Making a new back for a 'Little Maestro'

[Yorkie]

With so little free time, and so many other diversions, like so many of my projects, this one has stalled a little, so I've tried to make some progress with it. I had thought this set was pre-war as it has a wooden cabinet rather like the pre-war version, but not with rounded from corners. In fact it's just post-war. The dial was the givaway - it has the Light programme on it, which came into being on 29 July 1945. (Third Programme, 29 Sept 1946, is not on the dial). This dates the set fairly precisely to late 1945. Sure enough, the chassis and circuit layout on Trader Sheet 809 confirm that it's the Post-War A.C. only version released in November 1945. However, Trader Sheet 809 shows the set housed in a Bakelite cabinet, and with a slightly different Dial from mine.

The mains transformer - hidden beneath the chassis - only serves the five valve heaters including the rectifier - the HT is fed to the rectifier anode directly from the mains as in an AC/DC receiver, so in that respect, the transformer does not isolate the set from the mains, which could pose a danger to the uwary restorer!

Just beneath the top of the cabinet to the left is a slot where I believe a 'throw-out' aerial was originally housed. I've now cut the new back to shape and fitted it, and made a little throw-out aerial from a piece 5mm thick oak, with 5m of insulated wire wound upon it. Luckily, the set does work fine on both bands, but needs restoring - several new caps, new dial cord, a bit of tidying up etc. Also, the cabinet needs refinishing. Unfortunately there was no label on the old back, so I'll have to dream one up.

I've attached pics showing the remnant of the original back, the new back fitted, with the throw out aerial shown alongside the set, to go in the slot at the top left in due course, and a pic of the dial.

Hope that's of interest.

[Robert Darwent]

Hi David,

Good to see you've finished the set at last, you're just about keeping up with your New Year's resolution to get things completed.

But seriously, that is a great reproduction back cover. Thanks for sharing your method of making them as well, just excellent!

Unfortunately there was no label on the old back, so I'll have to dream one up.

I think it looks perfectly fine 'as-is'.

Best wishes and regards

[Yorkie]

I've only finished the back Robert!

I'm pleased the set works though, and works well, albeit several caps and maybe one or two resistors need replacement. There are two 16uF electrolytics in one can, but unusually, one at each end with the can negative. The lead from one end of the can comes out above the chassis - the other beneath it. A previous 'custodian' has disconnected the caps and fitted just one 47uF cap under the chassis, so that needs attention - I'll stuff the old can with a new 16uF cap at each end. I usually get on with the chassis and leave the cabinet till last. It has lacquer over toner, so I'll have to think about that in due course. It's in too poor a shape to just try to fettle it up. All in good time!

Before I go too far down that road, I want to finish a back for a Murpy U198, then do a write-up about router jigs for backs, and send it off to Carl Glover to see if it's up to scratch for the Bulletin.

[Joe]

Interesting. My Advance E2 has a reservoir/smoothing can like that.

- Joe

[Robert Darwent]

I've only finished the back Robert!

OK right, I was jumping the gun a little then!

...then do a write-up about router jigs for backs, and send it off to Carl Glover to see if it's up to scratch for the Bulletin.

No doubt about it being "up to scratch" David.

Regards

[Yorkie]

Thanks Robert!

I should add that before the year is out, I must make a back for my 444 People's Set, the plan of which you kindly sent me many weeks ago. I promise to post a pic to prove that I've done it!

[Geaney]

Terrific work David, what type of paint do you use to colour the backs? You seem to have matched the original colour exactly.

I'll be having a go at making a back for the Siemens set I've done and all I have is a photos of one so I'll be extrapolating from that. I'm thinking also of using decals for the various printed items on the back - hence my curiosity re paint. Ideally I'd like to paint the back, then overlay the decals, then use something like a satin lacquer finish to fix the decals.

Cheers, John

[Yorkie]

I used matt emulsion paint John. You can buy it here in DIY stores in little plastic 'tester pots' for about £1.00GBP. I looked round for what I thought would be the best match - obviously there aren't too many drab colours in domestic emulsion paints! The actual colour is 'Double Espresso' by Homebase - a store that I normally void like the plague due to its sky high prices, but these little jobbies are cheap enough. A small 'pot' (I can't recall the size, but it it's no more than 4cms tall and about 3 cms diam), is more than enough to give two coats to two average sized backs. It's actually a bit thick and needs thinning with water, which helps the first coat to sink in, and makes the paint go a little further.

I'm sure that satin lacquer would be fine as an overspray - especially if it's acrylic.

Hope that helps a bit.

(Do let me know if you can't find anything suitable locally).

[Geaney]

I used matt emulsion paint John. You can buy it here in DIY stores in little plastic 'tester pots' for about £1.00GBP. I looked round for what I thought would be the best match - obviously there aren't too many drab colours in domestic emulsion paints! The actual colour is 'Double Espresso' by Homebase - a store that I normally void like the plague due to its sky high prices, but these little jobbies are cheap enough. A small 'pot' (I can't recall the size, but it it's no more than 4cms tall and about 3 cms diam), is more than enough to give two coats to two average sized backs. It's actually a bit thick and needs thinning with water, which helps the first coat to sink in, and makes the paint go a little further.

I'm sure that satin lacquer would be fine as an overspray - especially if it's acrylic.

Hope that helps a bit.

(Do let me know if you can't find anything suitable locally).

Thanks David, yes I've seen those little pots of emulsion paint locally so hopefully I'll find a suitable 'brown' for the Siemens back.

Cheers, John