Seeburg Teardrop Speakers Refresh

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Hepcats Haven

These needed a lot of work to look like I want them!

I purchased these two speakers form Ebay and I was very excited to get them. One speaker is the standard Seeburg teardrop speaker and the other is the deluxe version with volume control and an on and off switch. Anyways as you can tell one was bakelite and the other was a cream color (with about a thousand coats of house paint). The technique I used to restore these was very similar to the Health-O-Meter scale resto I did sometime back. This is a good example of how you can use the same process on different pieces to bring them back to life. Here is how they turned out…

Here is the deluxe Seeburg speaker all done up!

I decided a maroon, black and gold combo color scheme would match the Seeburg library unit the best. I used a few pieces of a gold starburst fabric that I had on hand to cover speaker grills. I think it looks fantastic.

These turned out fantastic!

As you can see below they all go together now.

Shazam!

I am still short about 30 or so records so that will be my next thing to focus on.

The piece above the Seeburg was done by Erich. I haven’t been able to find any info on him. I love his technique and how this image tells its own story.

Now onto the next resto! I know I haven’t been blogging as much lately but it is largely due to our booth at 57th Street Antique Mall. It has been keeping us really busy. Sorry 🙂

8 Comments

8 responses »

Joe | June 12, 2012 at 6:48 am

Hi, I follow your blog for months and love your before / after restoration but this time I have to say it’s really bad, why using this fabric ? it doesn’t go with the speaker, the colors are not bad but it could be fanstic if you use a classic fabric without graphic on it, I bought mine restored with a classic fabric : http://www.flickr.com/photos/54369188@N08/5723768746/in/set-72157624913419535

friendly,
Joe

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- Hepcat Restorations | June 12, 2012 at 10:01 am
  
  Thanks soo much for following our blog. I am sorry you don’t like the restored speakers. I think it looks great but It is hard to please everyone. I do appreciate your honesty. Thanks again.
  
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  - Joe | June 12, 2012 at 12:50 pm
    
    I really love the two tones colors and the goldlines around it but a plain fabric would enhance the seeburg logo
    
    but once again I really love your restoration, I restored some items too, some weeks ago I nearly finished the restoration of a murray pedal car in bright red with white seats
    
    Usually I buy items in perfect condition as I don’t have many time for restoration
    
    Bye
    Joe
    
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thatmidcenturyfella | June 13, 2012 at 7:55 am

Great work! Are these drive-in movie speakers? I’ve never been to a drive-in movie so I’m curious if this is what they used to use.

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- Hepcat Restorations | June 16, 2012 at 9:21 pm
  
  Hi!
  No, these aren’t drive-in speakers. These are satellite speakers that were usually paired with a Seeburg jukebox.
  
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Sharron | February 16, 2015 at 3:38 pm

I think your restored tear drop speakers are beautiful. I love the two tone colors you chose.
I also have a tear drop Seeburg speaker it has an on and off button & a volume button but
mine are on the very front of the speaker just below the gold trim at the bottom of the speaker.

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- Hepcat Restorations | March 20, 2015 at 11:12 am
  
  Thanks so much Sharron!
  
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