Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ray@roberts · 29th May 2008, 4:50 pm

Having owned this radio for a year I have bit the bullet and started to restore it, my first "proper" restoration.I am initially replacing all the rubber coated wire which has cracked and hardened. Fortunately, a stall-holder at the NVCF was selling similar wire (probably silicone covered) so I am able to keep the appearance appropriate to its age. I have encountered two lengths of lead piping in the chassis containing the three wires from the frame aerial. They are 8mm overall diameter and 4mm internal and I am unable to pull the old wires through but if I were, I think that it would be almost impossible to get three new wires back through them again. Has anyone any suggestions how I could use the old piping again or, alternatively, what I could use as a sympathetic alternative? It's not seen unless the chassis is removed but I should like to keep the restoration in keeping with the age of the radio.

Thanks for any assistance or advice that anyone can give.

Ray

Nickthedentist · 29th May 2008, 5:27 pm

Copper piping is available in narrow diameters (8mm?) for gas fire connections etc, and comes finished in gold, silver and "antique" finishes too. You could rub down bare copper and spray paint it grey.

Look here and search for "gas fire tubes": http://www.bes.co.uk/

I might have a short offcut I could post you.

Nick.

ray@roberts · 2nd Jun 2008, 9:28 am

Thanks for the advice Nick. If I can't get any further with the original lead piping, your suggestion seems by far the easiest option.

All the best

Ray

chipp1968 · 2nd Jun 2008, 1:36 pm

maybe possible to slit open the lead ?Its soft enough to cut with a stanly knife carefully

Darren-UK · 2nd Jun 2008, 2:23 pm

All a bit crude I suppose, but could you not put the new wiring in some heatshrink tubing then paint the said tubing a suitable shade of grey? You could apply and shrink one bit of tubing, then apply one or two more pieces on top of that to give a thicker appearance like the original lead.

Perhaps that just wouldn't look right but it'd be quick and easy to do.

Incidentally, is there any real need for the tubing to be metallic?

chipp1968 · 2nd Jun 2008, 11:02 pm

If i waned the set to be as it was in the 30s then i would retain the lead . If that didnt matter , then anything modern would be much better to use

ray@roberts · 4th Jun 2008, 9:16 am

I have assumed that the lead shielded the aerial cables from electrical interference from the other componants within the chassis. Is this a correct assumption?

Thanks

Ray

29th May 2008, 4:50 pm	#1
ray@roberts Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 31	Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 Having owned this radio for a year I have bit the bullet and started to restore it, my first "proper" restoration.I am initially replacing all the rubber coated wire which has cracked and hardened. Fortunately, a stall-holder at the NVCF was selling similar wire (probably silicone covered) so I am able to keep the appearance appropriate to its age. I have encountered two lengths of lead piping in the chassis containing the three wires from the frame aerial. They are 8mm overall diameter and 4mm internal and I am unable to pull the old wires through but if I were, I think that it would be almost impossible to get three new wires back through them again. Has anyone any suggestions how I could use the old piping again or, alternatively, what I could use as a sympathetic alternative? It's not seen unless the chassis is removed but I should like to keep the restoration in keeping with the age of the radio. Thanks for any assistance or advice that anyone can give. Ray Attached Thumbnails

29th May 2008, 5:27 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 Copper piping is available in narrow diameters (8mm?) for gas fire connections etc, and comes finished in gold, silver and "antique" finishes too. You could rub down bare copper and spray paint it grey. Look here and search for "gas fire tubes": http://www.bes.co.uk/ I might have a short offcut I could post you. Nick. Last edited by Darren-UK; 14th Nov 2008 at 1:16 am. Reason: Font reset to default.

2nd Jun 2008, 9:28 am	#3
ray@roberts Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 31	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 Thanks for the advice Nick. If I can't get any further with the original lead piping, your suggestion seems by far the easiest option. All the best Ray

2nd Jun 2008, 1:36 pm	#4
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 maybe possible to slit open the lead ?Its soft enough to cut with a stanly knife carefully

2nd Jun 2008, 2:23 pm	#5
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 All a bit crude I suppose, but could you not put the new wiring in some heatshrink tubing then paint the said tubing a suitable shade of grey? You could apply and shrink one bit of tubing, then apply one or two more pieces on top of that to give a thicker appearance like the original lead. Perhaps that just wouldn't look right but it'd be quick and easy to do. Incidentally, is there any real need for the tubing to be metallic?

2nd Jun 2008, 11:02 pm	#6
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 If i waned the set to be as it was in the 30s then i would retain the lead . If that didnt matter , then anything modern would be much better to use

4th Jun 2008, 9:16 am	#7
ray@roberts Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 31	Re: Restoration of a 1934 Roberts M4 I have assumed that the lead shielded the aerial cables from electrical interference from the other componants within the chassis. Is this a correct assumption? Thanks Ray