I think you're right about perhaps making entirely new ones in this case Colin, though the front of the old knobs are all that shows from the front of the set, and I managed to skim them out so that when glued to the Perspex extensions, they're a nice fit, and seem to have stuck well.
Yes, I'm getting used to using the lathe, and have managed to make a few tools for the toolpost to suit my needs from 1/4" square HSS blanks bought off e-bay, and it's very satisfying to be making good use of what is really a relic of the past, but is still up to the task. I'm sure that if it could talk, it would have an interesting tale to tell about it's hundred or so years of life!
I managed to spend an hour or so on the chassis this mornnig, and so far have replaced four electrolytics and three waxies before we went to our keep-fit/swim session. Hopefully, I'll make a little more progress this afternoon. I had a wry smile while working on the chassis, thinking to myself that were the set in your hands, the chassis would be under the bench, and the cabinet ON the bench!
Whenever I look at old sets such as this, which has quite a high component count, I'm always amazed at how higgledy piggledy the layout appears to be. Very labour intensive to build and test and not very easy to repair. I can't help feeling that with all their expertise, the makers could have surely made sub assemblies on tagboards or whatever. True, in some cases, such as the front end, the desire was to keep wiring as short as possible, but even so, the overall appearance looks more like 'home-brew' rather than designed for assemebly line production. I'm sure they must have had it all worked out!
I'll need to add quite a few caps to my shopping list for the BVWS stand at Golborne! I haven't tested the valves other than the filaments, which are fine, and when I've finished fettling the chassis up, will plug them in and see if they work. I have bought a NOS ECC85, because in my experience, they're invariably duff, and likely as not, being in the FM stage, are probably the reason that FM sets such as this one got pensioned off and put in the attic to be re-discovered decades later. I've also got a NOS magic eye for it.
It's nice to be getting on with a set restoration after so many other things I've been on with, and time spent away from home.
Yes, I'm getting used to using the lathe, and have managed to make a few tools for the toolpost to suit my needs from 1/4" square HSS blanks bought off e-bay, and it's very satisfying to be making good use of what is really a relic of the past, but is still up to the task. I'm sure that if it could talk, it would have an interesting tale to tell about it's hundred or so years of life!
I managed to spend an hour or so on the chassis this mornnig, and so far have replaced four electrolytics and three waxies before we went to our keep-fit/swim session. Hopefully, I'll make a little more progress this afternoon. I had a wry smile while working on the chassis, thinking to myself that were the set in your hands, the chassis would be under the bench, and the cabinet ON the bench!
Whenever I look at old sets such as this, which has quite a high component count, I'm always amazed at how higgledy piggledy the layout appears to be. Very labour intensive to build and test and not very easy to repair. I can't help feeling that with all their expertise, the makers could have surely made sub assemblies on tagboards or whatever. True, in some cases, such as the front end, the desire was to keep wiring as short as possible, but even so, the overall appearance looks more like 'home-brew' rather than designed for assemebly line production. I'm sure they must have had it all worked out!
I'll need to add quite a few caps to my shopping list for the BVWS stand at Golborne! I haven't tested the valves other than the filaments, which are fine, and when I've finished fettling the chassis up, will plug them in and see if they work. I have bought a NOS ECC85, because in my experience, they're invariably duff, and likely as not, being in the FM stage, are probably the reason that FM sets such as this one got pensioned off and put in the attic to be re-discovered decades later. I've also got a NOS magic eye for it.
It's nice to be getting on with a set restoration after so many other things I've been on with, and time spent away from home.
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
