DAC90A Tuning scale edging - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

bobhawkes · 31st Jan 2006, 10:39 pm

Hi,

I'm new to restoration and glad to have found such a great website - full of useful information. Well done. My immediate problem...

I have 2 Bush DAC90As that I am restoring - probably sell one and keep one. The tuning scale has a rubber/platsic edging that has deteriorated on one of these and gone brittle. Does anyone know where I can get a suitable replacement?

Thanks,

Bob

Darren-UK · 1st Feb 2006, 1:43 am

Hi Bob and welcome to the forums.

Those rubber bits on the tuning scales will be found on virtually all old radios where the scale is glass and on many perspex-scaled radios too, although the latter often use nothing more than lengths of cream coloured sticky tape. The answer to your question is simple - make your own replacements. You can cut pieces from something like a rubber glove, a bicycle inner tube or even from pieces of cable pvc outer sheathing. That used on 3amp mains cable is ideal; remove a length of sheathing, cut a slit in it and away you go. I've even used bits of insulating tape, often with two or three layers to obtain a suitable thickness. Thickness is quite important; to protect the glass and also to prevent the scale from rattling about loose. Good luck with the DACs

bobhawkes · 1st Feb 2006, 7:12 am

Thanks Darren. I had thought of making my own but it looks like the sort of channeling that would still be made for some purpose or another. I like the idea of mains cable insulation.

Bob

PWH · 1st Feb 2006, 7:57 am

Sometimes I use sticky back foam insulating tape like draught excluder in black or if I want a more authentic look I buy rubber trim such as for windows etc from car accessory shops. and cut to size. I must say I like the idea of sheathing from maims cable, hand't thought of that.

Ed_Dinning · 1st Feb 2006, 9:00 am

Hi Gents, it is available, when I worked at Ferranti we used for the edges of panels as a protection and for covering "raw" edges, made by one of the gasket manufacters but which one I'm not sure.

HTH
Ed

G0PKH - Pete · 1st Feb 2006, 9:17 am

Hi.

Try this chap. I have bought some from him before.
Hopefully he still has some.

It's a little pricey @£1.50 a length, I think it is worth it though, as it is the correct square section stuff.

http://www.valvedwireless.co.uk/

DON THOMSON · 1st Feb 2006, 9:24 am

Ian Liston-Smith in his article in the BVWS Bulletin(Winter 2003) says he got his from Camber TV. I've been to the site: Camber TV & Video Centre, 01797-225457 (daytime). East Sussex (T).

Don

Nickthedentist · 1st Feb 2006, 7:02 pm

I'd be wary about using anything self-adhesive on the scale, as the glue may eventually attack/pull off the screen printing.

Hacker transistor sets (e.g Sovereign, Herald) used self-adhesive foam around the upper and lower edges of the Perspex tuning scale, and they all look awful now

And if you didn't already know, Bob, treat the scales with great respect. Clean the reverse with nothing more than a slightly moist cotton bud in the transparent areas only, and be ever so careful that your screwdriver doesn't slip when removing/re-fitting them. Damage is suprisingly easy to cause (even if you're experienced), looks horrid when the scale is illuminated, and can spoil the whole look of your finished set

.

Nick

ekco1953 · 1st Feb 2006, 11:00 pm

Greenhouse black glazing bead - perfect (square U section). Although you may have to buy about 50m

.

Jim

31st Jan 2006, 10:39 pm	#1
bobhawkes Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3	DAC90A Tuning scale edging Hi, I'm new to restoration and glad to have found such a great website - full of useful information. Well done. My immediate problem... I have 2 Bush DAC90As that I am restoring - probably sell one and keep one. The tuning scale has a rubber/platsic edging that has deteriorated on one of these and gone brittle. Does anyone know where I can get a suitable replacement? Thanks, Bob

1st Feb 2006, 1:43 am	#2
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Hi Bob and welcome to the forums. Those rubber bits on the tuning scales will be found on virtually all old radios where the scale is glass and on many perspex-scaled radios too, although the latter often use nothing more than lengths of cream coloured sticky tape. The answer to your question is simple - make your own replacements. You can cut pieces from something like a rubber glove, a bicycle inner tube or even from pieces of cable pvc outer sheathing. That used on 3amp mains cable is ideal; remove a length of sheathing, cut a slit in it and away you go. I've even used bits of insulating tape, often with two or three layers to obtain a suitable thickness. Thickness is quite important; to protect the glass and also to prevent the scale from rattling about loose. Good luck with the DACs

1st Feb 2006, 7:12 am	#3
bobhawkes Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Thanks Darren. I had thought of making my own but it looks like the sort of channeling that would still be made for some purpose or another. I like the idea of mains cable insulation. Bob

1st Feb 2006, 7:57 am	#4
PWH Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waiheke Island, New Zealand Posts: 503	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Sometimes I use sticky back foam insulating tape like draught excluder in black or if I want a more authentic look I buy rubber trim such as for windows etc from car accessory shops. and cut to size. I must say I like the idea of sheathing from maims cable, hand't thought of that.

1st Feb 2006, 9:00 am	#5
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,194	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Hi Gents, it is available, when I worked at Ferranti we used for the edges of panels as a protection and for covering "raw" edges, made by one of the gasket manufacters but which one I'm not sure. HTH Ed

1st Feb 2006, 9:17 am	#6
G0PKH - Pete Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Stansted Essex Posts: 263	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Hi. Try this chap. I have bought some from him before. Hopefully he still has some. It's a little pricey @£1.50 a length, I think it is worth it though, as it is the correct square section stuff. http://www.valvedwireless.co.uk/

1st Feb 2006, 9:24 am	#7
DON THOMSON Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CHELMSFORD, ESSEX,UK Posts: 26	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Ian Liston-Smith in his article in the BVWS Bulletin(Winter 2003) says he got his from Camber TV. I've been to the site: Camber TV & Video Centre, 01797-225457 (daytime). East Sussex (T). Don

1st Feb 2006, 7:02 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging I'd be wary about using anything self-adhesive on the scale, as the glue may eventually attack/pull off the screen printing. Hacker transistor sets (e.g Sovereign, Herald) used self-adhesive foam around the upper and lower edges of the Perspex tuning scale, and they all look awful now And if you didn't already know, Bob, treat the scales with great respect. Clean the reverse with nothing more than a slightly moist cotton bud in the transparent areas only, and be ever so careful that your screwdriver doesn't slip when removing/re-fitting them. Damage is suprisingly easy to cause (even if you're experienced), looks horrid when the scale is illuminated, and can spoil the whole look of your finished set. Nick

1st Feb 2006, 11:00 pm	#9
ekco1953 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dalgety Bay, Scotland Posts: 131	Re: DAC90A Tuning scale edging Greenhouse black glazing bead - perfect (square U section). Although you may have to buy about 50m . Jim