[JoshK]

I need another project like I need a hole in my head.  However, I was thinking that a really fun project might be finding a really cool looking vintage console radio.  The kind that was mono, tube powered and only radio as source.  Then clean it up and get it running but replace the radio as a source with a Squeezebox receiver (hidden of course).

Think of something like this:



Restore, shoehorn a SB receiver into it, and use something like this
http://www.edcorusa.com/Products/ShowProduct.aspx?ID=21
for bridging the channels to a mono source.

If the driver is shot, you could always find a nice Altec 604 and retrofit. 

I've always like the looks of these radios.

[mgalusha]

I had a friend offer me an old console like that last year for just such a project. The only thing that stopped me was that I would not have anywhere to put it once complete. I could store it in the basement but that wouldn't be any fun. Had to take a pass.

[Wayner]

That sounds like a fun project (I'm assuming that cabinet refinishing is also in the deal) and the radio would still have it's nostalgic look to boot. I have to laugh when I see the crosbby junk at several retailers (and it's even got a record player) and wonder who actually buys stuff like this, until I see some old farmer and his wife pick one up so they can play their old Lawrence Welk and Slim Whitman records. I actually think there is a small market for high quality radios, players in nostalgic cabinets, but it has to look more authentic then what's out there now. I'd like to find an old cathedral radio and put a Sony HD receiver in it (like the one I have in the kitchen) for the upstairs den, just to have on at diner.

Let us know how it turns out.

Wayner

[mcgsxr]

I am still DYING to pick up one of those old waterfall front floor standing radios, gut it (sorry purists) and put an HT sub in it.  I think that one of those would look really cool in an HT, and would hide the large ugly HT sub box perfectly.

Had not thougth of the SB3 idea - especially good for the Duet or one of the types that does not require a display.

[nunhgrader]

Does sound fun (way over my head/ abilities - newbie) - if you do will you show us what you are working on?

[baldrick]

How about this for an idea:
The radio and it's circuits are historically significant (and probably very good sounding) and should be restored.
You can still get your squeezebox into it with a little bit of tinkering.
What I have done in the past is to mount modern speakers into the cabinets so that they sound good and then restore completely the original circuit topology (using modern capacitors and resistors as necessary)  The end result is a radio that sounds like an improved version of the original but still maintaining that vintage sound. 
If you need to you can mount a parallel circuit (either tube or solid state) going through the same speakers to use with your squeezebox.  Alternately many of these old console radios had an auxiliary input (for a turntable or a tape player) which you could convert as an input for the squeezebox.
A good compromise, no?