Hello all,
about a month ago I found an affordable Lumitone Radio Lamp of America lamp/radio. These are kinda rare and I have wanted one for a long time but they have been so expensive, I have had to pass on the three that I have found for sale in the last 5 or so years. This one was very affordable and when it arrived, I found out why. Rust, rust.....everywhere rust. It actually looked like it was stored in the bottom of an aquarium for a while. The rust was so bad that the original brass plating could not be saved. I got a quote of 400 bucks to have it re-plated....NOPE!...not a chance. So I took it down to the bare metal and repainted it after I had shot some rust retardant on it. Several coats of "Antique Metallic Bronze" later, the results were very acceptable.

The chassis was a mess too. All the wiring had to be replaced and most of the components were shot.
So....after several dozen hours spent cleaning, sanding and prepping the outer metal housing as well as another several dozen hours spent on the restoration of the chassis...here it is.

All the wires were replaced, all the components were either replaced or rebuilt. The only thing I didnt do was to re-cone the speaker.

A big thanks to Eric Rainey (radionut) for sending me a good clear shot if his dial scale so I could reproduce one (mine was missing totally when I received the radiolamp) and to KenG for helping me out with the chassis when I was at my wits end as to why it wasn't working...(don't ask)



Thanks for looking,
if anyone would like some info on it.....just shoot me an email or a PM and I will get back with ya.

~jeff~

Very nice. I have a similar one waiting for attention. The photo shows it before I sent the parts out for plating. You're right, the cost to do that was probably more than the finished radio will be worth.

I haven't done the electronics yet. I need to get back to this project some time. When I looked up the photos I took before packing it away, I noticed that they're dated 2003 (!).

Phil Nelson

Hi Phil,
glad to know I am not the only one that does that (pideon hole radios to "get back to them")

btw: I love your website.

~jeff~

That was fast .. i just gave you back that chassis last week . I like the color .

Just a tip any time you run into a rusty steel cabinet, try electrolytic rust stripping, it will take all of the paint and rust off. I suspect that part of what the platers add onto the bill is the cost of stripping the rust off the old enclosure of these lamps, it should save some on the labor costs by handing them cleanly stripped steel.
Regards
Arran

HELP ..... I have the same Radio Lamp of America. However, the switch wires are disconnected fron the chassis and I don't know where to reconnect each one of them . Can anyone help? .... please! You can email info to cypress3@tx.rr.com
Thanks

email sent....

~jeff~

I have a original RadioLamp that the paint and exterior is original and the chassis/speaker has been professionally repaired and is in excellent working order. I am wanting to sell it and if someone is int. and would like to make an offer you can contact me at the following : wparrish2@nc.rr.com

Wayne Parrish

This needs to go to the classifieds with a asking price .

How about 35$ ?