Best way to recreate dial display - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Northcountry69 · 28th Sep 2023, 12:41 pm

Hi all - I'm trying to restore an Ecko AC76 (I think - 1935 model). The display panel with the stations printed on it looks to be beyond repair so I'm thinking of trying to recreate it from perspex. Does anyone know the best way to do this or if there's a service which will etch it on to the perspex?
I have facility to cut perspex into any shape and know Photoshop, Illustrator etc. very well.

Thanks,

Rob

David G4EBT · 28th Sep 2023, 8:26 pm

There is a seller on eBay who sells reproduction Ekco Dials, though not at the moment, for the AC76/AD76, about which he states thus:

Quote:

EKCO AD76 DIALS:

These are NOT available at the present time-if there is sufficient demand production of dials for this model will be introduced. It is 'possible', with some degree of manipulation, to utilise the AD65 dials in the AD76 cabinet although the dial cut-out radius is different! The ends of the AD65 tuning dial leave a small gap of about 1cm at the ends when fitted in an AC76/AD76 cabinet, which can be easily filled with thin plastic or card, suitably coloured to match the cabinet colour. These dials look exactly as the original tuning scale did when the Ekco A22 and AD65 came off the production line and will greatly enhance the appearance of any of these classic radios.

Unquote.

See:

https://picclick.co.uk/EKCO-A22-AD65...818877381.html

His eBay link is here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313818877...=&toolid=10050

Forum member Robert Darwent has also created superb accurate artwork for replica dials.

If you wanted to try to create your own dial, Robert might be able to advise. See:

www.wavesintheair.co.uk/dials.html

I hope that might help.

Good luck in your endeavours Rob.

G6Tanuki · 28th Sep 2023, 8:27 pm

If you can get a good rendition of the panel - either by scanning the original or using software to produce a recreation - a chat with a local print-shop/signmaker-type business will reveal an interesting range of options.

Don't think you have to go into milling Perspex/Lexan. Printing onto semi-transparent film which you then sandwich between a couple of thin sheets of Polycarbonate would be my preferred path.

You could easily re-work the station-names and calibrations to reflect more-modern assignations: the 60s Pirate-stations [OK, they moved around a lot] and of course 247, 275 and 285M should be marked Radio1 and 208M should be marked Luxembourg.

lesmw0sec · 29th Sep 2023, 10:00 am

I noticed the chap from the repair shop using some software to hand-craft a radio dial and making a very good reproduction. I'd love to know what the software he was using is.

Northcountry69 · 29th Sep 2023, 10:35 am

Thanks for the helpful replies everyone.

28th Sep 2023, 12:41 pm	#1
Northcountry69 Diode Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Posts: 2	Best way to recreate dial display Hi all - I'm trying to restore an Ecko AC76 (I think - 1935 model). The display panel with the stations printed on it looks to be beyond repair so I'm thinking of trying to recreate it from perspex. Does anyone know the best way to do this or if there's a service which will etch it on to the perspex? I have facility to cut perspex into any shape and know Photoshop, Illustrator etc. very well. Thanks, Rob

28th Sep 2023, 8:26 pm	#2
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,576	Re: Best way to recreate dial display There is a seller on eBay who sells reproduction Ekco Dials, though not at the moment, for the AC76/AD76, about which he states thus: Quote: EKCO AD76 DIALS: These are NOT available at the present time-if there is sufficient demand production of dials for this model will be introduced. It is 'possible', with some degree of manipulation, to utilise the AD65 dials in the AD76 cabinet although the dial cut-out radius is different! The ends of the AD65 tuning dial leave a small gap of about 1cm at the ends when fitted in an AC76/AD76 cabinet, which can be easily filled with thin plastic or card, suitably coloured to match the cabinet colour. These dials look exactly as the original tuning scale did when the Ekco A22 and AD65 came off the production line and will greatly enhance the appearance of any of these classic radios. Unquote. See: https://picclick.co.uk/EKCO-A22-AD65...818877381.html His eBay link is here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313818877...=&toolid=10050 Forum member Robert Darwent has also created superb accurate artwork for replica dials. If you wanted to try to create your own dial, Robert might be able to advise. See: www.wavesintheair.co.uk/dials.html I hope that might help. Good luck in your endeavours Rob. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

28th Sep 2023, 8:27 pm	#3
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,457	Re: Best way to recreate dial display If you can get a good rendition of the panel - either by scanning the original or using software to produce a recreation - a chat with a local print-shop/signmaker-type business will reveal an interesting range of options. Don't think you have to go into milling Perspex/Lexan. Printing onto semi-transparent film which you then sandwich between a couple of thin sheets of Polycarbonate would be my preferred path. You could easily re-work the station-names and calibrations to reflect more-modern assignations: the 60s Pirate-stations [OK, they moved around a lot] and of course 247, 275 and 285M should be marked Radio1 and 208M should be marked Luxembourg. __________________ TURN IT UP! [I can't hear the Guitar] - TMBG.

29th Sep 2023, 10:00 am	#4
lesmw0sec Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK. Posts: 1,461	Re: Best way to recreate dial display I noticed the chap from the repair shop using some software to hand-craft a radio dial and making a very good reproduction. I'd love to know what the software he was using is.

29th Sep 2023, 10:35 am	#5
Northcountry69 Diode Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Posts: 2	Re: Best way to recreate dial display Thanks for the helpful replies everyone.