Sony CF-160L restoration

[Retro Addict]

Hey guys, this is my most recent project. This 70s mono box has sentimental value to me, and now was a good time to restore it. The controls were very scratchy, the antenna tip had been snapped off, the cassette drive belt had stretched and the whole thing was very dirty. Here's how it looked before I started...

The tear down begins...

My cat Kira loves to watch me work on my projects!

After cleaning all of the controls, replacing the antenna, replacing the cassette drive belt, and cleaning everything inside and out, this is the result. The pictures have been taken from the same angles...

I really enjoyed restoring this one. Thanks for looking!

 

[MyOhMy]

When I saw the first images I thought "An old man's garden shed radio, probably gerfirked" but a task worth the effort as the colour is beautiful and the styling is fantastic.

When I saw the resto I was really surprised at how well it turned out, you did a great job!

Nice looking cat, too!

 

[BoomboxLover48]

That is day and night difference! Oh my! Great job!
Talking about Sentimental values.....



My personal fave from my early days was Panasonic RX 5310.

I was lucky to find one and restore it to its original beauty.

Same was the case with Sharp GF9696 that was part of my life once in the early 1980 s....

Another one was Panasonic RX 5230 ...that with the help of Ira I was able to get it. That had lots of memories associated with it....

The list goes on and on....

 

[goodman]

Never seen before. Looks very good after restoration!

 

[Retro Addict]

When I saw the first images I thought "An old man's garden shed radio, probably gerfirked" but a task worth the effort as the colour is beautiful and the styling is fantastic.

When I saw the resto I was really surprised at how well it turned out, you did a great job!

Nice looking cat, too!

Yes, I know the radio is a world away from the 'grails' we're so used to seeing on this site (I also own quite a few of them), and I gathered people would probably be underwhelmed seeing this.

Thanks, it did turn out well, I was so glad it was 100% complete to start with (not that there's a lot to go missing on a small one like this!)

I like the ginger cat in your avatar, very nice. He or she?

 

[Retro Addict]

That is day and night difference! Oh my! Great job!
Talking about Sentimental values.....



My personal fave from my early days was Panasonic RX 5310.

I was lucky to find one and restore it to its original beauty.

Same was the case with Sharp GF9696 that was part of my life once in the early 1980 s....

Another one was Panasonic RX 5230 ...that with the help of Ira I was able to get it. That had lots of memories associated with it....

The list goes on and on....

Thanks, I'm pleased with how it turned out.

With items that have sentimental value attached to them, we probably tend to take more care when restoring them.

I'm sure your early one must've been an RF-5310, not RX?

 

[Retro Addict]

Never seen before. Looks very good after restoration!

Thanks!

P.S. SORRY - I JUST FOUND OUT HOW MULTI-QUOTE WORKS!

 

[MyOhMy]

Yes, I know the radio is a world away from the 'grails' we're so used to seeing on this site (I also own quite a few of them), and I gathered people would probably be underwhelmed seeing this.

Thanks, it did turn out well, I was so glad it was 100% complete to start with (not that there's a lot to go missing on a small one like this!)

I like the ginger cat in your avatar, very nice. He or she?

In the event my previous post came across a little shy on the ol' compliment side, I thing you did a brilliant job, Don't worry that it isn't everyone's idea of a grail box, the size doesn't matter - so I've been told.


Hoby (pusspuss) is a rescue cat. HE is strong & muscular, determined & tenacious, a Ladies Man and frequently defensively nasty towards me but that's not his fault - I blame his anger & frustrations on other 'humans' that abused & neglected him while still a kitten.
He's in safe, loving hands now.

 

[crazygamer]

What a lovely box it is What did you use for outer case cleaning ?

 

[ralrein1]

A real nice job on that one there.No underwhelming here,the cool little mono boxes have their place and need love too.I dig on the tone toggle switch,very cool.

 

[Retro Addict]

What a lovely box it is What did you use for outer case cleaning ?

Cheers! Just warm water and some Fairy washing-up liquid on a dishcloth, plus a few tissues to dry off. Nothing more, nothing less... well, maybe a bit of elbow grease too.

 

[T-STER]

Underwhelming? On the contrary mate!

We all know the grails so well that its nice to see something different and i had not seen this box before. I like it to, the colour is awesome. I don't know what it is but Sony boxes always seem so different to everything else, they are quality and so well built. The resto on this is night and day, it cleaned up so nice. Enjoyed this thread

I also loved the fact that your cat couldn't possibly get any closer to you, he is keeping a close eye on things haha.

 

[im_alan_partridge]

I can only echo what the others have said, great job mate

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

When I saw the first images I thought "An old man's garden shed radio, probably gerfirked" but a task worth the effort as the colour is beautiful and the styling is fantastic.

When I saw the resto I was really surprised at how well it turned out, you did a great job!

Nice looking cat, too!

Sentimental Mono's are always welcome around here, still searching for mine :'-(

My first thought was, "Glad he has his sentimental box, but he couldn't have found one a little more 'Alive' to start with?"

But now seeing it, it looks great! Nice work bringing back another one!