1963-ish 1ST288G Restoration

[electra225]

I'd be interested in knowing your cleaning methods used on the transformers. I admire that level of workmanship. I used to do things like that when I was restoring cars, but I was a lot younger then......

[William]

Welcome back! When you say refurbished, did you do something other than clean and polish them?? The look better than new.

Bill

[BSMet94]

I don’t have any serious test equipment, so I don’t do much beyond checking continuity and resistance, and if it’s in range I just clean it up as best I can. In this case the collars were pretty yucky, so I took them off, did a little scrubbing, primed and painted with the same aluminum paint I intend to use on the chassis.

Not pictured, I also have the power x-former a shot of gloss black. I’m just about to the point with the chassis to start putting stuff back in it, but that’ll be next weekend at best since I’m traveling again. I’ve got nearly everything I need.

I’m also replacing the AMP umbilical connector with an equivalent Molex, since I broke the original getting it out of the chassis. The AMP things aren’t made anymore, and it was a good excuse to get a pin extractor and a new crimper. Never pass up an opportunity to procure a new tool or two!

Eric

[BSMet94]

Okay, looking for ideas here: I hemmed and hawed about whether or not to paint the chassis. There’s lots of pros/cons. That cad plating is slick as snot and doesn’t take paint very well. I don’t like to sand it because I don’t have a good way to manage the toxic cadmium dust. But the top surface of the amp, which catches all the dust and grime had a lot of ugly minor pitting. So I decided to do the soap and water, mild wet scuff with scotch brite that I threw away, prime, and paint.

My one regret with all that is that I obliterated the model and part number stamps. I’m weird like that, but I love the distinctive font Magnavox used for its model number stamps “8601-20” and a different stamp (smaller font) for the part number. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to re-create that on my painted chassis?

My only thought is to get my daughter, who’s into crafting, one of those little Cricut vinyl sticker makers for X-mas and see if she can make me some clear decals. Gotta love those self-serving gift ideas!

Any other suggestions?

Eric

[stbasil]

You could try dry transfer letters, Woodland Scenic makes them for model railroad guys, I plan on using some for a control panel. They have at least two different font styles in various sizes, a sans serif type, and an older style. Here's one example on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Woodland-Scenics ... 000BRJCEM/
Will need a light seal coat of course.

This guy has a very helpful video with a method to apply characters in a straight line with consistent spacing.
https://youtu.be/3WfcD2zpUq8?is=faZa5hyzfDDClFWA

[BSMet94]

Excellent idea with the model train lettering! I should have thought of that! Thanks.

Here’s the freshly painted chassis, before and after. I’m pretty pleased how well the stamped markings came out. They’re actually more visible than they were before painting!

Eric

[William]

That looks great, Eric. Nice job!

Bill

[BSMet94]

Before anyone asks, I will not, repeat not, be re-stuffing the electrolytic multi-cap. I did that once before on a 1940s Motorola, and it was a Royal and Ancient PITA. I’ll just be bypassing that thing altogether and running new Nichicons under the chassis.

Eric