So this is the photo that was placed on Craigslist. Not much to look at but I knew there was something under all that dust. The radio in this picture is a 1947 8-tube Crosley Console with a pull out record player, AM, FM, and Shortwave Receiver. When I purchased it the previous owner mentioned that if she had the time she would use the old record shelves for bar ware. I thought this was a good idea and needed to be taken to the next level. A level only someone with OCD and who hates sleep could take it to.

To begin any large project you need plans and detailed plans make the whole process run smooth. My plans were scribbled in about 15 seconds.

Now unfortunately the pull out record player had seen better days. Most of those were 60 years ago but whose counting. I made an executive decision and decided the record player would be removed.

And so the record player got removed.

The next step was to rebuild a new drawer surface. Luckily, I had some old cabinet wood from a previous project that would do just fine for this adventure. It was time to pull out the power tools and pretend I was tough like Bob Vila.

Once the drawer surface was cut out I started making more measurements and spending more time scheming. In this picture the Ipod should be good foreshadowing of things to come.

The drawer surface was roughly cut to fit some of the things in my head (and other things I was already winning on eBay). Switches were purchased to add a level of complex electrical work to the project and because I love switches.

Not to go into to much electrical mumbo jumbo but a 1947 radio doesn't really like modern speakers (and according to my 15 second scribbled plans this project required a new speaker). So, to make the two play nice a audio transformer is needed between the two to adjust the impedance and output power. This picture shows my brand new "old skool" transformer ready for installation.

Unfortunately the radio had other plans instead of working properly. After hooking up the new transformer the only sound the damn thing made was "BZZZZZPFFTPFFTPFFFFTBZZZZZ" which needless to say did not meet my requirements.

And so me and the radio had to make a journey out to Millbury MA so it could get the emergency electrical care it required.

Meanwhile, things started to arrive from Ebay. First was the early 40's alcohol decanters.

Next came new (antique) bakelite knobs for the console.

With my Ebay pieces arriving daily it was time to get back to finishing the pull out drawer. After a trip to Home Depot (thanks Deb!) I managed to get some nice trim for around the decanters and some glue that I think is guaranteed to hold into the next ice age. At least it should for the cost.

After this it was time to start staining the wood so it would match the rest of the antique cabinet. I wish I had a witty comment for this photo. But I don't.

Soon after this the low profile halogen lighting arrived. If nothing else this radio was definitely going to double the electric bill.

The next step was a whole lot of wiring. Wiring the lights, wiring the chassis, wiring the switches to the transformer, wiring the Ipod to the phono input, wiring the RCA outputs to the Ipod, and then rewiring half of this because I did it wrong the first time.

By the time it was all done the back of the radio looked like a horrible science experiment. Nevertheless, none of this will be visiible from the front and good looks are far more important anyway.

The last step was to simply plug the Ipod into the docking station. The output was wired twice. One stereo output for external uses and then one mono output that was sent into the old radio phono input.

AND IT'S DONE!

WORLD'S FIRST ANTIQUE RADIO / MINI BAR / IPOD DOCKING STATION (with lighted shelving).

WORLD'S FIRST ANTIQUE RADIO / MINI BAR / IPOD DOCKING STATION (with lighted shelving).

WORLD'S FIRST ANTIQUE RADIO / MINI BAR / IPOD DOCKING STATION (with lighted shelving).