60 Wonderbar radio restoration

[Valeria H.]

I need to have my radio restored and would like some advice on who to send it to and about how much am I looking at spending? I searched the archives and found the name of Mike Hagan in PA. Is he still a good option for this service.
Valeria

[Joel T.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Valeria;

Contact Jerry Rudbeck, ElectroDesign... 864-363-0947.. Jerry's an NCRS member, and you will find nobody better to restore your radio....

Good luck,

Joel

[Valeria H.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Thanks Joel for your great lead. I spoke with Jerry today and will get my radio out to him this weekend. The restoration seems to be less expensive than I anticipated also.
Valeria

[Terry D.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Valeria

I believe if you search the archives you will come up with 2 or 3 other very good names. I'm not at my desk or I could give you their names and numbers. Always good to have choices.
Terry

[Steven N.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

When I hear that the price seems less expensive, the question comes to mind........Are they restoring it or just getting it to play ? Some of the questions that should be asked are
1. Are they restoring the case
2. Are they reconing the speaker
3. New tubes or just checking them
4. Re-plate all the trim or replace or just clean
5. are they matching the speaker to the unit
6. are they going through the entire radio board
There are many things to restoring a radio and speaker.

Steven J.

[Valeria H.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Thanks for bringing up many fine points! I requested that the radio be restored with a possible future judging with ncrs in mind. I requested that the trim be replated and do not have a price on that. I will research the archives for a recommendation on re chroming but off the cuff does anyone out there have any recommendations for this. I have several other pieces that need to be rechromed
Good point about the speaker. I did not send it and will talk to Jerry about getting this done.

Thanks again to all for your comments. You all are the greatest!!
Valeria

[Brady C.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

I have used Charles Siegfried in CA for C-1 and Cadillac wonderbars. He is one of the best, fair on pricing with guarantees......

B. Como # 42793

[Steven N.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Valerie, Might be easier to buy a new trim package. If you have the corvette central discount , it come 's to about $105. Plating can be done for that, but because of the metal content, its a coin toss of what the the pieces will look like. speaker re-cones are around $50.

[Joel T.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

When I hear that the price seems less expensive, the question comes to mind........Are they restoring it or just getting it to play ? Some of the questions that should be asked are
1. Are they restoring the case
2. Are they reconing the speaker
3. New tubes or just checking them
4. Re-plate all the trim or replace or just clean
5. are they matching the speaker to the unit
6. are they going through the entire radio board
There are many things to restoring a radio and speaker.

Steven J.

Steven,

You obviously do not know Jerry... if you recall, there was a thread here a while back about a Wonderbar which got run over by the UPS truck and subsequently restored... There were even photos posted on this board... That's Jerry's work.

Jerry did the Wonderbar for my 1963.. I got daily status reports, with photos as well as all my old parts back (including the original Delco Vacuum tube).... he also connected me with Electro-Tech out of Minn. who manufactures replacement speakers with the correct loading coil... My 1963 plays like it did back in 1963.... I mean it is super!!!

I've had radios done by some well known names in our hobby, for big bucks, and then asked Jerry to straighten out the messes they left behind... which he did happily.... and for not a lot on money.

Anyway, just a few comments and data points for consideration.

Joel

[Valeria H.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

That must be why Jerry recommended Fed Ex!

[Dennis C.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Valerie, Might be easier to buy a new trim package. If you have the corvette central discount , it come 's to about $105. Plating can be done for that, but because of the metal content, its a coin toss of what the the pieces will look like. speaker re-cones are around $50.

I bought a trim package for my '61 Wonderbar. The quality was so poor I returned it and had my original trim rechromed by Paul's Chrome. They were able to apply the chrome and keep the definition of the recess that says Wonderbar. All I need to do is repaint the lettering.

They also have the ability of recreating the recess if necessary. It all depends on the quality of the parts you are starting with.

[Don H.]

Re: 60 Wonderbar radio restoration

Steven,

You obviously do not know Jerry... if you recall, there was a thread here a while back about a Wonderbar which got run over by the UPS truck and subsequently restored... There were even photos posted on this board... That's Jerry's work.

Jerry did the Wonderbar for my 1963.. I got daily status reports, with photos as well as all my old parts back (including the original Delco Vacuum tube).... he also connected me with Electro-Tech out of Minn. who manufactures replacement speakers with the correct loading coil... My 1963 plays like it did back in 1963.... I mean it is super!!!

I've had radios done by some well known names in our hobby, for big bucks, and then asked Jerry to straighten out the messes they left behind... which he did happily.... and for not a lot on money.

Anyway, just a few comments and data points for consideration.

Joel

ditto all the above for me on my 65 Am-FM. He found me a new case center wrap when he found mine had a butchered mounting bracket. He sold me the part for his cost. And he made the radio/speaker sound and function like new. And it did it at a hobbyist's price. There can be no one better in the old corvette radio restoration biz.