Filed under: Hardware, Mods, Mac mini, Found Footage
Found Footage: 1942 Philco radio / Mac mini mod
TUAW reader Sandy Winkelman (AKA Winkstink) sent us a tip the other day about an amazing mod he's done. Sandy took a 1942 Philco radio, gutted it, added a Mac mini and 17" Sony monitor with touchscreen, and turned it into a classy networked digital media center.
The sound system consists of a Sony DVD/CD/receiver with a 2.1 speaker system. Watching the video, you can see how music can be played through iTunes and Front Row, all with the touch of a finger on the screen. Sandy also shows how Front Row is used as a front end for watching movies and video.
The Philco also has an EyeTV for viewing and recording live TV, and can be controlled from an iPod touch or iPhone using Remote and/or DVDremote. Sandy has also made a Picasa gallery with more pictures of the details and construction of this sweet mod.
Have you been working on a mod? Let us know about it.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
darren said 7:51AM on 10-14-2008
That, is possibly the single most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.
Reply
Heebie said 9:04AM on 10-14-2008
That is such an impressive piece of kit to start off with, let alone it being modded! The video's loading very slowly for me at the moment, so waiting...
Right, watched all of it. I just notice though that although the touch screen seems to be working a treat, he doesn't 'flick' through his album covers in Cover Flow, he merely touches the next or previous one to move in either direction. Is that a preference thing, or can it just not cope? It's just out of interest.
Other than that, it's an absolutely beautiful modification and the attention to detail not only on the visible front but also to the few number of wires near the back is stunning. Do it for a living if that sort of thing takes your fancy! You could charge a ridiculous amount, but the risk of you doing someone's vintage radio or vinyl player or what have you would be large...
Terrific!
Reply
Blake said 11:38AM on 10-14-2008
I want this thing so effing bad.
Reply
George Howard said 12:12PM on 10-14-2008
Anybody have an idea on where you can get that Sony touchscreen monitor? My searches have come up empty.
Thanks,
George
Reply
Winkstink said 2:42PM on 10-14-2008
Actually the touch screen was a kit from Ebay that I added to old 17" Sony lcd screen. The kit came from China with no instructions, so the trick was finding the proper driver for the Mac. You can see the kit here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370096078190&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=370073749233&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4
Andy said 12:34PM on 10-14-2008
Of course, monster points would have been awarded for integrating the orignial analog knobs, but I digress...
Nice engineering job, though just for looks I think the screen rising out of the back would have been a better go. There are off-the-shelf mechanisms for doing this already, at least for television size screens. For some reason, to my eye, when the front door blocks the bottom part of the screen frame, it looks like it isn't extended all the way. Plus, it blocks the original Philco tuner. Being able to see both (screen and radio) would make for a better anachronistic-yet-modern look.
A+ for the work! Now to look at eBay...
Reply
collin said 1:05AM on 10-15-2008
hah anybody wanna buy a 1936 philco radio.. im looking at one right now i picked up and thought i would convert it to a wine rack..hmm..this may be a better mod
Reply