The PHILCO Phorum
Atwater Kent Model 32 - Printable Version

+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Various and Sundry Categories (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=37)
+--- Forum: Other Radios (Non-Philco) (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: Atwater Kent Model 32 (/showthread.php?tid=24613)


Atwater Kent Model 32 - klondike98 - 10-01-2023

Took the first real long look at this AK 32. Its a mess. While the chassis has seen some pretty damp environments, the wooden case is in relatively good shape. Its possible the case and the chassis are from two different sets or they were stored separately for some reason.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5y2yvsufem995x/atwaterkent32_01.jpg?raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f5yxpcvj3z9g1dz0vgit3/atwaterkent32_03.jpg?rlkey=l72xtd0fw7a2f6x5c09sbai0n&raw=1]

The thing that has me most concerned is the condition of the variable caps. One of them is almost solid with corrosion and a second one has a chunk out of it.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9u5q0c4f2m1nbb3ikr47t/atwaterkent32_04.jpg?rlkey=5u2fclu6p2yz9ze2poml7rw7u&raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzh5cqzm3qz8hjddrbn37/atwaterkent32_05.jpg?rlkey=a1bd2axd7lnraldi0mdzt0oxs&raw=1]

This little choke that goes between the antenna and ground also seems pretty toasty.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nc5sktt4xw2znq6pl2808/atwaterkent32_06.jpg?rlkey=har6ya4p2vvj0y6tc7x824mer&raw=1]

The pulley's on all the variable caps are all pot metal and as expected have warped and would need replacement. I have located some of the needed pulleys and Leigh has drawings on his site that a machine shop could use to make some. The corners of the chassis show the most corrosion and rust which might indicate mice huddled up in the corners although I did not find any nesting materials. This set was donated to our local museum and the fellow who owned it may have already cleaned that up. In any event, I've got to decide if this is going to be something to spend time making it operable or just clean it up for display. Any thoughts from you guys?

If you like to play along, here's a link to Leigh Bassett's modern drawing of the circuit. Leigh has a very nice website with lots of Atwater Kent information.

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - morzh - 10-01-2023

This will take some TLC....

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - Jayce - 10-03-2023

I had one like that years back before my friend passed away. Cabinet was great, but internally it was horrible and we both wondered if it had some help from mice and/or other critters.

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - EagleRiverMike - 10-03-2023

I can't imagine the heat build up with all those tubes inside that wood box....
Holy smokes Bob,
Mike

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - RGallahue - 11-13-2023

Always seem to find those cap in good shape out on ebay. Looking at the corrosion issues there, not sure how those would clean up. I would worry about the condition of the coils, particularly so if mice are former inhabitants. So likely a good case for display purposes only.

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - Chas - 11-14-2023

I have a model 30, severely rusted I refurbished some 45 years ago. I could not find a suitable brown paint so I used black wrinkle, chassis rusted too, it got flat black lacquer.

I had pulleys fabricated in brass and made belts from brass shim stock.

Post as to a concern of heat, there is none, 1.25 watts for the filament of each tube and about 5ma plate current at 90 volts for the RF and AF. Plate current for the detector is in the ua range.

The choke can be hand rewound, overall the radio has seen mouse or water damage. The tubes may have corrosion inside the tube base, try re-soldering all the pins. The audio transformers may well be open.

FWIW the Atwater-Kent info site is gone, find it on the internet archive. It may return as an A-K fan has files of the site and may restore it or place the files on his site:

https://roaringtwentiesantiqueradiomuseum.com/leigh-bassett-wing

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - klondike98 - 11-16-2023

In addition to the pot metal deterioration, badly corroded variable tuning caps, heavily rusted frame, and open/deteriorated choke there are several open coils. I've elected not to try to get this operational but stabilize the rusting and clean it up so that it can be displayed. I took off as much loose rust as I could and coated the areas with a couple coats of rust reformer. The cabinet was cleaned and refreshed with a rub down of Restor-a-finish and finally given a good wax. The front panel and knobs were cleaned, rusty areas painted with rust reformer and then touched up. Maybe at some point in the future I'll feel more energetic about it and do a complete dissassembly and rewire (but I doubt it LOL).

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5vij7ndjmu8ptt0arieah/atwaterkent32_07.jpg?rlkey=6xk7cyaph41exbr4lrc6ippdm&raw=1]

RE: Atwater Kent Model 32 - klondike98 - 11-17-2023

Thanks Chas! Icon_thumbup Appreciate the advice but you were more ambitious than I am at the moment. Too bad about Leigh’s website but then none of our sites will be here forever except in the wayback archive (if that continues).