Opinions please re KLH Model 21/II FM radio

[JKent]

Hi

I'm looking for suggestions from the group here regarding restoration of a radio. Maybe "slightly" OT but it's the speaker grill cloth that I'm asking about, so....

Just bought a nice 21/II on ebay. That's the one that has the real walnut veneer and looks just like the Original Model 21 except for the knobs (black) and the grill cloth. I plan to restore this for my collection by cleaning it up and refinishing the cabinet. Here's the question: The grill cloth is in good shape and I assumed it was brown. But when I took the faceplate off I discovered it was originally black and the exposed part had faded.

What do you think: Leave it as is or try to dye it black?

thanks

Kent

[Andy]

Thats a tough call, the brown looks pretty good, but black is correct for a restoration. It'll come down to personal taste ?

Your version should be about 1971, last of the nice KLH. The version which came right after this one was a much cheaper looking radio with vinyl cabinet and foam grill which disinigrated.

[JKent]

>Your version should be about 1971, last of the nice KLH. The

>version which came right after this one was a much cheaper

>looking radio with vinyl cabinet and foam grill which

>disinigrated.

Yeah--tell me about it. I have one of those, too. Replaced the vinyl with walnut veneer, made a new grill out of masonite and black knit grill cloth. Have been trying to fix a problem with the volume pot but little luck so far. I think KLH really went down the tubes at that point. Compare that chintzy vinyl-clad beast to the original Model Eight with SOLID walnut construction and there's no comparison.

I do sort of like the 21/II. Don't see too many of them.

As always Andy, your input is much appreciated (although I'm still in a quandry regarding to dye or not to dye :-) )

Kent

[Andy]

Kent,

On second thought, black would look pretty sharp ? Yes, not nearly as many 21/II around as the original 21...it's made as well as the earlier one in my opinion.

I'm still wondering what managment was thinking in the 1972-80 era, KLH had not only built a reputation for state of the art performance, but also had fit and finish / construction which was so nice. As I've mentioned before, Henry Kloss was not only a inovative electroncs person, he was also a skilled wood worker who had made his own furniture for his loft when he moved to cambridge in 1948.

How a radio or a speaker was made mattered to him. I'm sure this is why he used furniture grade walnut for the Model Eight in 1960 and the very early loudspeakers were made of Marine 12-ply plywood in 1957-58. Even the optional deluxe dust cover for the phono systems was solid walnut/plexiglass.....very nice.

Enjoy your KLH, Andy

[JKent]

>Kent,

>

>On second thought, black would look pretty sharp ? Yes, not

>nearly as many 21/II around as the original 21...it's made as

>well as the earlier one in my opinion.

>I'm still wondering what managment was thinking in the 1972-80

>era, KLH had not only built a reputation for state of the art

>performance, but also had fit and finish / construction which

>was so nice. As I've mentioned before, Henry Kloss was not

>only a inovative electroncs person, he was also a skilled wood

>worker who had made his own furniture for his loft when he

>moved to cambridge in 1948.

>How a radio or a speaker was made mattered to him. I'm sure

>this is why he used furniture grade walnut for the Model Eight

>in 1960 and the very early loudspeakers were made of Marine

>12-ply plywood in 1957-58. Even the optional deluxe dust cover

>for the phono systems was solid walnut/plexiglass.....very

>nice.

>

>Enjoy your KLH, Andy

Thanks Andy. Yes--I'm going with black. This will make a nice addition to my little Kloss collection: Eight, Thirteen, Eighteen, 21, m703(?)extension spkr, 21/II, Advent 400, Tivoli One and a Lafayette Criterion IV pretender ;-)

I don't think I'll keep the 21:FM (vinyl beast) or 21:AM/FM. Once I've cleaned them up (and got the volume pot working on the FM) they'll probably go on ebay. I just can't warm up to them, especially after refinishing the beautiful solid walnut Eight (although I curse the awkward grill cloth attachment).

Am I missing anything that should go with these? I do have a Sixteen Amp that needs some work. Of course then I should add some speakers and the space is limited (maybe a couple of 703s or 20s)

[JKent]

Here's the 21/II. I tried to color the cloth black using a permanent marker. Worked pretty well, but there is still a brownish cast to it. I like it. I'll assume Boomers can identify the guy atop the Advent 400.