1951 General Electric Clock Radio

[luxy1205]

Here's my newest little guy named "Ivan" the magnificent ivory clock radio! I got him for $20 from a friend in town that owns an antique store! His radio works, but caps need to be replaced and his clock doesn't work. So, today I'm gonna start tearing him down so he can be rebuilt! His clock face is flawless for the age! There's a tiny little hairline crack on the front close to the tuner, but it's hardly noticeable. I will live with the crack because I don't want to fix it and then repaint it. He then won't be original and I don't want that! I paint a lot of my radios, but this one I want to leave original! Yea for Ivan!!!! -Michelle

 

[ronni]

How cool that you not only have a '51 G-E clock radio but its original advertisement! I think you are wise to keep it in its original condition, and one hairline crack isn't a big deal. Ivan sure looks sharp! I hope you're able to get it in complete working order.

The closest I have come to an original ad is a b/w photocopy of one from a 1957 newspaper microfilm of my Stetson dinnerware.

 

[tolivac]

Ivan!!Cool little radio-was made the year I was born!!Yes,keep him orig!!!

 

[luxy1205]

ronni

I just own the radio! I found the ad picture online and just copied it to show how cool it was! Wish I owned the ad...someday! We started working on him last night. Replaced a few caps and now his radio works! Have to clean his volume control potentiometer to get rid of the scratchy noise! Also, will start investigating his clock later today! -Michelle

 

[luxy1205]

tolivac

That's cool that's he's the same age as you!!! Yes, in this case, I believe original is the way to go! Some of mine I paint, but I try to leave the older babies original! He's too cool to be painted! -Michelle

 

[tolivac]

And its pretty neat to see what appliances were around when I came into the world.Collectors like to keep their radios as orig as possible.I knew like three people thqat collected radios and that was what they strived to dne fellow could restore a radio from what looked like a basketfull of parts!The radio was found in a barn near where I live.The humid conditions here are really bad!

 

[luxy1205]

Ivan update

Here's some pictures of Ivan from this weekend! We replaced his caps and now he can talk and sing again! Still working on his clock! Gave him a bath because he was a dirty boy! Made him scrub behind his clock face! Ha Ha! Blow dried him and now am going to hand polish him today! Had to share close ups of his variable capacitor and his transformer! Love both of them! Also, love how big his variable capacitor is!!! Will update again soon! -Michelle