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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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Old 11th Aug 2009, 10:09 am   #21
Radio_Dave
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Hi Rich,

Congratulations on a top class restoration, it looks really good

Regarding the distorted tuning scale, I've never found a way of stretching or flattening these celluloid scales. You may obtain an initial result but the 'memory' in the plastic always pulls them back to how the were.

... However, if you can scan it, then it could be pulled into shape with photo editing software and re-printed. If you need any help, please PM me

David
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Old 11th Aug 2009, 11:03 am   #22
geofy
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Post Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Superb result and just shows what can be done, remarkable, and very quick as well

Geof
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Old 11th Aug 2009, 2:20 pm   #23
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Dang--you made a diamond from a lump of coal! Congrats.
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Old 11th Aug 2009, 3:01 pm   #24
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Thats a fantastic job Rich. well done! Just goes to show that nothing is ever unrepairable/unrestorable and is infinitely more original than the so-called famous rally cars that have been rebuilt from little more than a logbook (but thats another story). As for looking perfect or not, these dusty old relics that we all love to mess with are no more entitled to titled to looking good-as-new than ourselves. Steve.
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Old 11th Aug 2009, 10:21 pm   #25
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Fantastic stuff!

Looks excellent, really well done. If you wanted a new scale, wasn't somone in the BVWS reproducing them a few years back? Personally, I'd leave it as it is, it looks good to me

Cheers,

Colin
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Old 11th Aug 2009, 10:47 pm   #26
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Brilliant job. Well done!
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Old 12th Aug 2009, 11:10 am   #27
JoshWard
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Wow!


'Nuff said really
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Old 12th Aug 2009, 11:32 am   #28
Aerodyne
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

I just hope that should I come across an example as broken as this one was, I have the ability and patience to do as well as you when repairing it.
Amazing, really!
-Tony
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Old 12th Aug 2009, 9:56 pm   #29
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Just spotted this on a website about Gerry's home in Dulwich.
"Mr Wells's reproductions of the world's most expensive vintage model - the Ekco AD65 of 1934-5 - are on a bench awaiting a coat of paint, revealing that they are cunningly made from wood, not Bakelite."
Question is, did Gerry make a suitable replica dial that may fit your AD65?
Les
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Old 13th Aug 2009, 7:24 pm   #30
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Hi Les,
I don't know if Gerry had any repro scales made, maybe someone who has seen one of the repro sets will be able to say if the scale is the same size as the original sets, considering the amount of these Ekcos that seem to have survived (and the price an original good one would make) I would have thought there would be a market for them, if someone has a excellent set they have paid a lot of money for they probably wouldn't want a wibberly wobberly scale!?
I have thought about laminating the scale in plastic, I could make some filler pieces up for the ends in a much better match than present and then laminate it and cut it out to the correct shape, the other option would be to get some very thin perspex and sandwich the original scale between front and back,a sort of a reversable lamination that would hopefully keep it flat.
The other problem is that the scale buckles and bends when it is fitted into the apature in the cabinet, it has shrunk overall not just in length, which means the radius is slightly too small and it has to be wrestled into place and mounted securely to keep it in place.
I would like to keep the original scale if possible.
To everyone who has commented Thanks !
I must admit I did not expect the set to come out as well as it did and believe me it was easier than it first looked! Once I had the cabinet together I was detemined to get it as good as possible as I knew my friend who gave me the set would cast a critical eye over it and would tut tut if the repairs stood out ( he is one of those people who could have always have done a better job than you have done!) but he had his chance, 19 years it was in his loft !
To be fair to him he saw the set at the weekend and was very complimentry, I nearly fell over! he also said "how much do I owe you"? I said I would tell him in 19 years or so
There is a slight hum at low volume so I may change the (Blue LCR!) smoothing cap, but I am not going to get precious about the internal appearence, the repairs are not that invisible from inside! This is definately a "closed casket" restoration!

Rich.
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Old 13th Aug 2009, 8:21 pm   #31
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

I don't know if the AD65 is the same sort of thing as in my A22 but I am currently looking at the possibility of making clones using plexiglas as used for thin greenhouse sheets which would be adequate size (A4 won't do, needs A3). These are 3mm as against the original 1mm but this *should* be ok.

I've source a good quality A3 scanner (my mate in the office said I can use his) and have been offered a very good A22 dial to clone. A passable background/protective coating using a car paint has been found. The printing is the problem now as the Plexiglas won't go in the printer!

A bit of a Heath-Robinson attempt which I know won't be cheap to attempt but I feel is worth a try.

Dave
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Old 16th Aug 2009, 10:34 pm   #32
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Just goes to show that nothing is impossible! amazing stuff, and I'm sure I'll read this thread occasionally to keep me going when I'm about to throw in the towel.

Now, keep that beauty as far away from shelves (kids, animals, nature...) as possible ;-)
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Old 22nd Aug 2009, 3:30 pm   #33
Phil G4SPZ
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

An outstanding piece of work, Rich, well done!
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Old 11th Sep 2009, 10:43 pm   #34
Robert Darwent
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Hope I'm not too late Rich to congratulate you on your marvellous restoration! I'm really glad you decided to undertake the rebuild of the case. You've achieved something to be really proud of. I'm sure you'll agree these round Ekco's are well worth all the trouble and effort. A superb job, well done!

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Old 12th Sep 2009, 3:20 pm   #35
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Default Re: EKCO AD65 Disaster restored !

Hi Robert
Thanks, it is now pride of place on the sideboard and is used almost daily. There are a few small issues to deal with before I will be completely happy with it, one of the repairs on the left hand lower side is bugging me, it was the worst and widest crack. The bakelite had splintered along the edges of the crack, I keep coming back to it and it is slowly getting less visable. I am still deliberating over the tuning scale and will probably laminate it then that will have to do as far as cosmetic repairs are concerned.
I have enjoyed repairing the set and am happy I didn't sell it off as spares now!
Rich.
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