Speaker fret material

[boater sam]

Sitting enjoying a meal last night in the restaurant, I was admiring the place mat.
A light beige plastic material with a subtle arrow pattern, it reminded me of the woven material used in ---------Speaker Frets!!!!!
Washable, light weight, suitable period pattern, would seem to be ideal. About 20" X 12"
I can't give a source as these were bought in Kabankalan in the Philippines!
But I should imagine similar items are world wide.

[Radio Fixer]

Only suitable for later 50's or 60's radios as before it was nearly always a cloth. The woven plastic material called Tygan is still available and maybe easier to fit as its designed for the job. It actually tightens with a little hot air (hair drier or heat gun) so I'm told (I have never used it as I don't do that era of radios).

Using cloth is just not a matter of looking right or being cheap. Some just fit and produce a better finished job. Distinctive patters ("arrows") should be avoided if a beginner as if the lines are not absolutely straight, after the material is fitted, then it will 'shout' and look terrible. The weight of the cloth is important too, light, flimsy ones are tricky as are ones that are too heavy with no stretch (intended for curtains). I can tell in an instant, with just a feel, whether a cloth will be good to fit. It doesn't mean they cant be used and I have done quite a few but just need more experience. Always buy samples if buying from an Ebay cloth seller.

On that 'other Forum' there is a tip that slack cloth can be again tightened by heat. It depends how it was fitted and the material. If it was attached only at the edges it may work but never on a baffle sprayed with adhesive. Then the wefts and the warps distort in the centre and its just a mess. Some modern materials are designed not to shrink and even if they do will often go slack again later.

The only proper way is to get it right first time and I pretty much do after a lot of radios. I have tried every method that's on the net or been written about (and a couple of my own ) and some work better than others.

Gary

[AlanBeckett]

I seem to remember that back in the '50s the original Tygan, which was always called Tygan Fret, was Metal. Indeed I have an old Pye 49Y13 which has it.

   

No doubt in time they branched out into Plastic, and I suspect that the word became Generic.

I have to agree about Grill Cloth. I have a Pye 39J/H to which someone has fitted an absolutely awful piece. It looks more like a piece of Read Carpet. SWMBO won't have it in the House. I must do something about it because it's a splendid set.

Alan

[Radio Fixer]

That was always known to me as Expanded Metal Alan.

Sid Chaplin sells plastic Tygan and so does AES in the US.

Gary

[pwdrive]

Tygan was made by Fothergill & Harvey, near Bolton from what I read, the company still survives, they seem to do aerospace stuff these days.

Lawrence.