Two Way Radio To Make Over? Use The Decorator In You!

Very cool

On ebay this week, there is a very cool boat two way radio, 6 volts and all. Now, you may be thinking, thats cool, but what in the hell would I do with that thing. I have this thing called a smart phone. Ya.. ya gotta think outta the box with this idea. Or maybe I should change that to, think inside the box.

Ya, thats useless

Okay. now if you own a smaller boat, this story may not be for you, or maybe it inspires an idea for you. Either way the concept is the same.

First you buy this thing, HERE ON EBAY or something vintage like it that’s size appropriate for your boat. GUT IT! Yup. Chuck all the useless crap inside.

Three screws and a trash can! Leave the hand set.

The concept here is to use the shell. And then. this is the easy part. Insert a Jam Box, Blue tooth compatible. That’s it. It’s basically a shell for a modern speaker. This way you retain the vintage look, but the sound, the music comes from new technology.

Jambox, Jawbone, there are a bunch of these things available

Your phone is the broadcaster of course. See? just cause its old doesn’t mean its useless. At least that’s what I keep telling my wife and kids.

How cool is this speaker. Looks like a Chris Craft detail to me.

A very similar ship art on 1956 Chris Craft Capri and Cobra

You can stitch this and have a matching set.. Get grandma to knit you a sweater as well. You could become the Galleon king! Okay this story went off the rails!

And you could get this bad boy and bolt it onto your transom. Like a transom on a transom deal.

OR, take it to the next level and put a Black Velvet version in your boat house. People will think you hired an interior decorator.

Ohhhh ya!

18 replies
  1. Tuobanur
    Tuobanur says:

    I would take a picture of my old speaker that has been gutted, with Bluetooth installed, and post it but,,,,,,,

  2. Matt
    Matt says:

    Dang! thats where I have seen it. Thanks Greg. We can add that one to the Galleon list of things you can cram into your house. Hub caps? Maybe even a car in the living room. The list goes on and on now!

  3. Matt
    Matt says:

    Very cool, so this boat is the Mayflower. Which may be why its all over the place during that time frame. You can expand on your decorator theme. Pilgrim hats, cornacopeas. how eevr that spelled.

  4. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    We went from 6 volt radios to Pilgrims landing at Plymouth captured on video? I am going to assume that was recorded on Betamax since they probably didn’t have VHS yet, and Go-Pro’s can’t do that artsy zoom thing.

  5. Captain Nemo
    Captain Nemo says:

    If you noticed the brand name of the radio set, it’s a Hudson. So I would assume the ship depicted on it would be the explorer Henry Hudson’s ship the Half Moon.

  6. Bilge Rat
    Bilge Rat says:

    I came across a Zenith Transoceanic shortwave radio like the one in a Lyman promo ad from the 50’s and bought it in working condition. Stuck it on my boat at a show for ambiance. An older gentleman came up to me and commented that he used to work at the factory building and repairing that model radio. An unexpected connection from just a prop on the boat.

  7. Kentucky Wonder
    Kentucky Wonder says:

    Or, you could have it restored back to operational. Our 1938 Zenith radio gets AM stations just fine, and also receives shortwave radio transmissions from all over the world. Long range reception is better at night, when there is less electromagnetic traffic.

  8. Dave Hughes
    Dave Hughes says:

    On Mainstays’ transom I had a friend create a vinyl stick-on decal using the Mainstay Logo from their cane liquor bottle!

  9. Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P )
    Mark in Ohio (sometimes da U P ) says:

    The Radio we had in our garage growing up. I believe it’s a 1926 Philco. There were a lot of cars, trucks, boats, and motorcycles repaired listening to music coming out of that old thing. Its still in the same place, and still works!

  10. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    Great idea Matt! Though there is something to be said for leaving it original if operational and if it would communicate with other two-way radios still in use – but I think using the vintage shell to house new tech is cool. Some how I ended up with a marine intercom/phone that is era appropriate for the Tolly and may just get installed as is, between the bridge and galley. It would be useful on long runs… 🙂

  11. John Lisicich
    John Lisicich says:

    Aloha and happy Tuesday! Here’s a photo of the radio they used to listen to the landing of the pilgrims in Plymouth. Not that far from MIT. This radio is before Ben Franklin did his kite experiment but must have used his wire for the antenna. Plus for those who like green power, this one does not use any power since it’s a crystal set. I loved it as a kid and even have the matching headphones. Unfortunately, no Bluetooth though.
    I tuned in the Amos and Andy show yesterday with it.

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