[Winky Dink]

 I recently picked up two Transitone “parts” sets:  Models 46-250 and 49-504.  I chose to restore the model 49 because it had a better cabinet, but the back was a disaster.


[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oP8mP...520020.jpg]

Fortunately, the Model 46 back is the same part number and it wasn‘t is such bad condition.  I had never before tried to restore cardboard, but I thought it would be easier than making a new back.   

First I removed the labels, stickers, tape, then scraped off the old adhesives.  The damaged areas--both raised and depressed--were leveled and feathered with 220-grit sandpaper.  Then the entire surface was sprayed with a thick coat of clear acrylic and sanded again to eliminate the fuzziness of the sanded areas.

[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5dUnc...520028.jpg]

To restore the frayed corners, I flowed some epoxy cement into the separated layers at the edges and then clamped them with well-lubricated pieces of acrylic (lubricated so they wouldn’t stick to the epoxy).

[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UP00e...520032.jpg]

I re-sanded the corners, then spray-painted two thick coats of Rustoleum gloss khaki (I would have preferred a satin finish).  Immediately, before the khaki coat dried, I lightly over-sprayed with a different color (Rustoleum nutmeg, because it was handy).  The mixture appears more like cardboard than a single tone.  Finally, I coated it with clear satin acrylic to get the desired finish.

[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CrDOz...520036.jpg]

Some of the defects still show through, but overall it has a good appearance and preserves the original stamped part number.  I’m missing one of the four mounting studs, which I’ll try to reproduce, and I’m working on reproductions of the original labels.

Why did I go to all this trouble for a cheap little radio?   I just don’t know.