Another French SNR Excelsior radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

vinrads · 30th Jun 2021, 12:04 pm

This was bought as a wreck , the case was rusty very bad in places eating its way through the steel , after a lot of hard work grinding the rust out and filling holes , I use car body filler , several coats of etching primer , the colour took a bit of thinking about ,the original was brown with a special texture ,it would have been near impossible to replicate ,so I chose a green which compliments the green on the front , which is made of a Perspex type material the top corners were damaged ,what to do ! after much deliberation I decided to re make the corner using plastic metal , the original would have been green ,after forming the shape of the corners ,I painted them black feathering it in like the original at the bottom ,a clear coat finished the job .
Electrics now, the output tx o/c , speaker rusted beyond saving ,painted the chassis masking up the bits that I didn't need paint just the top the underside was not to bad ,a new front was made using the old hardboard one as a template ,restrung the dial drive ,this one rivalled any Philips , New mirror dials were purchased also fore knob bright's . Mick.

newlite4 · 30th Jun 2021, 8:02 pm

What a lovely job. I have rather a liking for French radios. I certainly don't envy you tackling that tuning drive though. I have done a few French radios recently and they can be a challenge, especially with their quirky circuit designs. Well done!
Neil

vinrads · 30th Jun 2021, 8:47 pm

Thanks Neil ,I am thinking about taking it to Warwick a friend and I have three tables between us . may fit blue tooth what do you think , Mick.

newlite4 · 1st Jul 2021, 10:44 am

Plenty of space in there to fit a bluetooth module, you could probably derive power from the heater supply. If it would make the set more useable and therefore more attractive to a new user then why not.
Neil

G6Tanuki · 1st Jul 2021, 7:55 pm

What a deleriously-wacky bit of styling! I love it! Dan Dare meets Art-Deco! Great that you've restored it - and the acid-green/gold combination really works well together.

Tractionist · 1st Jul 2021, 8:12 pm

Excellent work ... what was the guy on when he designed it eh?

Richard_FM · 1st Jul 2021, 10:10 pm

Well done for restoring this, it must have been a challenge just for the case.

Even by French standards the styling is very florid!

FStephenMasek · 27th Jul 2021, 3:57 am

Quite nice! You've inspired me to get started on restoring my one French radio.

SeanStevens · 27th Jul 2021, 7:21 am

That is a truly gorgeous colour combination

Lovely

SEAN

mister valve · 27th Jul 2021, 9:42 pm

What a lovely looking radio!
The French certainly knew how to make beautiful looking radio's, and you have done a very nice restoration job on it.

30th Jun 2021, 12:04 pm	#1
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,754	Another French SNR Excelsior radio This was bought as a wreck , the case was rusty very bad in places eating its way through the steel , after a lot of hard work grinding the rust out and filling holes , I use car body filler , several coats of etching primer , the colour took a bit of thinking about ,the original was brown with a special texture ,it would have been near impossible to replicate ,so I chose a green which compliments the green on the front , which is made of a Perspex type material the top corners were damaged ,what to do ! after much deliberation I decided to re make the corner using plastic metal , the original would have been green ,after forming the shape of the corners ,I painted them black feathering it in like the original at the bottom ,a clear coat finished the job . Electrics now, the output tx o/c , speaker rusted beyond saving ,painted the chassis masking up the bits that I didn't need paint just the top the underside was not to bad ,a new front was made using the old hardboard one as a template ,restrung the dial drive ,this one rivalled any Philips , New mirror dials were purchased also fore knob bright's . Mick. Attached Thumbnails

30th Jun 2021, 8:02 pm	#2
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio What a lovely job. I have rather a liking for French radios. I certainly don't envy you tackling that tuning drive though. I have done a few French radios recently and they can be a challenge, especially with their quirky circuit designs. Well done! Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

30th Jun 2021, 8:47 pm	#3
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,754	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio Thanks Neil ,I am thinking about taking it to Warwick a friend and I have three tables between us . may fit blue tooth what do you think , Mick.

1st Jul 2021, 10:44 am	#4
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio Plenty of space in there to fit a bluetooth module, you could probably derive power from the heater supply. If it would make the set more useable and therefore more attractive to a new user then why not. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

1st Jul 2021, 7:55 pm	#5
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,995	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio What a deleriously-wacky bit of styling! I love it! Dan Dare meets Art-Deco! Great that you've restored it - and the acid-green/gold combination really works well together.

1st Jul 2021, 8:12 pm	#6
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 874	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio Excellent work ... what was the guy on when he designed it eh? __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

1st Jul 2021, 10:10 pm	#7
Richard_FM Nonode Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,002	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio Well done for restoring this, it must have been a challenge just for the case. Even by French standards the styling is very florid! __________________ Hello IT: Have you Tried Turning It Off & On Again?

27th Jul 2021, 3:57 am	#8
FStephenMasek Pentode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mission Viejo, California, USA Posts: 144	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio Quite nice! You've inspired me to get started on restoring my one French radio.

27th Jul 2021, 7:21 am	#9
SeanStevens Octode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,033	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio That is a truly gorgeous colour combination Lovely SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

27th Jul 2021, 9:42 pm	#10
mister valve Hexode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 311	Re: Another French SNR Excelsior radio What a lovely looking radio! The French certainly knew how to make beautiful looking radio's, and you have done a very nice restoration job on it. __________________ If you live, the chassis was dead; if you're dead, the chassis was live !!!!