Hallicrafters S 27

[sparkymike]

Hi. Any advise out there for restoring an S 27 Hallicrafters receiver ?
The chassis has light rust on the top side. Can this be removed in any way with a minature shot blaster. Are there any such tools on the market or will I have to make something? I do have a powerful compressor so am half way there! I will need two acorn valves. Are these readily available? The US numbers are 956 and 954. I managed to find the manual on the net so I do have a clue how it works! I have not plugged it in yet as I am not sure if it is 240 or 110. There is a toggle switch on one side of the mains trannie which I will have to investigate.
Apart from two of the more common valves missing it seems to be all there although I can't say the same about myself for buying the beast. It was a car boot find and while the manual quotes 67 pouns for the weight, it took two of us to carry it to the car. The other half looked in the boot later and said " I see you have bought another thing with knobs on!"
Talking of knobs, there is one missing which sits in the edge of the large circular plate on the main tuning scale.
This set came from an air base in the Lincolnshire area I was told.
Any help here please.
Mike.

[Keith]

Hi Mike,

I recently bought an S27 and got it up and running. Unfortunately mine had been "got at", the top range coils having been modified, probably in an attempt to cover the amateur 2m band. I eventually found all the required info via this forum and I will eventually (!) get round to restoring it. I got replacement acorn valves from Colomor on ebay at :

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COLOMOR-VAL...BES-COMPONENTS

I see he still has both 954 and 956.

Keith

[peter_scott]

Hi Mike,

I can't help you wrt chassis cleaning but I think you have correctly identified the mains voltage selector switch which is on the chassis top next to the mains transformer. I don't have an S-27, I have an S-36 which is very similar.
I'm not sure who has stocks of acorn valves but you might try these:
http://www.chevetsupplies.co.uk/
http://www.valves.uk.com/prices.htm

HTH

Peter

[FrankB]

The acorn tubes are still available here in the states.

That is one of Hallicrafters boat anchors.

Rust can be cleaned off the chassis with "Navel Jelly" ® a brand of rust remover here in the US, and your idea of a sandblaster is OK, but be sure to cover all the trimmers and controls so they don't get full of material & rust particles. It will leave a black oxiditation on the chassis where the rust was, and that will stop further rusting, or if you sand blast the chassis, you will remove all the (cadmium?) plating and it will rust fast with any moisture. A product called "Rust Mort" ® here stops the rusting, but also leaves the black protective layer on the chassis. I would assume you can get similar products from a automotive paint supplier there.

You might consider a body & fender shop (Called Panel Beaters there in the UK?)
As they typically have small spot sand blasters for cleaning up damaged areas.

I have a lot of Hallicrafters radios, but here the IFT's are failing left & right. Everyone I have either has 'silver migration" disease or the insulation on the IF windings is failing. There are several threads on this subject in
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/

A US antique radio & Tv forum. Great folks there, like here.

If you cant find the acorn tubes there, let me know. I may have them new or used/ tested in storage. I also have a pile of original Hallicrafters manuals, and I can check to see if I have the one for your set, if you like.
Be happy to make you a copy of it.

[sparkymike]

Thanks Frank B for the info. I have had a break! from old radios etc. and have been refitting out the kitchen, hence the delayed reply.
A very happy new year to all.
Mike

[HamishBoxer]

Have a S27 and as far as i am aware (its hidden away at present) its 240V

David