How to attach legs to a plastic TV? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ryanbrownin · 30th Oct 2015, 4:30 pm

Hi,

I want to attach 4 legs to the bottom of my Ferguson 3852 tv, this would be a simple and easy job if the TV had a wooden cabinet. When the TV was originally marketed there was an option to have legs that could screw into the holes in the bottom of the plastic cabinet, there are 4 screw holes in the bottom of the cabinet but they are 6mm's in diameter and I don't think I will be able to find legs with a 6mm diameter (if somebody does have some please let me know).
Forum member sexton mallard had legs on the set he use to have but doesn't know how they were attached.

Any help appreciated, thanks.

vidjoman · 30th Oct 2015, 5:29 pm

Surely the screw size is 6mm, about a quarter of an inch in old sizes. The legs must be larger diameter than that.

yesnaby · 30th Oct 2015, 5:47 pm

Hello,

It had 1960s 'spindly' legs. Once very common, these are hard to find now. Perhaps try an ironmongers or a furniture shop of the 'old school'. You might find square wooden ones, not metal. Or eBay.

Michael

Station X · 30th Oct 2015, 6:00 pm

Perhaps the first thing to do is to establish whether the holes are threaded 6mm by trying an M6 bolt or set screw in them?

If you get some legs you may be able to drill axial holes in them and glue in a length of M6 studding (threaded rod).

30th Oct 2015, 7:33 pm

If it were me I would...

a) Find some screws that fit (1960's and plastic I would go for 1/4" UNC).
b) Find some legs you like.
c) Fix said screws into the legs with some car body filler (a much underrated adhesive).

Lloyd 1985 · 30th Oct 2015, 8:50 pm

I cheated completely when I wanted to fit some legs to my Alba 1500, I made a table with said legs screwed to it, then stood said telly on it! I discovered that a narrow kitchen cabinet door was just the right size. It also has the added benefit that you can stick a different telly on it when you get bored of the current one.

Regards,
Lloyd.

TonyDuell · 30th Oct 2015, 9:02 pm

If the outside diameter of the 'screw' is around 6mm then other common possibilities for the thread would be 0BA (which is much the same as M6 apart from the thread angle) and 1/4" BSW (Whitworth) which is the common camera tripod thread.

Stuart R · 31st Oct 2015, 12:24 am

Hello Ryan,

I had a similar set in my room as a student in the 1990s.

I think that the tapered legs were just hollow aluminium tubes, probably around 15mm diameter at floor level and 25mm at the top.

Four angled 'sockets' around 30mm deep were screwed into the bottom of the set. The legs were then a push-fit into these sockets.

My memory could be playing tricks, this all went in the skip a long time ago....

SR

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Oct 2015, 9:05 am

These pictures show the construction of the legs fitted to the 3652.

They are approximately 41cm long, 20mm wide at the top tapering to 10mm at the base. The feet are screwed in allowing adjustment for uneven floors.
There is a 'star' washer at the top with the fixing thread screwed in allowing the correct amount of thread to enter the bushes on the base of the cabinet. This is critical due to the insulating cards over the entry points inside the case. Hope this helps. John.

Andrew2 · 31st Oct 2015, 10:21 am

I remember the screw-in type that needed a 'leg plate' between the leg and the cabinet. These plates had an angle built in to splay the legs correctly.

60 oldjohn · 31st Oct 2015, 10:48 am

I think Loyds idea post 6 is best idea, my reason being plastic cases of a certain age can be very brittle. What was OK 30 or 40 years since may not be ok today. These sets are being used way beyond their design life.

John.

FERNSEH · 31st Oct 2015, 12:39 pm

The plate in the middle of the picture is of the type that was used to fix legs to sets which had plastic cabinets. The plates set the angle of the legs and distribute the load. The other two were for wooden cabinet bases.

DFWB.

Kala_12 · 31st Oct 2015, 1:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

The plates set the angle of the legs and distribute the load. The other two were for wooden cabinet bases.

Also used to fix legs to the underside of some beds.

emeritus · 31st Oct 2015, 8:47 pm

I remembered I had a set of four (unwanted) 1960's tapered legs in my firewood store. They are wooden, and the black paint is peeling off, but I think they are too large. Length 24", small end dia. 1", large end dia. 1 3/4", screw thread 5/16" Whitworth. I was given them years ago, and have no idea what they would have been used on originally.

I well remember those fixing plates: in a job interview 40 years ago I was presented with one (made from die cast Mazac rather than pressed steel) and asked to describe it, say what it was used for, and what it was made of. Fortunately I knew because my father had used them when he made a coffee table. I got the job!

ryanbrownin · 1st Nov 2015, 12:38 am

Thank you all for your responses!

Sorry, I meant that I wouldn't be able to find legs with a 6mm screw diameter.

I would use Lloyd's idea of making a table but with the set I have you would still be able to see the table top because of the feet on the bottom of the TV that are non removeable.

Thank you John for those fantastic pictures of the original type of legs. This is probably going to be a stupid question but I'm going to ask you anyway, do you want to sell me those legs?

.

Does anybody know if Johns legs could be replicated by an ironmonger's or somewhere else?

I was also thinking maybe I could buy legs with brakets like the ones posted by DFWB, drill holes and then bolt the brackets into place. Any thoughts on this idea?

Nickthedentist · 1st Nov 2015, 11:15 am

I like Lloyd's idea too, see this thread: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=86658

Maclee62 · 1st Nov 2015, 1:41 pm

If you are sure that the thread in the TV is an M6 (or other metric size), and you can obtain or fabricate suitable wooden legs, you can attach them to the TV using the appropriate threaded dowel in the end of each leg. Such dowels are available from any good hardware shop or from ebay, for example, here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOOD-TO-ME...hlysmrZYqMmloQ

Hope that helps.

Station X · 1st Nov 2015, 1:44 pm

Dare I suggest that bits of wooden broom handle could be used as legs? They wouldn't be tapered of course.

yesnaby · 1st Nov 2015, 2:35 pm

Hello,

Re: post #15

A few years ago I had this problem of finding legs and went around several factories in Newport (a steel town) to see if they had any tapered tubes or could make some for me. I had no joy whatsoever.

Michael

FERNSEH · 1st Nov 2015, 4:49 pm

Way back in the old days we used to make what was essentially a table top which was exactly the same size as the base of the set. The leg plates were fitted and holes were drilled in the board which were coincident with any stand mounting points on the set's underside.
Nice safe and strong job.

DFWB.

30th Oct 2015, 5:29 pm	#2
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Surely the screw size is 6mm, about a quarter of an inch in old sizes. The legs must be larger diameter than that.

30th Oct 2015, 5:47 pm	#3
yesnaby Octode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newport, Gwent, UK. Posts: 1,623	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Hello, It had 1960s 'spindly' legs. Once very common, these are hard to find now. Perhaps try an ironmongers or a furniture shop of the 'old school'. You might find square wooden ones, not metal. Or eBay. Michael Last edited by yesnaby; 30th Oct 2015 at 5:57 pm.

30th Oct 2015, 6:00 pm	#4
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Perhaps the first thing to do is to establish whether the holes are threaded 6mm by trying an M6 bolt or set screw in them? If you get some legs you may be able to drill axial holes in them and glue in a length of M6 studding (threaded rod). __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

30th Oct 2015, 7:33 pm	#5
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? If it were me I would... a) Find some screws that fit (1960's and plastic I would go for 1/4" UNC). b) Find some legs you like. c) Fix said screws into the legs with some car body filler (a much underrated adhesive).

30th Oct 2015, 8:50 pm	#6
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,819	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? I cheated completely when I wanted to fit some legs to my Alba 1500, I made a table with said legs screwed to it, then stood said telly on it! I discovered that a narrow kitchen cabinet door was just the right size. It also has the added benefit that you can stick a different telly on it when you get bored of the current one. Regards, Lloyd.

30th Oct 2015, 4:30 pm	#1
ryanbrownin Pentode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 133	How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Hi, I want to attach 4 legs to the bottom of my Ferguson 3852 tv, this would be a simple and easy job if the TV had a wooden cabinet. When the TV was originally marketed there was an option to have legs that could screw into the holes in the bottom of the plastic cabinet, there are 4 screw holes in the bottom of the cabinet but they are 6mm's in diameter and I don't think I will be able to find legs with a 6mm diameter (if somebody does have some please let me know). Forum member sexton mallard had legs on the set he use to have but doesn't know how they were attached. Any help appreciated, thanks. Attached Thumbnails

30th Oct 2015, 9:02 pm	#7
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? If the outside diameter of the 'screw' is around 6mm then other common possibilities for the thread would be 0BA (which is much the same as M6 apart from the thread angle) and 1/4" BSW (Whitworth) which is the common camera tripod thread.

31st Oct 2015, 12:24 am	#8
Stuart R Heptode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 693	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Hello Ryan, I had a similar set in my room as a student in the 1990s. I think that the tapered legs were just hollow aluminium tubes, probably around 15mm diameter at floor level and 25mm at the top. Four angled 'sockets' around 30mm deep were screwed into the bottom of the set. The legs were then a push-fit into these sockets. My memory could be playing tricks, this all went in the skip a long time ago.... SR

31st Oct 2015, 9:05 am	#9
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? These pictures show the construction of the legs fitted to the 3652. They are approximately 41cm long, 20mm wide at the top tapering to 10mm at the base. The feet are screwed in allowing adjustment for uneven floors. There is a 'star' washer at the top with the fixing thread screwed in allowing the correct amount of thread to enter the bushes on the base of the cabinet. This is critical due to the insulating cards over the entry points inside the case. Hope this helps. John. Attached Thumbnails

31st Oct 2015, 10:21 am	#10
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,037	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? I remember the screw-in type that needed a 'leg plate' between the leg and the cabinet. These plates had an angle built in to splay the legs correctly. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

31st Oct 2015, 10:48 am	#11
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,986	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? I think Loyds idea post 6 is best idea, my reason being plastic cases of a certain age can be very brittle. What was OK 30 or 40 years since may not be ok today. These sets are being used way beyond their design life. John.

31st Oct 2015, 12:39 pm	#12
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? The plate in the middle of the picture is of the type that was used to fix legs to sets which had plastic cabinets. The plates set the angle of the legs and distribute the load. The other two were for wooden cabinet bases. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

31st Oct 2015, 8:47 pm	#14
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,337	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? I remembered I had a set of four (unwanted) 1960's tapered legs in my firewood store. They are wooden, and the black paint is peeling off, but I think they are too large. Length 24", small end dia. 1", large end dia. 1 3/4", screw thread 5/16" Whitworth. I was given them years ago, and have no idea what they would have been used on originally. I well remember those fixing plates: in a job interview 40 years ago I was presented with one (made from die cast Mazac rather than pressed steel) and asked to describe it, say what it was used for, and what it was made of. Fortunately I knew because my father had used them when he made a coffee table. I got the job!

1st Nov 2015, 12:38 am	#15
ryanbrownin Pentode Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 133	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Thank you all for your responses! Sorry, I meant that I wouldn't be able to find legs with a 6mm screw diameter. I would use Lloyd's idea of making a table but with the set I have you would still be able to see the table top because of the feet on the bottom of the TV that are non removeable. Thank you John for those fantastic pictures of the original type of legs. This is probably going to be a stupid question but I'm going to ask you anyway, do you want to sell me those legs? . Does anybody know if Johns legs could be replicated by an ironmonger's or somewhere else? I was also thinking maybe I could buy legs with brakets like the ones posted by DFWB, drill holes and then bolt the brackets into place. Any thoughts on this idea?

1st Nov 2015, 11:15 am	#16
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? I like Lloyd's idea too, see this thread: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=86658

1st Nov 2015, 1:41 pm	#17
Maclee62 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 31	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? If you are sure that the thread in the TV is an M6 (or other metric size), and you can obtain or fabricate suitable wooden legs, you can attach them to the TV using the appropriate threaded dowel in the end of each leg. Such dowels are available from any good hardware shop or from ebay, for example, here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOOD-TO-ME...hlysmrZYqMmloQ Hope that helps.

1st Nov 2015, 1:44 pm	#18
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Dare I suggest that bits of wooden broom handle could be used as legs? They wouldn't be tapered of course. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

1st Nov 2015, 2:35 pm	#19
yesnaby Octode Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newport, Gwent, UK. Posts: 1,623	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Hello, Re: post #15 A few years ago I had this problem of finding legs and went around several factories in Newport (a steel town) to see if they had any tapered tubes or could make some for me. I had no joy whatsoever. Michael

1st Nov 2015, 4:49 pm	#20
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: How to attach legs to a plastic TV? Way back in the old days we used to make what was essentially a table top which was exactly the same size as the base of the set. The leg plates were fitted and holes were drilled in the board which were coincident with any stand mounting points on the set's underside. Nice safe and strong job. DFWB.