Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

lloydwells · 9th Nov 2019, 12:31 pm

I have just taken delivery of a completely untouched AC86 everything in this set is original not one component seems to have ever been changed and with that in mind I will restore the chassis to as near original condition as I possibly can with restuffed components anyway I have to admit thirties Ekcos aren't really my thing I have a bad attraction to console sets however this is here and needs done I need to know the following does anyone make or have the ability to make a repro tuning scale for these and what are the knobs the same as I believe repro ones are available for the round Ekcos ?

Lloyd 1985 · 9th Nov 2019, 7:25 pm

Hi,

That looks a good set, I've got 2 of them, one in black and chrome, and a brown one, and also an SW86, which is in the same cabinet as these, but a totally different chassis. I don't think anyone makes repro dials for these currently, there is one guy on eBay who makes dials for the A22, and some of the other round ones, but I don't think he does ones for this model, I can't see from your pictures, what is wrong with the dial fitted? Both mine have shrunk a bit with age! As for the knobs, the volume and wavechange knobs are identical to the ones fitted to the AC76, AD76, AD36, AD75, possibly the AD65, although I can't confirm that last one as I don't own one! Also the AC85 has the same knobs, so if you can get repro ones for any of those models they will fit. I've made moulds of the knobs from the AC76, but only been able to make knobs in black so far, I don't think I'd be able to get the correct colour match on the brown ones.

Regards,
Lloyd.

ChasHeater · 10th Nov 2019, 6:05 pm

Hi,

I have an AD86 which I restored. My dial was in good condition and I made a point of making a high quality scan of the dial. If you are interested I can email the file to you. It would then be a case of finding someone to transfer it to a suitable material. On my one the original tape used to attach the dial to the support ring was rotten but I found medical tape a good replacement.

lloydwells · 10th Nov 2019, 9:53 pm

Chasheater that would be fantastic could you pm me please.

I've been working on the set today I now have it down to a bare chassis and thats sat in my derusting bath so I should have nice clean steel by the morning .

Lloyd 1985 · 10th Nov 2019, 10:42 pm

Nice! If you haven’t got any paint for it yet, I’ve used Halfords spray paints with success, I used Ford Polar grey for Ekco chassis which was a very close match to the original colour.

Regards
Lloyd

lloydwells · 11th Nov 2019, 10:32 pm

Oddly the speaker is in perfect condition seems auto extreme light grey £2.99 a can is pretty much spot on I don't shop at Halfords ever I'm an ex mechanic.

9th Nov 2019, 12:31 pm	#1
lloydwells Heptode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Dumfries, Scotland, UK. Posts: 549	Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . I have just taken delivery of a completely untouched AC86 everything in this set is original not one component seems to have ever been changed and with that in mind I will restore the chassis to as near original condition as I possibly can with restuffed components anyway I have to admit thirties Ekcos aren't really my thing I have a bad attraction to console sets however this is here and needs done I need to know the following does anyone make or have the ability to make a repro tuning scale for these and what are the knobs the same as I believe repro ones are available for the round Ekcos ? Attached Thumbnails

9th Nov 2019, 7:25 pm	#2
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . Hi, That looks a good set, I've got 2 of them, one in black and chrome, and a brown one, and also an SW86, which is in the same cabinet as these, but a totally different chassis. I don't think anyone makes repro dials for these currently, there is one guy on eBay who makes dials for the A22, and some of the other round ones, but I don't think he does ones for this model, I can't see from your pictures, what is wrong with the dial fitted? Both mine have shrunk a bit with age! As for the knobs, the volume and wavechange knobs are identical to the ones fitted to the AC76, AD76, AD36, AD75, possibly the AD65, although I can't confirm that last one as I don't own one! Also the AC85 has the same knobs, so if you can get repro ones for any of those models they will fit. I've made moulds of the knobs from the AC76, but only been able to make knobs in black so far, I don't think I'd be able to get the correct colour match on the brown ones. Regards, Lloyd.

10th Nov 2019, 6:05 pm	#3
ChasHeater Triode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Ash, Surrey, UK. Posts: 38	Re: Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . Hi, I have an AD86 which I restored. My dial was in good condition and I made a point of making a high quality scan of the dial. If you are interested I can email the file to you. It would then be a case of finding someone to transfer it to a suitable material. On my one the original tape used to attach the dial to the support ring was rotten but I found medical tape a good replacement.

10th Nov 2019, 9:53 pm	#4
lloydwells Heptode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Dumfries, Scotland, UK. Posts: 549	Re: Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . Chasheater that would be fantastic could you pm me please. I've been working on the set today I now have it down to a bare chassis and thats sat in my derusting bath so I should have nice clean steel by the morning . Attached Thumbnails

10th Nov 2019, 10:42 pm	#5
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . Nice! If you haven’t got any paint for it yet, I’ve used Halfords spray paints with success, I used Ford Polar grey for Ekco chassis which was a very close match to the original colour. Regards Lloyd

11th Nov 2019, 10:32 pm	#6
lloydwells Heptode Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Dumfries, Scotland, UK. Posts: 549	Re: Ekco AC86 a shove in the right direction . Oddly the speaker is in perfect condition seems auto extreme light grey £2.99 a can is pretty much spot on I don't shop at Halfords ever I'm an ex mechanic.