How about a wireless speaker you can't find on the high street? Pioneering mid-century designs reimagined with new technology.
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About meHi I'm Frank, I am an electrical engineer and product designer from Berlin, based in London.
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What my customers have to say:
Aga on 30 Jun, 2019 5 out of 5 stars
Item as described. Well made, highly recommended. Thank you!
KIM REVILL on 22 Jun, 2019, 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent service from Frank. The radio looks great and works brilliantly
nwarendell on 16 May, 2019 5 out of 5 starsFrank did an excellent job of converting this radio. I am really delighted with the result. The speaker has a very good sound quality, and there is lots of attention to detail - like the on-off switch being functional, and the old aerial socket being used for the charger cable. Frank has previously also converted a radio of my own into a Bluetooth speaker with the same excellent results. I would definitely recommend the work that Frank does.
John Ramberg on 12 Feb, 2019, 5 out of 5 stars
A beautiful product and an exceptional seller. Highly recommended!
Danny on 30 Dec, 2018, 5 out of 5 stars
It's not just buying from a shop it's buying from Frank ! thanks, Danny
Sarah Slade on 22 Dec, 2018, 5 out of 5 stars
Lovely item. Frank was also very friendly and helpful. Looking forward to my husband’s face when he opens it on Christmas Day!
What I do
Every radio is unique, some are over 60 years old and everything is sympathetically restored in my workshop to the highest possible standards. Depending on the condition of the radio, I restore or bypass the original components and retrofit quality loud speakers and amplifiers.
FirstI restore the chassis where required, test the original speaker and make the mechanics work again.
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SecondI rewire the radio, convert it from mains powered to 12V low voltage. Solder new amplifier and speaker, make lights work.
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ThirdTest run, I install new software add custom web plugins and adjust the sound profile where necessary.
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1959 Zenith radio
Here are a few example of my work:
B615F "The Cotillion"
About Zenith |
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Zenith was founded as "Chicago Radio Laboratory" (CRL) in 1919 by Ralph H.G. Mathews and Karl Hassel to build small quantities of receivers primarily for radio amateurs. Their factory included station 9ZN, whose call letters inspired the Zenith brand name (initially as Z-Nith) used by CRL. Zenith Radios are difficult to find in Europe and only a few are left in such excellent cosmetically condition.
The Transformation
I bypassed the tube radio with a modern bluetooth amplifier and rewired the on/off switch. The radio now works on 12vDC with power supply or up to 4 hour with the built in power pack.
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1960 Loewe Opta
The Loewe story |
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Bella Luxus
Transformed into a WLAN media system
Transformed into a WLAN media system
All began in Berlin in 1923 with the launch Radiofrequenz GmbH, by the Loewe brothers. Working with inventors such as Manfred Von Ardenne and John Logie Baird, they developed pioneering radio technology and the world's first electronic TV. Exiled from Germany in WW2, Siegmund Loewe returned in 1949 and began producing the world's first cassette tape recorder (the Optaphon), the first European video recorder (the Optacord) and of course, the wonderful Opta radio series.
The Transformation
The 60 years old varnish looks like new and all knobs and buttons are in exellent condition. The genuine tube radio is not working anymore, therefore I fitted a new amplifier to power the genuine speaker and an extra full range speaker. The entire radio has been rewired and the light bulbs were replaced with Led lights. The genuine volume knob has been replaced and rewired, to now work in conjunction with the newly fitted amplifier. The new brain of the set is a small single board computer with WLAN, LAN and USB. The preinstalled software includes Apps like Spotify, Youtube, LastFm and more than 500 web radio stations can be easily modified and personalised.
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1950s Marconiphone T37DA
Transformed into a Bluetooth Speaker
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About Marconi radio |
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This vintage Marconiphone Companion T37DA bakelite valve radio was made in Britain in 1954. Marconi established the Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company in
1897. The company opened the world's first radio factory in Chelmsford in 1898.
In 1923, Marconi sold it's interests in domestic radios (and rights to use the Marconi name) to Marconiphone Company. In December 1929, the company was sold to the Gramophone Company, along with the right to use the trademark "Marconiphone" and the copyright signature "G. Marconi" on domestic receivers. In 1931 the Gramophone Company became Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) and produced domestic and radio receivers using the Marconiphone trademark until 1956.
This distinctively shaped radio was amongst the last produced by Marconiphone and is a rare find.
1897. The company opened the world's first radio factory in Chelmsford in 1898.
In 1923, Marconi sold it's interests in domestic radios (and rights to use the Marconi name) to Marconiphone Company. In December 1929, the company was sold to the Gramophone Company, along with the right to use the trademark "Marconiphone" and the copyright signature "G. Marconi" on domestic receivers. In 1931 the Gramophone Company became Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) and produced domestic and radio receivers using the Marconiphone trademark until 1956.
This distinctively shaped radio was amongst the last produced by Marconiphone and is a rare find.
The Transformation
I've converted it into a great-sounding, powerful bluetooth speaker using customised components. Simply connect your phone (or any other bluetooth device) with the radio and you have an amazing quality speaker housed inside a design classic. You can use the original switch to turn the radio on/off, then use your bluetooth device to control everything else. I removed the original speaker and fitted a 20W Bluetooth amplifier and a brand new high-spec speaker. The radio now operates on 12V (low voltage) with an external power supply and is adapted to work in any country.