R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Broomradioman · 6th Oct 2007, 9:12 am

Dear All,

I have 2 restorable R500s, (and a spare case and chassis - dead) and was wondering if anyone had any tip for restoring the LONG MED SHORT legends on the band change buttons, as these have all worn off?

Cheers

Jim

Darren-UK · 6th Oct 2007, 11:22 am

Hi Jim,

Just looked at my own R500. It's not too clear but it seems Roberts used the fairly standard method of moulding very shallow indents into the buttons, for the lettering, then highlighting the lettering with black, or whatever the relevant colour, paint. Some of mine has also worn away; surprisingly mainly on the 'Short' button.

Are your moulded indents still there, or have they worn down too? If the indents are still present you can restore the lettering with either paint or an indelible marker pen....then wipe away any excess from the button surface with something like acetone (which won't damage the plastic).

If the indents are gone, you'll need to resort to transfers - perhaps with a coat of gloss or semi matt varnish to protect them.

There's been several threads on this subject before, including this one concerning a Bush radio. Other threads did exist, maybe one or two still do, but I've deleted several because they're basically a duplication of the same topic.

Paul_RK · 6th Oct 2007, 1:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by darren-uk

Hi Jim,

Just looked at my own R500. It's not too clear but it seems Roberts used the fairly standard method of moulding very shallow indents into the buttons, for the lettering, then highlighting the lettering with black, or whatever the relevant colour, paint.

Three colours of paint in all those I've seen. Here's a scan of the buttons on mine in case it helps: they seem to have seen unusually little use, perhaps the Mullard module died young. For written clarification the colours are LONG-black, MED-green, SHORT-red.

Paul

Tim · 7th Oct 2007, 11:50 pm

Coloured childs wax crayon might work. Rub across the button to leave wax in the indented letters, and remove excess with a dry cloth. Crayons available in more or less the correct colours and can be sealed with a smear of varnish.

townhousefarm · 16th Oct 2007, 2:52 pm

Hi, this is my first post so hope it's of some use. Been reading about replacing lettering, decals etc and stumbled across a website that sells dry rub off decal paper, don't know if this would be any use but am planning to restore a few Radiograms (I know, somebody has to) over the winter and may well have a need myself.

http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk...l=dry%20decals

Darren-UK · 16th Oct 2007, 8:17 pm

Hi townhouse and welcome to the forums.

See post #2 above; many radio buttons, such as those of the R500, have moulded indents for the lettering so, unless the button surfaces are sanded and polished smooth, rub-on decals, transfers etc etc., are difficult to apply with any degree of success.

6th Oct 2007, 9:12 am	#1
Broomradioman Tetrode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 52	R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? Dear All, I have 2 restorable R500s, (and a spare case and chassis - dead) and was wondering if anyone had any tip for restoring the LONG MED SHORT legends on the band change buttons, as these have all worn off? Cheers Jim __________________ "not another radio?!" "Yes dear - is that another bottle of Clinique/Clarins/Dr. Hauschke?"

7th Oct 2007, 11:50 pm	#4
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? Coloured childs wax crayon might work. Rub across the button to leave wax in the indented letters, and remove excess with a dry cloth. Crayons available in more or less the correct colours and can be sealed with a smear of varnish. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

16th Oct 2007, 2:52 pm	#5
townhousefarm Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ipswich Posts: 1	Re: R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? Hi, this is my first post so hope it's of some use. Been reading about replacing lettering, decals etc and stumbled across a website that sells dry rub off decal paper, don't know if this would be any use but am planning to restore a few Radiograms (I know, somebody has to) over the winter and may well have a need myself. http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk...l=dry%20decals

16th Oct 2007, 8:17 pm	#6
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? Hi townhouse and welcome to the forums. See post #2 above; many radio buttons, such as those of the R500, have moulded indents for the lettering so, unless the button surfaces are sanded and polished smooth, rub-on decals, transfers etc etc., are difficult to apply with any degree of success.

6th Oct 2007, 11:22 am	#2
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: R500 band change buttons - tips for restoration? Hi Jim, Just looked at my own R500. It's not too clear but it seems Roberts used the fairly standard method of moulding very shallow indents into the buttons, for the lettering, then highlighting the lettering with black, or whatever the relevant colour, paint. Some of mine has also worn away; surprisingly mainly on the 'Short' button. Are your moulded indents still there, or have they worn down too? If the indents are still present you can restore the lettering with either paint or an indelible marker pen....then wipe away any excess from the button surface with something like acetone (which won't damage the plastic). If the indents are gone, you'll need to resort to transfers - perhaps with a coat of gloss or semi matt varnish to protect them. There's been several threads on this subject before, including this one concerning a Bush radio. Other threads did exist, maybe one or two still do, but I've deleted several because they're basically a duplication of the same topic.