I can see people not liking the radio stripped and redone. I wouldn't do it. I would restore it and leave it as close to original as I could. I also get tired of all the "reality " shows out there. I don't really care for the pickers or pawn shows. I think picker show are one reason many today ask so much for something old thats not valuable. But I like this show because they take something old and redo it. I liked items like the apple core machine and other items they didn't over do. But the show is entertaining,yes maybe scripted. With all the Snooki/Jersey Shore type crap out there its nice to see a show about old stuff being restored. I think one reason I like it so well is all the old stuff on there being redone and not sent to china to be melted down. I remember seeing items like he has in old buildings and wonder how many are now no longer around.

I think that AK looks great! I put a lot of work into restoring my Atwater Kent model 44, however I didn't repaint it. I have painted several radios and electric fans. It's no different than painting a classic car with an ok looking original paint job.
Here's one of my painted radios

Makes you miss the early days of public access, right? You'd see a fish tank, or a lawn chair. Just sitting there, for an entire hour. Now THAT was reality television!

And another thing -- you'll watch these shows at eight or nine o'clock at night. And it's sunny out!! Who do they think they're fooling?

Before I dropped pay television of any sort, I was fed up with History being the bigfoot/UFO/ancient prophesies of doom soon channel. I don't miss it.

Yes and don't forget WWII

When I saw that they were going to "restore" that AK I immediately thought .. oh gosh they are going to strip that very very cool radio and ruin it. In the end I thought it looked very good and I was surprised how well they matched the graphics! The graphics guy is truly amazing. The only think I didn't like about it was the polished brass pieces, they should have toned them down. That makes its look amatuerish if you ask me but other wise that is one piece that I would proudly own.

I love to pass the time with these shows. Its simple brain dead entertainment. Take it for what it is. Its still cool seing some of the stuff they show. One of my biggest problems? I've been a "picker" for going on 30 years. Now when I visit my haunts there seems to be a heck of a lot more competition. Oh well, gotta be good for the hobby to have more folks interested right?

Steve

I have to also agree. Outstanding work !!

At least WWII was an actual real historical event. History International was still good for a while, but recently it became History 2, and the new home of the UFO idiots.

Brett

What did I tell you?

H spun its good stuff off to HI which pritmuch devolved into H2. And H3 will be next. Maybe good for 3 months before it devolves too.

A&E spun everything good off to BIO which is now almost entirely Dog Bounty Hunter. There hasn't been anything "biographical" on it all year.

Discovery became "fashion makeover" and spun all science off onto Science which hasn't been worth a farthing for the last year either.

Weather Channel isn't even weather any more, except in the morning. SYFY is pro wrestling. Why does ANYONE continue paying for this crap? Turner Classic is the only legitimate service left on cable, and 3/4ths of the time it's something you could care less about.

Wait. IFC gets me out of bed tomorrow/Saturday with a couple hours of Three Stooges. At 20% commercials. Remember the old SNL bit, "Lowered Expectations"?

I would like to see "Dog, The Bounty Hunter" restore a radio. I'll bet he could do it for less than $1100.

Apparently they enjoy it and the program is a money maker.

I quit them last month (Directv). Put up a 6' yagi and get 15 digital channels for free with no hardware. Bought an internet capable (wireless) Panasonic plasma TV with what I'll save NOT paying for satellite. So I can get movies from any number of places for $8 a month or less (Amazon) if I choose to. I am happy do without Dog, MTV, All the STUPID stuff on the SYFI (or whatever their name is now) and all the rest. More time for fixing old radios too.

Directv promised my local channels to be in HD by the end of the year. That year was 2010. Guess what - they still aren't in HD. But hey, they are off of my antenna. And I don't have all of their crappy looking boxes around the house either. Or the huge goofy looking dish trying to tear the trim off of my roof every time the wind blows - not to mention rain fade or snow or leaves on trees or - well you get the point.

P.S. you can get a lot of shows off of the web. It takes a while to find them. Many are without the commercials, which I can't understand why. but just as well.

For instance:

http://www.history.com/videos

All local RF broadcasts??? The major networks and what other programs ?

Yes all of the networks. There are at least 6 of them now if you count PBS, UPN WB and the old ones. All of the stations broadcast at least 2 channels some, 3. One has CBS and then an oldies channel, 2 have full time news and weather and so on. There is at least 1 Spanish station in HD and a couple of the 700 club, type stations too. And I live way out in the bushes. Living in the big city must have more options.

If anybody goes to get an antenna - radio shack has a good one, here is a great link used to aim it:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

With an internet ready TV, your 5 or 10 MB internet connection, that I already have, and a wireless router it is amazing what is available right off the internet- no computer required.

By the way, if your internet provider is offering deals better and faster than you already have to new customers, all you have to do is ask (firmly) for that "new deal". Worked for me, cost less than I was paying and came with free long distance and a new wireless router..

Yep and a rather unfriendly one, at that.


Now that made me laugh!

Thanks for all the good info phlogiston !

Now that the smoke has cleared, I can't help but notice that restorations program
is for ever grinding on something, or welding. I suppose it's for visual effect.
Not Reality. Not my reality anyway. Delicate and selective grinding and welding
is where I live.

Hello Mark,
I agree man one of the forum members from that area needs to Help Rick out before destroys any more radios.