Refurbishing a Mullard Valve Tester Metalwork?
 

Hi!

Can anyone point me in the direction of a simple method for refurbishing the internal and external metalwork of a Mullard High Speed Valve Tester please?

It will be my intention to completely strip the tester down to individual parts – I bought one that turned out to be three–quarters of an E7600/3 and was given the chassis–assemblies from an original E7600 – it may not have been all there!

I also have two of the original Card Boxes but both have quite a bit of rust on them!

I can work out all the wiring & component layouts from the available bookwork, so if any Members who are more experienced in Metalwork Refinishing can give me some pointers to methods of doing the work and recommended paints, primers, rust treatments, etc., to use I'd be very grateful!

Also both the chrome handles have got very badly rusted – can rechroming only be done by a specialist workshop, and if so, what would the likely cost be?

Chris Williams

Re: Refurbishing a Mullard Valve Tester Metalwork?
 

PS!

After posting the above, I found Mikey405's post referring to the firm of M A Lloyd & Sons Ltd., who made a piece of Anodised Trim for him – would they be willing to tackle this work for me?

Obviously I'd be happy to pay any reasonable price to have the work done professionally – my school Metalwork Teacher was a sadist and a bully and he put me off learning metalwork for life!

If any Member has had chassis/metalwork made or refinished by these chaps or others in the W Midlands, & can vouch for them and suggest the likely cost, please don't hesitate to reply!

Chris Williams

Re: Refurbishing a Mullard Valve Tester Metalwork?
 

I think that old chrome plating can only be removed using concentrated acid, possibly at an elevated temperature. The surface then needs to be made very smooth and then a layer of copper plate needs putting down followed by the chrome plate.

If no one on the forum offers any suggestions of where to go, try looking in magazines for classic cars/bikes restoration.

B

Re: Refurbishing a Mullard Valve Tester Metalwork?
 

Chris,
From the time I spent near your neck of the woods, back in the 60's & 70's, Walsall, Willenhall, Wolverhampton etc. were the epicentre of specialist engineering expertise for the UK. Sadly, like the rest of British engineering, this went into decline in the last quarter of the 20th century.
However, over recent years, speaking to vintage car enthusiasts, your area has regained its status. Not only for their requirements, but also motorsport. Perhaps you should contact one or two of the vintage car forums & see who they might recommend for small metalwork restoration projects in the West Midlands. If you're successful, put out a post for others on this Forum who could benefit.

Regards, David