Finding Knobs - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

JHGibson · 20th Dec 2010, 11:03 pm

I restored a Philco Transitone 52-540. This is a 5 valve compact Bakelite table radio. Rebuilding the electronics was straightforward but I had a problem in that the knobs were not original and worse, they were odd. My usual sources failed to turn up replacements but I recalled that bottle caps look very much like radio knobs.
I located two similar bottle caps and glued them over the current radio knobs and they looked quite acceptable.
John.

vinrads · 20th Dec 2010, 11:36 pm

That's just the job John , they certainly look better than the odd ones , you never know some may turn up one day.

Sometimes we have to improvise.

howard · 21st Dec 2010, 12:55 am

Hello John,

I've got one of those Transitone radios, a Canadian built 81-122 which is all but identical to the US built 52-540. Here is a pic of it with its original knobs, your best bet for an original pair for yours is to try some US websites who deal in old US radio spares. It certainly looks better with bottle tops in the meantime !

Howard

20th Dec 2010, 11:03 pm	#1
JHGibson Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada Posts: 368	Finding Knobs I restored a Philco Transitone 52-540. This is a 5 valve compact Bakelite table radio. Rebuilding the electronics was straightforward but I had a problem in that the knobs were not original and worse, they were odd. My usual sources failed to turn up replacements but I recalled that bottle caps look very much like radio knobs. I located two similar bottle caps and glued them over the current radio knobs and they looked quite acceptable. John. Attached Thumbnails

20th Dec 2010, 11:36 pm	#2
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,764	Re: Finding Knobs That's just the job John , they certainly look better than the odd ones , you never know some may turn up one day. Sometimes we have to improvise.

21st Dec 2010, 12:55 am	#3
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: Finding Knobs Hello John, I've got one of those Transitone radios, a Canadian built 81-122 which is all but identical to the US built 52-540. Here is a pic of it with its original knobs, your best bet for an original pair for yours is to try some US websites who deal in old US radio spares. It certainly looks better with bottle tops in the meantime ! Howard Attached Thumbnails