'56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

[Brooks G.]

Guys, as you can tell, I am still working on my '56. I am about ready to send the radio out to be restored. The chrome on the face of my radio does not look the best and there is no repro for '56 and '57. Are there any of the folks who restore radios that also take care of plating on the radio face to include push buttons? Thanks in advance! Brooks Glover (2141)

[Steve H.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Brooks,
There is a replated face, bar, and door on ebay #360217047239 for $349.00.
Also a correct resistor #200570577740 at $38.77.

Steve

[Jack H.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Getting the knobs off is a bit tricky as they were intended for 'one shot' push-on installation. But, once you have them off, they (and the face plate) can be re-chromed by any shop that'll work on pot metal.

I used to have a fella locally who'd do this for $5/button and $25 for the face plate. But, he bit the dust when the fire marshal clamped down on him for the amount of raw cyanide he had stored on-site...

I don't know of anyone in the radio resto biz who does pot metal chrome plating in addition to the electro-mechanical work. Charles Siegfried (perpetual ads in Driveline) does EXCELLENT electro-mechanical work and he WILL remove the push buttons and face plate for YOU to have re-chromed while he works on the radio...

[John S.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

brooks, send your radio to jerry rudbeck and let him know what you want done. i told him i wanted the face rechromed when he was restoring the radio and he took car of everything. you won't find a better person to restore your radio!

[Greg P.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Use Charles Siegfried, he did my 57 radio with a rechrome and reconditioned the powerpack. Quick turnaround and great guy!

[Patrick T.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Charles Siegfried did the restoration on my '57 Wonderbar and it came back perfect. Great AM reception for ball games and bible shows!

[Dave S.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Charles Siegfried did the restoration on my '57 Wonderbar and it came back perfect. Great AM reception for ball games and bible shows!

I'll put in a plug for Charles Siegfried. He is a true gentleman and he reconditions wonderbars (he does not simply restore them). One of the finest vendors I have ever dealt with and I've dealt with him many times.

[Arland D.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Another endorsement for Charles Siegfried - I visited his shop while still living in the S.F. bay area and his work on my 56 Town and Country was excellent.

[John F.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Does anyone have a contact number?

[Dave S.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Does anyone have a contact number?

I believe he is a Driveline and Hemmings advertiser.

[Brooks G.]

Re: '56 & '57 Wonderbar Radio Restoration

Guys, thanks for your responses to my post about '56 & '57 wonderbar radio restoration. I looked in the latest driveline and under services and misc. found Charles Siegfried. He is located in Sebastopol, CA. His telephone number is listed as 707-823-7927. I am going to call and see what he has to say.
Brooks Glover (2141)