has been re-veneered and has not been restored electronically. Also, the chrome doesn't look that great.  Do you guys recommend to keep this and restore it? Let me know, thanks.

Here are some pics:

http://s1084.photobucket.com/albums/j407/kevinric/Great%20Scott/?st...

[Y2K Bruce]

Hi Kevin-I looked at all your photos and I would keep the set if it were mine.

The cabinet is a Westminster, sorta rare.

The amp is typical with its condition and the main chassis will clean up pretty nice IMO.

A very attractive style - I have an identical AW15 here in the same cabinet.

[Kevin Richardson]

Bruce, I was hoping you would take a look at it.  Yeah I am leaning towards keeping it.  I have a radio repairman in town, belive it or not, who is very good.

Maybe you guys could recommend the best way to clean the chrome? 

Also, my chassis sits too low on that board and the tuning shafts don't line up with the holes in the cabinet. I guess I need to set another board under it? What does yours have? 

Also, what holds the power supply down on the lower boards in the cabinet where the speaker sits?  I don't see anyway to bolt it down, nor holes. 

Thanks for any response!

[Y2K Bruce]

I run the removable chrome pieces in my dishwasher to clean them, then I use car chrome polish.

The amps seem to be usually loose but you can bolt them down if you want.Shim up the chassis to line up with the openings using wood spacers or other means. Originally these had a bottom plate with metal nuts that spaced the chassis just right.

Sometimes the original plate is missing or the nuts are installed up side down, so to speak.

[David C. Poland]

Hi Kevin,

I agree with Bruce. A desirable cabinet. Someone did a careful job with the new veneer. Interesting side treatment mimicking the front speaker cutout on the side.  Scott added the side openings by 1935 as a cabinet improvement called "tone truth" for his line of cabinets.  You have the correct speaker.  Check the rectifier tube in the amp - it should be a 5Z3.  You have a later version (only one antenna post and no red antenna posts) AW-15 using the 55 second detector.  

Liquid chrome polish will make the most of your chrome - use small squares of old terry cloth towels and change them often to avoid grit further damaging the chrome.

The bottom plate acorn nuts should point up,  with the receive resting on round heads of the screws. To position the controls for some of mine, I place under the chassis a layer or 2 of dense thin cardboard, like the back of yellow paper pads or shirt boxes.

As for restoration data, go to the new Scott google doc's site thus;  

https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B0K3TBSz_27rNzRiZDFlM2ItN2EyMC00Y...

In particular, go to Set documents folder, then select and print the technical description, 55 type owner's manual and the several diagrams for the 55 type. Be aware the AW-15 evolved considerable over the year and a half production -  the 5 known circuit diagrams do not cover all the known sets - so yours may not exactly agree with any of the 3 variations using the 55 second detector. Do familiarize yourself and be sure your technician has this data.

-Dave 

[Kevin Richardson]

Dave, thanks, you guys are really helping me out.  One more question, I think I saw some wires or connectors maybe on the back of this for phono...? If I wasn't imagining that, wonder if once it's playing I can run my ipod through it?  That's one of my favorite things, running the Ipod through an old console to turn it into a juke box sort of. Thanks again, and I will keep you guys posted on it's progress!

[David C. Poland]

Yes --...  Phono input is the pair of posts near the top left rear corner. Normally, a jumper wire is across the 2 posts to  complete a necessary ground ahead of the audio section, at allow the radio to play (see circuit diagram). The ground post is so marked, the other is  unlabeled.

For phono operation, connect phono, Ipod, Fm tuner, CD player, etc,  you remove the jumper and attach the the braided shield wire to the ground post and the inner wire to the unmarked "hot" post. I have used both a Walkman CD player and an Ipod on my AW-15's, AW-12 and early AW-23.       Later Scotts have phono switches built in.

The pin of an RCA plug will fit the hole in the phono post.  Just solder a short wire to the outside of the RCA plug to connect to the ground post. From the earphone mini-jack to the Scott phono posts, use a combination of patch cords and a y-adapter to combine the right and left channel.

Then to return to radio mode, replace the jumper wire. Or use a switch arrangement or closed circuit jack like the Radio Shack closed circuit mini jack.

-Dave

[Kevin Richardson]

Guys, I have been trying to sell this on ebay for months and years... Let me know if anyone is interested, thanks

It should be worth $500, you think? thanks again

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