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Everyone loves a vintage radio. But for models that haven't received signals since the Dodgers were a Brooklyn team, you can use the shell to hide nondescript desktop speakers. So hit up a flea market, thrift store, or your parents' garage for an old AM gem, and remix it.
Make It:
- With the radio unplugged, carefully remove the back panel with a screwdriver, keeping an eye out for broken tubes or sharp bits of wiring. Set aside.
- Using your mini Phillips head screwdriver, gut the radio by removing all interior parts, including the speakers and power cord. You want to maintain the radio's outward appearance, so be sure not to disturb anything that may be holding components to the front of your radio—you don't want any of the cool knobs or buttons to pop off. Recycle what you can (check www.earth911.org for locations in your area).
- Line up your computer speakers along the back of the radio to make sure they will fit snugly inside, preferably in the same location as the previous tenants.
- Hold the back panel in place to determine where you'd like the power cord for your speakers and iPod connector to come out. Mark the locations with a pencil and drill holes accordingly.
- Plug the computer speakers into your iPod and decide on a volume level that you're comfortable with. You will still be able to adjust the volume range on your iPod, but not on the speakers.
- Unplug your speakers and place them inside the radio.
- Slide the speaker cords through their respective holes and reattach the back panel of the radio.
- Plug in your speakers and iPod, and bring down the house.






