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Old 14th May 2021, 9:31 am   #1
DMcMahon
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Default Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Has anybody done a successful replacement of the plastic mesh outer covering found on some vintage Grundig TK tape recorders, this material often becomes damaged/crumbles apart.

If so any tips on suitable replacement materials and methods please.

David
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Old 14th May 2021, 10:05 am   #2
jascha
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Same goes for Telefunken machines of the same era please. I am thinking of some flexible plastic that looks like a mesh but it could also be metal based and then painted.

Thanks
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Old 14th May 2021, 11:46 am   #3
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

I wish! You only have to look at it and it goes into holes. I have a TK5 with a similar mesh, but metal, square-holed and painted brown. Either way, replication involves tooling.
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Old 14th May 2021, 1:19 pm   #4
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

I did a bit of research online and what we need to find is some sort of perforated mesh made of aluminium perhaps which can be easily bent around the cabinet. It suddenly dawned on me whilst searching that some suitable material would be the type of mesh used in front of fireplaces? They’re usually black but can be sprayed. Just an idea.
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Old 14th May 2021, 2:42 pm   #5
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

I wonder if it has to be perforated with holes, i.e. was the original design intention of the perforated mesh for ventilation/cooling or just for cosmetic smart appearance ?

David
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Old 14th May 2021, 2:56 pm   #6
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Strange that the identical material was used by different manufacturers, looks the same as that used by Elizabethan.
I think it served a multi-purpose, the holes allowing ventilation and sound to pass through from the loudspeaker. It certainly performed both functions on my Automan 4.
Although it was so common I have never ever seen it for sale.

Peter
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Old 14th May 2021, 4:37 pm   #7
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Kendall View Post
I wish! You only have to look at it and it goes into holes. I have a TK5 with a similar mesh, but metal, square-holed and painted brown. Either way, replication involves tooling.
Yes depending upon TK model/vintage at least 3 main variations, plastic mesh around wooden case frame, plastic mesh around metal case frame and metal mesh around ? case frame plus different colours and mesh patterns.

David
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Old 14th May 2021, 4:51 pm   #8
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reelman View Post
I think it served a multi-purpose, the holes allowing ventilation and sound to pass through from the loudspeaker.

Peter
Much of the perforated mesh is around the solid wooden/metal case frame so not much of it actually I would say is for cooling. The wooden/metal case frame is cut away for the loudspeaker so the mesh there is for mainly for sound pass through as you say. Because at the speaker there is no/little case structure directly behind the mesh, it is the speaker area where the mesh is weakest that often has the worst damage/wear.

David
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Old 14th May 2021, 4:56 pm   #9
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reelman View Post
I think it served a multi-purpose, the holes allowing ventilation and sound to pass through from the loudspeaker.

Peter
Much of the perforated mesh is around the solid wooden/metal case frame so not much of it actually I would say is for cooling. The wooden/metal case frame is cut away for the loudspeaker so the mesh there is for mainly for sound pass through as you say. Because at the speaker there is no/little case structure directly behind the mesh, it is the speaker area where the mesh is weakest that often has the worst damage/wear.

David
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Old 14th May 2021, 5:00 pm   #10
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

An example of bad mesh damage around the speaker on one of my TK 20's.
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Old 16th May 2021, 5:23 pm   #11
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

For reference.

Thickness of plastic mesh on my TK 20 is around 0.7mm

Mesh hole pitch is 4 mm both horizontal and vertical.

David
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Old 19th May 2021, 4:23 pm   #12
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

I was lucky to come across today a chassis of a TK23 that was being dumped away after the machine was being stripped off its goods inside (only due to a number of cracks in the top panel and so on). I managed to strip off the mesh using a hair dryer and a scraper and I think I will be able to fit it onto the TK20, with some modifications perhaps. It cleaned up very nicely and it looks whiter than the covering on the TK20. It will definitely be an improvement then as it looks at the moment.
I shall post photos when I get the job done, fingers crossed
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Old 20th May 2021, 10:57 pm   #13
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Following yesterday’s post I can officially present the launch of the hybrid Grundig TK20-23 . I have done quite a lot of work on the TK20 which I picked up for a £1 at our local CBF & having found a TK23 and bought it for spares for a friend, I was given back just the chassis which I managed to strip off the outer cover and with some patience I restored the TK20 and am very pleased with what came out of the whole exercise. I decided to use the handle from the TK23 in order to use the already existing holes in the fabric of the TK23. It’s also a better handle I think. Hope this gives some ideas for future restorations perhaps.

Cheers
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Old 20th May 2021, 11:17 pm   #14
DMcMahon
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

You were fortunate to get the TK 23 shell and lucky to get the mesh off without wrecking it. Excellent job refitting it to the TK 20.

I find the TK 23 and similar TKs generally not too bad for mesh damage but the older TK 20 and similar generally worse.

Did you have to remove and refit the brass metal trims or just were able to push the mesh under the trims ?

David
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Old 20th May 2021, 11:23 pm   #15
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Thanks David & thanks for the book... it arrived very safely .

I found that the material on the TK23 is not at all brittle, compared to the TK20 shell, which is similar to a cracker in strength! I was indeed lucky to find the TK23 and as I’m not really into 1/4 track I have it to my friend for parts. I guess boot sales are places to search for these vintage machines.

I finished restoring it but found that the speed slows down in playback after some time and I’m thinking that it’s the 1.2uf motor cap. I have put a temporary cap made up of two values put together in parallel, one of which is new but the other came from a Revox G36 (a 0.5uf cap that was stuck to the original cap for some reason). I’m suspicious of it and have now ordered a 1.2uf cap and will fit it and see what happens. I don’t want to stress the motor in case that old cap is leaky when it gets going.

Cheers
Carmine
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Old 21st May 2021, 8:39 am   #16
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by jascha View Post
I found that the material on the TK23 is not at all brittle, compared to the TK20 shell, which is similar to a cracker in strength!
Carmine
The mesh looks very similar, either the older TK 20 type mesh is somewhat different or due to extra age the mesh degrades.

David
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Old 21st May 2021, 1:37 pm   #17
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Default Re: Grundig TK Tape Recorder Cabinet Plastic Mesh Replacement

Carmine, what about the TK 20 brass trim question ?

David
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