Question about Shipping an 800B radio-tuner chassis

[Joseph W Strickland]

I bought an 800B radio tuner chassis that has the spring latches on the side and the slide rails fastened to it. Should those be left in place for shipping or should they be removed and placed in the box in separate wrapping? I don't want the pieces to arrive bent or broken.

Joe

[Joseph W Strickland]

As things turned out, the radio tuner chassis has shipped before I could get an answer or recommendations from anyone here. I looked at my e-mail and see that it has already been put in shipment! The guy did say that it was in an oversize double-walled box, so I hope it arrives without damage. This is one area where I will have to carefully examine it after it is received to make sure it is not damaged. If it is, I may have to avail myself of ebay or PayPal buyer protection plans.

Joe

[Dave]

Joe
The rails are quite robust and sure he would have retracted them for shipping . I don't believe you have a worry.
Dave

[Joseph W Strickland]

Dave;

I sincerely hope you are correct. This particular radio tuner chassis appears to be in great shape compared to most I have seen. It is supposed to be a late model with a final test date showing 1947, so we shall see.

Joe

[Kent King]

Joe -

I expect that it will arrive fine as long as he boxed and secured it well. If you need parts for an 800B, please contact me. I have several "graveyard" chassis here and will be happy to provide you parts that you  might need to restore your set.

Kent

[Dave]

One day I'd like to locate a blonde wood dial cover.

Dave





Kent King said:

Joe -

I expect that it will arrive fine as long as he boxed and secured it well. If you need parts for an 800B, please contact me. I have several "graveyard" chassis here and will be happy to provide you parts that you  might need to restore your set.

Kent

[Joseph W Strickland]

Kent;

Thank you very much for your kind offer. I will give a report after the units arrive and I have had some time to inspect them.

Dave;

The cabinets for 800B receivers seem to be just this side of hen's teeth for availability. I have been watching eBay for cabinets and so far have only seen a few complete receivers in cabinet offered and those have been mostly the Chippindale cabinet. Those were likely the most popular cabinets of that period. I read the description of how the blonde finish was created on the cabinets that have it. It is more involved than that of the more conventional mahogany finish. I remember having a twin bed as a child that was finished in this manner. Personally, I never cared for that type finish, but I understand that some people like it and even prefer it.

Many of the Scott receiver cabinets of the 1930s were if the Art Decco style. Some of those were quite beautiful in their execution and had wonderful in-laid veneer trim that really highlighted the style. There were also other styles echoing famous period styles of the Italian, French and English furniture from decades or even centuries previous. Many of those had very ornate hand carved trim that is difficult to duplicate, especially with machine tools. Some radios even had tapestry type or embroidered grill cloth over the speakers and some had hand painted or stained grill cloth. There are some fine examples among the cabinets that E H Scott made available to the public.

I will continue to watch for a cabinet for at least one of my 800B receivers, but I am not holding my breath.

Joe

[Dave]

Good points Joe.
I'm a Haywood Wakefield type. Much of the blonde style accents were "pickled" such as with my avatar GE cabinet housing the 800. This included the bleaching process, not the best but there was a time. I think it's a colloquial thing. Growing up in NE "maple country" I recall many a cabinet, console, and TV housed in blonde cabinets. If I'm forced to refinish a radio, even the best, I'll always find an area to leave "natural. Top profiled edge or trim comes to mind. I figure I did the work and it pleases my taste. The "next guy" can get his lacquer toner out and have at it.
I've never seen the blonde 800 cover up close or well enough to decipher the wood species or finish. It wood go along way to blende with my custom cabinet, so, one of these days !

Cheers, Dave

[Joseph W Strickland]

Dave;

Some of the furniture I have seen that was produced with the blonde finish appear to be oak or something similar, perhaps even pecan. I like much of the maple wood furniture I have seen. It comes in virtually every style ever produced and has a wonderful fine grain and a nice warm color without being too dark.

Eventually perhaps an 800B will appear with the blonde finish trim panel on the radio chassis. If I run across one locally or on some site other than eBay, I will let you know.

Best wishes always,

Joe

[Y2K Bruce]

My 800B is a Blondie but its now my garage player since it has newer FM.

I put all the chassis and speaker on one of those wire racks and the wood dial face is still with the chassis

[Dave]

Hmmmm.... Maybe Bruce would like to trade ?
Dave

[David C. Poland]

One way to get a pickled finish is to start with a lighter wood - white oak, maple, poplar (the woodwork in my home). Pickling stain is available - like a thinned white paint with some tint added for a yellowish or pinkish tinge as desired.  Apply it (brush or rag) and wipe away after a minute or so. Repeat until satisfied. Also do a test piece a step or two ahead of the  cabinet. When you think the test piece is done and dry, wet it with mineral spirits to check results. Then continue with the cabinet.  When dry and happy with a wet check, finish like any cabinet with shellac or what ever product you pick. ( I would be careful about applying lacquer directly on the pickel surface). The 1940's Haywood Wakefield blond furniture look a lot like the Scott Moderne cabinet finish.

[Joseph W Strickland]

Here are pictures of the new 800B I bought showing the side brackets and spring latches.

Joe