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Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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9th Jul 2009, 7:13 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset, UK.
Posts: 334
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Dial Glass Reconstruction
Here are the before and after scans of the GEC SW4 dial glass I decided to try and recontruct in Adobe Photoshop. There was just enough detail on the old glass to enable the recontruction but all the text had to be renewed from scratch as did the graduations. Started in March and just finished after many, many hours clicking away. Perhaps I should have asked if anyone had a scan first...... The final product was reverse printed onto waterslide transfer (first time I've used it - great fun!) and two prints laid one over the other and acyrilic varnished, two coats. I used a new piece of glass so I could put the remains of the original in the cabinet. The varnish on the set was in a terrible state so I stripped it and repolished with brushing wax. This gives a not-too-glossy finish and is dead easy to use. Pic of glass in set and powered up attached.
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9th Jul 2009, 7:25 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 656
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
What an astounding piece of reconstruction! Truly amazing given the starting point. The finished set looks very nice too, and the new dial sets it off beautifully. I've had a go at this sort of thing myself and it is really time consuming and painstaking work. Very well done I hope it sounds as good as it looks.
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Colin Armstrong |
9th Jul 2009, 7:25 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,567
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
What a brilliant job! Well done that man!
Rich.
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There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman..... |
9th Jul 2009, 8:23 pm | #4 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 2,451
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Wow!
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9th Jul 2009, 8:58 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Fantastic reconstruction, very well done that man!
Mark |
9th Jul 2009, 9:25 pm | #6 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: North Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 638
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Wonderful work! I wouldn't have thought it possible judging by what you started with.
Ian. |
9th Jul 2009, 9:55 pm | #7 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset, UK.
Posts: 334
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Many thanks all, for your comments. There were times when I wondered if all the time and effort was worth it but once I'd started.... I discovered early on to save each sessions work to a disc as well as the hard drive and create a copy to work on the next time just in case disaster struck. As a matter of interest, does anyone know the relevance of the letters "A" and "B" above the short wave markings?
The set works quite well, but the valves are a little tired, particularly the frequency changer and with the exception of the D41 seem difficult to get hold of. Short wave is the perkiest with medium wave only just about adequate and long wave very feeble. This is the first set I've restored with a Barretter on board, not much glow but lots of heat! |
9th Jul 2009, 10:04 pm | #8 | |
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Quote:
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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |
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9th Jul 2009, 11:33 pm | #9 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,356
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Dial and set look good , very impressed
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10th Jul 2009, 8:25 am | #10 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 229
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Hello,
I *never* cease to be astonished with the things people achieve here Thats fabulous, well done Regards Stu |
10th Jul 2009, 9:49 am | #11 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 2,451
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
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10th Jul 2009, 1:28 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,080
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Good work, AWC.You've obviously spent some time on this. I'm really impressed!
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10th Jul 2009, 2:11 pm | #13 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 2,543
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Looks damn good to me, well done!
David |
10th Jul 2009, 5:28 pm | #14 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset, UK.
Posts: 334
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Thanks David for your offer to look out for some valves for me and to everyone for their kind comments and encouragement. The valves are Osram X31 W31 N31 and U30. The Barretter and the D41 are ok.
Thanks again. |
12th Jul 2009, 4:35 pm | #15 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 326
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Blimey the patientance of saint...! Truly amazing now I know who to come to if I should need this doing
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12th Jul 2009, 10:31 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 3,986
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Well done. If possible work of this standard should be archived for others to use. I think there was a thread somewhere on the forum. John.
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13th Jul 2009, 9:39 am | #17 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Somerset, UK.
Posts: 334
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Thanks again for your kind comments. I was thinking about uploading the finished copy to an archive until a decent scan of an original dial glass is available. Perhaps someone can give me instructions on the where and how.
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13th Jul 2009, 11:30 am | #18 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK.
Posts: 1,698
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Many hours of patient work expended here. I know - been there, done that. A labour of love, truly. Well worth the effort, though. Excellent outcome.
-Tony |
13th Jul 2009, 4:57 pm | #19 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK
Posts: 2,136
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
As a first step towards archiving I have applied some ahhesive to make this thread "Sticky."
Regards,
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Brian |
13th Jul 2009, 8:00 pm | #20 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 2,593
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Re: Dial Glass Reconstruction
Excellent work
Howard |