Drilling Gothic Grande Cabinet for 9 Knob Set

[Scott Seickel]

I am really torn about drilling this cabinet.  It was found all original in an estate along the Hudson river (North of NYC).  The original dial pointer  chassis set is poor as it sat in a damp basement, but I do have a much, much nicer 9 knob red dial Philharmonic to transplant. 

My thoughts/concerns:

The original set did have tweeters, so that setup would remain the same, even though I think the red dialer's were often used with a network setup? 

The power switch is drilled in the cabinet but the red dial has power switching on the volume control.  I guess I would have to make one of them "not work", but that leaves the setup as "could not possibly be original".  Big negative there.   The red dial used the later amp/PS chassis so it would make sense to use the switching on the tuner instead of using an earlier amp/PS chassis and leave an unused cable from the 9 knob chassis.

The red dial Philharmonics, to the best of my knowledge, came out in late 1939 and the Gothic Grande was made thru 1939.  Does anyone know of an original red dial setup in a Gothic Grande?

Best solution of course would be finding a good dial pointer for this cabinet. 

I have been pondering this for a year while the cabinet waits in my garage regarding the decision....any angles I might be missing?  My wife says "don't do it" regarding the transplant....but I don't always listen to her, LOL.  

[Kent King]

Scott -

I have a remote control pointer Philly available. I also have my reservations in for Kutztown in May. If you are interested, we can probably work something out.

Kent

[Brad Winder]

The Gothic Grande is gorgeous! Personally, I wouldn't modify the cabinet. And I like the pointer-dial Philharmonic better than the red dial particularly because...it has a pointer dial. Lol! I'm more traditional when it comes to having a large sweeping dial...very elegant in my view.  

[David C. Poland]

The Philly first version dial's pointer is a classic touch which I like - I have one (big Tasman).

But I also like the later moving line of the BOL dial too, a different kind of elegance, along with the upper dial logging scale added late 1939 - have one of those too on a remote control red band BOL Philly (Waverly, redrilled).

The Gothic Grande is indeed a great design - probably never have one. (envy)

I too would hesitate to drill for 2 additional control holes. Leave you with a hole below the tuning knob. And then there is the challenge of finding a set of 8 of the later round control escutcheons, which will not cover the screw holes from the 6 keyhole shaped control escutcheons nor the impression left from the earlier escutcheons.  And do you keep the oval eye escutcheons or change to the later square style.

I favor you finding a nice pointer receiver, but then, not my money.

[Scott Seickel]

Thank you for your replies,

I have all the proper escutcheons, knobs, etc. 

David, you brought up the scratch suppressor switch....I forgot about that!!!  Too much going on in my life these days.   Glad I bounced the idea off of you guys.  Cabinet will remain a dial pointer even if the original poor chrome chassis stays.  I am not going to leave an empty hole and ruin a cabinet.   I do have a near mint dial pointer but it stays with my big Tasman to keep that set original.  That cabinet needs refinishing as it was painted blue at one point.  Not enough hours in a day to get that cabinet done soon. 

While I like the dial pointers, the BofL's are my favorite, for some reason I have a fondness for the red dial AM only sets .  I have 2 good red dial chassis, one of which has a Waverly Grande, and the other awaits a cabinet.  I also have the red dial I rechromed which is only partially assembled.  Like I said, not enough hours in a day!!

I am awaiting a reply from Kent regarding his dial pointer that may be available.

Thanks again for the input.

[David C. Poland]

Scott - the big Tasman for a Philly is rare. Your's is only the 4 th I know of in over 25 years.

*

If you are handy - there has been an interesting potential project near you - Howells NY. Ebay ended 0 bids.

The black version Stromberg-Carlson Chinese TV cabinet mid 1950's - hand painted doors. Your extra BOL?

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I gutted and refitted the red version for a Scott FM/AM/SW Laureate, also with the hand painted doors.

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and IMG_0047.JPG

and. IMG_0049.JPG

With careful placement of the new shelf, it will take a 15 inch speaker below and a Philly on the shelf.

Inside cabinet width is 25 inches.

As reconstructed, I have 11 inch height opening to clear a Philly with eye tube bar in place.

Note, I gutted the cabinet, leaving the exterior totally original.

Broke the top free, and hinged it. Lacquered the inside and underside of top lid inside black lacquer.

Made provision for tweeters, but my Laureate has the 15 inch co-ax version hi-fi speaker system.

Be a supurb alternative Scott custom cabinet for the right person.

[Y2K Bruce]

I also have a big Philly Tasman cabinet. Not sure if it's one of the 4 you mentioned. It's odd its so rare as it was a free cabinet one year as a christmas bonus in their ads.