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Dirty Old Radios! - Printable Version

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Dirty Old Radios! - MissouriLarry - 02-09-2026

   
Hello, I am fairly new into the hobby and still consider myself very much an amateur at this.  I am currently working on a Silvertone Model 7134.  I spent Sunday replacing the old paper caps and I have that almost finished.  I am waiting for parts to finish up the caps.  I started working on the cabinet to this old radio, knowing that it was in pretty poor shape.  Besides a couple of cracks in the cabinet, the finish was quite poor.  I spent about 2 hours cleaning it up to see if it will clean up.  While not finished yet, it is amazing how much a good cleaning can bring back the finish.  It is hard to imagine how much cigarette smoke and grimy hands this unit has seen.    The photo shows before cleaning and after.

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - morzh - 02-09-2026

Yep. My paper towels come out black or dark-chocolate brown after one swipe after Goop application.

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - klondike98 - 02-09-2026

Yes the clean up on a cabinet can be quite a good revival step. Sometimes its good enough, sometimes the finish just needs a litte refresher and then other times a refinish is needed. Yours looks pretty good after cleanup!

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - MissouriLarry - 02-09-2026

Thanks! I agree it looks better, I was not expecting it to clean up so well. It still has more still on it so I have more work to do but it is well on the way.

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - morzh - 02-09-2026

What do you use to clean it?

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - MissouriLarry - 02-09-2026

I used goop, paper towels, toothbrush and some 0000 wool.

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - David - 02-09-2026

Just in case you have not seen these sites  posting some links nice job on the clean up. David  
    https://www.nostalgiaair.org/models/Sears-Roebuck-and-Co/Sears-Roebuck-and-Co-7134.htm                                                   https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sears_roeb_110448_7134.html

RE: Dirty Old Radios! - MissouriLarry - 02-09-2026

Thanks David!