1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

howard · 2nd Mar 2008, 12:15 am

Hello again,

I bought this old Stella transistor set recently for £3.99 from the Salvation Army. I couldn't find anything about it and no service sheets exist for it anywhere. It was very dirty, one battery clip broken off, a small tear in the vynair material on the front and all its brass rim was black or rusty.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...0&d=1204413301

However, it looks very much like my Philips L3G01T, identical chassis, same escutcheon, same sized case and similar dial so I think I can assume that it is a Stella version of the L3G01T. Here's my L3G01T ...

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...1&d=1182778471

I soldered back on the battery clip, attached a PP9 and away it went .... I did later take out the chassis and clean the volume pot and and waveband switches but that's all it needed.

I removed the handle, dial trim and switch escutcheon, stuck down the small torn piece invisibly and gave them all a good clean with my toothbrush and upholstery cleaner and it came up really well. I cut and fit a new piece of sponge on the back cover. The brass trim I stripped, polished and revarnished - the switch escutcheon is painted inside up to the rim so that and the handle support trims I repainted with Plasti Kote antique gold paint. I then reassembled the radio.

It took me all day to restore this Stella but it has come up really well, indeed it's unmarked. It's a nice old Philips wooden cased transistor set, not quite as pretty as the L3G01T but it works well and sounds just as good too.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...8&d=1204413301

Howard

Robert Darwent · 2nd Mar 2008, 2:36 am

Hello Howard,

That just looks lovely, really nice. You've done a first class job again.

I think, as you say, its definitely safe to assume that it is the Stella badged version of your Philips set there. I know you prefer the Philips model for looks but I think the Stella set is the nicer of the two!

BTW I've noticed on all your restorations that your revarnished brass trims always come up really well. Can I ask what particular sort of varnish you use?

Regards

Tim · 2nd Mar 2008, 5:58 pm

Another great job Howard.

chipp1968 · 3rd Mar 2008, 9:42 am

I prefer the stella of the two as well, im sure i saw one on my travels on saturday somewhere

howard · 3rd Mar 2008, 11:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrdmpb

Hello Howard, ........BTW I've noticed on all your restorations that your revarnished brass trims always come up really well. Can I ask what particular sort of varnish you use?
Regards

Hello Robert,

On the handle trims I used Plastikote Antique Gold paint, Rustins metal lacquer and M&P's dark gold varnish. The clip around the PVC handle is nickel plated mild steel with a gold varnish finish which was starting to rust. I managed to polish up the nickel up bright again and then revarnished it with a mix of the Rustins and M&P varnishes. The link is real brass so that I polished and revarnished with the Rustins. The handle securing trim is also mild steel and had a nickel and brass plate or gold varnish coating but had rusted away so I rubbed that down, primed it and repainted it with Plastikote Antique gold paint. The finished trims look more or less as they would have done when the set was built.

This is old cellulose Rustins, I don't think it's available any longer but acrylic Rustins varnish is.

Howard

howard · 4th Mar 2008, 5:25 pm

Just one last thing about Rustins cellulose varnish, it's touch dry in a couple of minutes and after an hour or so it really won't come off, it adheres really well to shiny metal surfaces. It's so good that when I came to restore the escutcheon which is painted inside, I varnished the entire thing and then sprayed Plasti-Kote on top of it, I was even able to put Tamiya masking tape on top of it around the top without any coming off. Great stuff

Howard

Robert Darwent · 4th Mar 2008, 7:02 pm

Hello Howard,

Thanks for that information, appreciated.

I went a bought some of the M&P dark gold lacquer a while ago now on your recommendation in another thread about TR82 brass trims. But I've yet to try the Rustin's. Sounds like very good stuff though. Will definitely have to give it a try, especially as you get excellent results with it in your restorations!

Regards

2nd Mar 2008, 12:15 am	#1
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable Hello again, I bought this old Stella transistor set recently for £3.99 from the Salvation Army. I couldn't find anything about it and no service sheets exist for it anywhere. It was very dirty, one battery clip broken off, a small tear in the vynair material on the front and all its brass rim was black or rusty. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...0&d=1204413301 However, it looks very much like my Philips L3G01T, identical chassis, same escutcheon, same sized case and similar dial so I think I can assume that it is a Stella version of the L3G01T. Here's my L3G01T ... https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...1&d=1182778471 I soldered back on the battery clip, attached a PP9 and away it went .... I did later take out the chassis and clean the volume pot and and waveband switches but that's all it needed. I removed the handle, dial trim and switch escutcheon, stuck down the small torn piece invisibly and gave them all a good clean with my toothbrush and upholstery cleaner and it came up really well. I cut and fit a new piece of sponge on the back cover. The brass trim I stripped, polished and revarnished - the switch escutcheon is painted inside up to the rim so that and the handle support trims I repainted with Plasti Kote antique gold paint. I then reassembled the radio. It took me all day to restore this Stella but it has come up really well, indeed it's unmarked. It's a nice old Philips wooden cased transistor set, not quite as pretty as the L3G01T but it works well and sounds just as good too. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...8&d=1204413301 Howard Attached Thumbnails Last edited by howard; 2nd Mar 2008 at 12:21 am.

2nd Mar 2008, 2:36 am	#2
Robert Darwent Heptode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 990	Re: 1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable Hello Howard, That just looks lovely, really nice. You've done a first class job again. I think, as you say, its definitely safe to assume that it is the Stella badged version of your Philips set there. I know you prefer the Philips model for looks but I think the Stella set is the nicer of the two! BTW I've noticed on all your restorations that your revarnished brass trims always come up really well. Can I ask what particular sort of varnish you use? Regards __________________ Robert G0UHF www.wavesintheair.co.uk

2nd Mar 2008, 5:58 pm	#3
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: 1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable Another great job Howard. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

3rd Mar 2008, 9:42 am	#4
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: 1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable I prefer the stella of the two as well, im sure i saw one on my travels on saturday somewhere

4th Mar 2008, 5:25 pm	#6
howard Nonode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Godalming, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,593	Re: 1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable Just one last thing about Rustins cellulose varnish, it's touch dry in a couple of minutes and after an hour or so it really won't come off, it adheres really well to shiny metal surfaces. It's so good that when I came to restore the escutcheon which is painted inside, I varnished the entire thing and then sprayed Plasti-Kote on top of it, I was even able to put Tamiya masking tape on top of it around the top without any coming off. Great stuff Howard Attached Thumbnails Last edited by howard; 4th Mar 2008 at 5:30 pm.

4th Mar 2008, 7:02 pm	#7
Robert Darwent Heptode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK Posts: 990	Re: 1961 Stella ST403T 6 transistor MW/LW portable Hello Howard, Thanks for that information, appreciated. I went a bought some of the M&P dark gold lacquer a while ago now on your recommendation in another thread about TR82 brass trims. But I've yet to try the Rustin's. Sounds like very good stuff though. Will definitely have to give it a try, especially as you get excellent results with it in your restorations! Regards __________________ Robert G0UHF www.wavesintheair.co.uk