|
|
Post by elorens on Sept 30, 2019 18:50:00 GMT 12
Found an Ultimate RCP Cygnet in a farm auction recently. Got it going, but sadly the dial glass has gone. Long shot, but does anyone have one they could part with? Backup plan is to cut another dial glass down to size, but glass cutting isn't really my thing.
While I'm here, does anyone have a knob for a Philco 521, please?
Thanks, Lawrence
--
|
|
Steve
Society Members
vintageradio.co.nz
Posts: 303
|
Post by Steve on Oct 1, 2019 11:49:25 GMT 12
These dials are almost always broken or flaking (I suspect due to the curve in them... I expect they were screen printed flat, and the stresses of the curvature over the years causes the ink to flake). Its not often I've come across one with a good dial AND a good cabinet - and unfortunately I don't have one to offer, but I did spent a lot of hours accurately reproducing artwork for the dial. What I can't find is anyone to screenprint them for a sensible amount of money ($300 was the best price I got for doing an A4 sheet of them). I've reproduced glass dials with etched designs, and can do that using a laser engraver / cutter and acrylic sheet and acrylic paints in the etched areas with good results but these need to be screenprinted.  Its my plan to set myself up with a small plant to screenprint them when I get time, but I haven't started that process yet. Hopefully this xmas break I'll make a start. If you don't find one before then (and you're not in a hurry) hopefully I'll be underway producing dial scales around that time.
I don't think I have a knob for a 521 either - I recently sold the one I had which I think had the wrong knobs on it anyway. It seems to be unusually common to find these Philco's with three knobs. The Gulbransen 756 is another radio i also commonly see with one knob missing. I'll have a rustle through my knob drawer when I get home and see what I have though.
Cheers, Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by elorens on Oct 1, 2019 16:54:52 GMT 12
Thanks, Steve, great initiative. Will your dials be curved like the original? My plan B would of course produce a flat piece of glass, which runs the risk of (a) looking odd, and (b) fouling the dial pointer, perhaps.
Was the Cygnet the first NZ-made radio to have a ferrite rod antenna?
Cheers
Lawrence
--
|
|
|
|
Post by Brianf on Nov 22, 2019 19:04:43 GMT 12
Steve. Have you thought of printing it onto an A4 transparency then cutting it out? It should curve like the original. If it looks too glossy perhaps a coat of satin polyurethane? Just a thought.
|
|
|
|
Post by elorens on Nov 26, 2019 20:26:48 GMT 12
Thanks again, Steve, and great suggestion, Brianf. Here's my attempt at a replacement dial. Cheers, Lawrence Attachments:
|
|
Steve
Society Members
vintageradio.co.nz
Posts: 303
|
Post by Steve on Dec 4, 2019 5:50:19 GMT 12
great job! looks just like a bought one.
|
|
