Pilot case in Oxford Blue - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Neil Purling · 15th Jul 2016, 8:26 pm

Does anyone know if you can get cream leather polish in Oxford Blue?
I would also like to know if there is a specific preparation to treat a leather strap handle.
It is whole though somewhat dry and I would like to make sure it lasts a lot longer.

Radio Wrangler · 15th Jul 2016, 10:56 pm

For keeping leather strong and long-lived, Hydrophane leather dressing or any of a number equivalents. Just find a real saddler and show him.

But these things are really for oiled leathers rather than shiny stuff.

David

dseymo1 · 16th Jul 2016, 8:54 pm

Shoe cream is available in blue from a number of manufacturers, and should do the job as well as anything.

Neil Purling · 18th Jul 2016, 7:41 am

This Pilot has these knobs see image.
I don't know whether they are original or not because I haven't seen any actual photographs of other sets. They are very different to the knobs on the curved corner veneered wood case pre-war Little Maestro.

These knobs have a grub-screw in a loose nut. Can someone tell me how to screw them down tight to the control shafts. Knobs usually have a threaded insert for the grub-screw & I can't quite work out how to make the grub-screw effective.

ms660 · 18th Jul 2016, 11:02 am

In the types I've come across the nut is square and is located in a recess that stops the nut from turning when turning the grub screw.

Any chance of a picture?

Lawrence.

Neil Purling · 18th Jul 2016, 7:42 pm

I can't get at the knobs at the moment. The Trader sheet #444 says the knobs should pull off. are they like that on the veneered wood cased set?

Neil Purling · 20th Jul 2016, 3:57 pm

Is Meltonian Shoe Cream Polish available in the UK? I believe I need shade 057 'Imperial Blue'. That shade would do for my Roberts R200 as well.

Herald1360 · 20th Jul 2016, 5:22 pm

It certainly used to be. Chances are there's some in the shoe cleaning box in my hall. Unlikely to be the right colour, though......

Edit: Is Regal Blue any good?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MELTONIAN-...wAAOSwPcVVugu6

Neil Purling · 20th Jul 2016, 8:59 pm

I sent a message to the seller. You never know, they might have the other colour in stock too.

Has anyone got any input on the Pilot knobs used on the earlies Little Maestro?
I am sure that my Pilot has got kit radio knobs. They are nothing like the kind used on the round corner alternative, the bakelite case set or the post-war woodie L.M.
The electronics got hacked about & i'm assuming the knobs got changed at some point too.

Herald1360 · 20th Jul 2016, 10:47 pm

Found some #21 Navy Blue if that's any good..........

Neil Purling · 25th Jul 2016, 8:41 pm

The knobs have a regular nut on the grub screw. So how do I get them to grip tight to the shaft when the chassis goes back into the case?
They aren't the right ones, they look like they came out of a dolls house jelly mould.
At this pint i'd even spray some modern plastic knobs brown to make them look more like the OEM knobs.

Neil Purling · 2nd Aug 2016, 4:10 pm

The Little Maestro has some areas about the ventilation slots where the leather-cloth has split on the edges. I think that is because age has dried the cloth.
In the back of the set the cloth has peeled back.
So: I want to glue the cloth back down with the most appropriate adhesive before putting some treatment on the leather-cloth.
I am not wanting to make the case immaculate, rather I want to tidy it as well as possible.
This depends on getting a blue leather cream dark enough.

dseymo1 · 2nd Aug 2016, 5:06 pm

I don't think there's any real advantage in using shoe cream on leathercloth. It certainly 'nourishes' and restores real leather, but would do little for the plastic coating.
I'd degrease the cloth, then apply acrylic paint with a bit of foam plastic; it works really well.
(Usual caveat - test on an inconspicuous area first)

15th Jul 2016, 8:26 pm	#1
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Pilot case in Oxford Blue Does anyone know if you can get cream leather polish in Oxford Blue? I would also like to know if there is a specific preparation to treat a leather strap handle. It is whole though somewhat dry and I would like to make sure it lasts a lot longer.

16th Jul 2016, 8:54 pm	#3
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue Shoe cream is available in blue from a number of manufacturers, and should do the job as well as anything.

18th Jul 2016, 11:02 am	#5
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue In the types I've come across the nut is square and is located in a recess that stops the nut from turning when turning the grub screw. Any chance of a picture? Lawrence.

18th Jul 2016, 7:42 pm	#6
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue I can't get at the knobs at the moment. The Trader sheet #444 says the knobs should pull off. are they like that on the veneered wood cased set?

20th Jul 2016, 3:57 pm	#7
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue Is Meltonian Shoe Cream Polish available in the UK? I believe I need shade 057 'Imperial Blue'. That shade would do for my Roberts R200 as well.

15th Jul 2016, 10:56 pm	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,899	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue For keeping leather strong and long-lived, Hydrophane leather dressing or any of a number equivalents. Just find a real saddler and show him. But these things are really for oiled leathers rather than shiny stuff. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

18th Jul 2016, 7:41 am	#4
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue This Pilot has these knobs see image. I don't know whether they are original or not because I haven't seen any actual photographs of other sets. They are very different to the knobs on the curved corner veneered wood case pre-war Little Maestro. These knobs have a grub-screw in a loose nut. Can someone tell me how to screw them down tight to the control shafts. Knobs usually have a threaded insert for the grub-screw & I can't quite work out how to make the grub-screw effective. Attached Thumbnails

20th Jul 2016, 5:22 pm	#8
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue It certainly used to be. Chances are there's some in the shoe cleaning box in my hall. Unlikely to be the right colour, though...... Edit: Is Regal Blue any good? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MELTONIAN-...wAAOSwPcVVugu6 __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O Last edited by Herald1360; 20th Jul 2016 at 5:28 pm.

20th Jul 2016, 8:59 pm	#9
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue I sent a message to the seller. You never know, they might have the other colour in stock too. Has anyone got any input on the Pilot knobs used on the earlies Little Maestro? I am sure that my Pilot has got kit radio knobs. They are nothing like the kind used on the round corner alternative, the bakelite case set or the post-war woodie L.M. The electronics got hacked about & i'm assuming the knobs got changed at some point too.

20th Jul 2016, 10:47 pm	#10
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue Found some #21 Navy Blue if that's any good.......... __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

25th Jul 2016, 8:41 pm	#11
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue The knobs have a regular nut on the grub screw. So how do I get them to grip tight to the shaft when the chassis goes back into the case? They aren't the right ones, they look like they came out of a dolls house jelly mould. At this pint i'd even spray some modern plastic knobs brown to make them look more like the OEM knobs.

2nd Aug 2016, 4:10 pm	#12
Neil Purling Nonode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2,087	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue The Little Maestro has some areas about the ventilation slots where the leather-cloth has split on the edges. I think that is because age has dried the cloth. In the back of the set the cloth has peeled back. So: I want to glue the cloth back down with the most appropriate adhesive before putting some treatment on the leather-cloth. I am not wanting to make the case immaculate, rather I want to tidy it as well as possible. This depends on getting a blue leather cream dark enough.

2nd Aug 2016, 5:06 pm	#13
dseymo1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK. Posts: 3,051	Re: Pilot case in Oxford Blue I don't think there's any real advantage in using shoe cream on leathercloth. It certainly 'nourishes' and restores real leather, but would do little for the plastic coating. I'd degrease the cloth, then apply acrylic paint with a bit of foam plastic; it works really well. (Usual caveat - test on an inconspicuous area first)