12 Wedgewood Ct, Mattoon, IL 61938, US, barry@spectrumcons.com
Recent projects
January, 2020
inspection inside
inspection inside
I picked up a Hibbard Super Tone, well used, for restoration. Let's do it! It's well worn, the lens is warped and cracked (heat and age issue). Electrically unknown. I never plug them in without considerable checkout.
inspection inside
inspection inside
inspection inside
Inside the case. Note the spittle blob on the right - not supposed to be there. Will look for the source. The lens will come out easily for replacement.
more observation
inspection inside
more observation
The speaker has a gaping hole, not mice, just deteriorated, Must patch immediately, else any accidental touch will tear the fragile paper.
urgent problems
deep under the hood
more observation
Got that done, safe to handle now. Also I see the pilot lamp is not burned out, but destroyed. The reason will show up next.
deep under the hood
deep under the hood
deep under the hood
Here's a bit of the underside. Very strange wiring, covered with electrical tape? I note 2 wirewound resistors that turn out to be in series with the fractured pilot lamp. Someone may have tried to do a current limit configuration?
and more
deep under the hood
deep under the hood
Another view. There were two 25 ohm 5 watt'ers in series. And here's the source of the ejecta inside the case - an electrolytic capacitor was spitting it out. Let's do some tube checks.
can't plug it in yet
can't plug it in yet
can't plug it in yet
Aha, bad rectifier tube. Grid leak failure. It all comes together now - the tube heater is tapped to light the pilot light, but a fault was putting high voltage on the light and destroying it. The spitting capacitor is connected to the tube heater. It's all one failure point.
now, it's a radio
can't plug it in yet
can't plug it in yet
So, we fix that area. Then rewire with a polarized modern line cord so we only switch the hot lead. Install a safety cap across the line. Change out a couple out of spec components. Voila, we have a radio!
heavy duty tune up
can't plug it in yet
heavy duty tune up
Let's crank up the signal generator and give the IF coils and oscillator some loving. I can usually significantly improve the radio here due to drifting and aging of old components.
nuisance repairs
a little custom work
heavy duty tune up
The dial cord was slipping badly, so it got rewound with genuine 1950's replacement cord.
a little custom work
a little custom work
a little custom work
And I heat formed a new dial lens for it.
and paint work
a little custom work
a little custom work
And the case got cleaned, sanded, primed and painted to original color.
Done!
Done!
Done!
There it is! Better than new in many ways. Hibbard was a major hardware wholesaler in Chicago in the 1860's and evolved into True Value stores. I'm betting I can find a local hardware dealer who might like a piece of history.
The howard 806 project
It's filthy and worn
Start with the basics
It's filthy and worn
In the beginning. Dirty, dull, battle scarred, but it has good bones. I won’t detail electrical restoration in this series. It was unremarkable – one tube and a few caps.
Begin clean up
Start with the basics
It's filthy and worn
The inside chassis after blowing out mouse debris and ages of dirt. It still needs a solvent cleanup.
Start with the basics
Start with the basics
Start with the basics
Beginning the cabinet restoration. A couple feet are missing. There is water damage.
Document all details
Document all details
Start with the basics
Need to document the decals for wave band, tuning, volume, tone, as they will be lost in the washdown – if they aren’t worn off already.
Scope of the job
Document all details
Scope of the job
There is damage to the top, perhaps a vase left foot imprints. Scratching and abrasion needs repair on top and sides.
First steps
Document all details
Scope of the job
I made some new feet so it can stand without tottering. I did a first washdown of the original shellac finish. The banding is very damaged.
What to do
Stalling by doing some polish
Stalling by doing some polish
Zooming in on the banding damage for repair considerations. I considered touch up with a fine brush but decided I'm not an artist.
Stalling by doing some polish
Stalling by doing some polish
Stalling by doing some polish
Now I have a few good coats of shellac on the cabinet for stability. Time to attack the banding. Fill in chipped areas and smooth them.
Still thinking about banding
Stalling by doing some polish
Still thinking about banding
Meanwhile french polishing with shellac comes to life after a couple days. Save the final finish coats until last.
Serious band replication
Serious band replication
Still thinking about banding
I noted the banding had a 4 ½ inch repeat. So now to find a good section and photocopy it. This is a real good match, but I may give it a bit more color depth.
Application
Serious band replication
Almost done now
I made decals to go over the damaged banding. Here is the application in progress. Also blackened the feet and top trim. It will look nice.
Almost done now
Serious band replication
Almost done now
French polish is done after more days of handwork. Gotta love it; beautiful reflection of orchids on the top.