Coming up in January, the readers and editors of Apartment Therapy and Blueprint/Bluelines have the opportunity to jump in and get a project done - together. We're hoping that with the support of the community it will be an easy road from "Before" to "After".
An editor from every site is tackling their own project, their own January Jumpstart Project, and mine is this 1950's stereo cabinet ages I found ages ago on a curbside nearby. It's remained on the "one day...some day" to-do list for way too long. So this coming January, I'm going to finally give myself swift kick in the behind and get going on bringing this blast from past back to the sophisticated glory it deserves.
Questions that need to be addressed before starting:
- Paint finishes and colour(s)
- Repair the speaker cloth or replace with new idea for storage?
- Revive as a sound/entertainment system or create into new storage cabinet
- How to fit this into our existing decor and limited space layout
- Can I somehow incorporate an extra LCD monitor? Will it even fit?
I'd love to hear any suggestions or what you'd dream this project to be.
If you'd like to join us and complete a project around the house in early 2008 (and possibly win a prize in the process) you simply need to:
- read all the details here
- pick your project
- take a before photo or two
- get your supplies together...and we'll all be ready to go in January.
My 2 cents -
Gut it. Refinish it back to back to it's original honey colored glory. Put new speakers in it and mount one of these Fatman units in it with the iPod dock sitting on top over one of the speakers. Use the rest of the interior for storage. Should sound great!
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/80886
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73457
view spinsLPs's profile
My grandparents had one of those cabinet stereos. I want one *so bad* for my 1961 brick ranch.
My "just do it' project for January is to get something done in the house. I will have turned in my thesis proposal by deadline, i have a new job which includes a raise, and I figure I should put some of that money to work celebrating the new job/proposal completion by finishing one of my house projects. Any of them really. Maybe it will be painting the bathroom trim (I painted the bathroom walls in September.)
view Blue_roses's profile
I'm really excited to watch this work in progress! I picked up a stereo cabinet curbside myself this summer - a smaller unit. I have no idea where to begin at all, though I know there's a local place that can help me repair the record player. I too am thinking of pimping it with ipod hookups.
Anyhow, just wanted to share my enthusiasm!
view thebigJC's profile
Please don't paint it. It would just be too good with the wood refinished.
This has great possibilities. It's really a beautiful piece of midcentury design. Very George Nelson.
If it were mine, I'd turn it into a credenza in a heartbeat. Or a nice masculine dresser. I'd pop out the front wood panel, chop it in half, and make it into cupboard doors with shelving inside.
Where the speakers are, I'd put cupboards or drawers. I'd fill those sections with a material that would contrast well with the rest of the wood. Perhaps a figured walnut, with the grain running horizontally. A touch of Nakashima or Noguchi aesthetic.
If the speakers and electronics were any good, I might fulfill my fantasy of building a tube amp powered dock for my iPod. I'd mount the old speakers in clear plexiglass boxes to show them off and keep the dust off, and remount the tubes/chassis in such a way that the glowing tubes would be visible as well.
view Bruised's profile
this is the EXACT stereo my parents had when i was growing up. MAN, i wish i had that!! i'm going to go scour ebay right now! can't wait to see your project...
view pinko's profile
WOW that is such a cool piece, I'm so jealous!! I hope you are able to bring it back to its former glory like you want!!
view shpanky's profile
Oh, by the way....is there supposed to be an active link for the 'january jumpstart' project details? It says "read details here" but I don't see details.
:)
view Blue_roses's profile
and this is probably all tube gear!!! My advise don't plug it in if it is. Have a tech go over it beforehand. Tubes amps don't take too kindly to long periods of inactivity.
view joebelt's profile
i've seen tonnes of these in toronto thrift stores, for prices like 10-30$. maybe its worth checking those places out before ebay...
view olya's profile
revive the stereo! that would be so much more awesome than making it a storage cabinet!
view christie's profile
Doubt it's a real "tube" amp. But, it could be...anyway, I'd take all the gear out, refinish it, replace the fabric, then put a new turntable in, with a small (50-80 watts) amp to power it, and I'd make room for smallish speakers and record storage. You could use the old knobs and dials as a false front for a modern amp. Hook it up to an AirPort and you can play digital music as well.
view Bolder's profile
One of our neighbors (before we moved) has one of this EXACT same item in their house. It was passed down from her grandma.
I would revive the stereo system and speaker coverings, redo the wood finish.
view MintC's profile
I love these old "weckaplayas". I would take it to an expresso/walnut stain with a rich finish.
The fabric I would remove and go for an unbleached linen or a nubby burlap, actually Michael Levin's in Downtown has some nice woven wood fabrics that would look cool.
As far as the guts go to Solutions Electronics and Repair on Sunset near Fountain, he may be able to tell you what you have. I would just "Upgrade" and go Bose.....maybe an i-DJ station with a multi-carousel sidecar, get one made for a car and then its all upright and neat in there. I saw one on ecost for 50 bucks.
Oh and I'd go for a contrasting color inside, like a cinnabar....
view hueandtimber's profile