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42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? (/showthread.php?tid=25900)


42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - bridkarl - 07-26-2025

I see one of these available but the tenite is obviously trashed. I looked and Renovated Radios seems not to have copies.
Any thoughts on this? I probably could 3-D print one if I had the proper files.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - RodB - 07-27-2025

You didn't give us a picture so I'm assuming you are referring to the tenite escutcheon similar to the 41-221 like this reproduction on ebay:
https://ebay.us/m/1fZd2z
It comes in 3 colors.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - bridkarl - 07-27-2025

Yes. I’m thinking about getting one or both of these units. I don’t own a sled.
 Thanks.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - MrFixr55 - 07-27-2025

That grille is rather popular. I repaired, rewired and recapped a 42-PT94 for a friend, with the grille in bad shape but not as bad as that one. I have a 48-206 with the same style grille. My friend took molds of it and poured himself a new one. Unfortunately, this was about 10 years ago and is now in too poor health to do this work.

One problem with the 42-PT94 is the rubber wiring. I completely rewired my friend's radio. Fortunately, my 48-206 is wired in thermoplastic

For $25, the grilles on eBay are a nice buy. Problem is that the 42-PT94 had a nice dark brown marbling in the grille.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - bridkarl - 11-25-2025

So do you think the ebay copy should work on the PT-94?
Not hard to work on - I replaced most of the caps this afternoon. Just left with a few more rotted rubber wires to replace. I agree the wires are a mess, but easy enough to replace.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - Arran - 11-27-2025

Karl;
Watch for the wires going into the IF cans, those go bad as well. Sleaving might be the easiest way, as you can't really get the can back on with the rest still mounted in the chassis.
AS for the escutcheon I can't vouch for them, they say that they are 3D printed, so hopefully the finished product will be better from that process then it would have been 5 years ago. Kirk made a small run of them a few years ago, he made a mold from one of the post war ones, but I don't think he has any left.
Regards
Arran

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - bridkarl - 11-27-2025

Yes. I sleeved those IF can wires. Unless the radio doesn’t work I plan to stay out of the IF can. I’ve done that but don’t like it.

Just waiting on some capacitors I didn’t have in stock like a .2mfd. Two or three more wires to replace along with the power cord.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - MrFixr55 - 11-27-2025

Hi Bridkarl,

Yes, the grill will fit just fine. They covered many sets, both battery and line powered. There were many models of "Transitone" radios with similar chassis, and the same knob spacing and grille.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - Arran - 11-27-2025

The replacement grilles look like they have a texture to the finish, and the seller even states this, so you would have to paint or polish the grille to make it more original. Interestingly enough he also has a dial escutcheon for a mid 1930s Silvertone set I have, again it would have to be polished or painted, I was going to make one out of either a chunk of plastic or hardwood at some point but this may be a better way. Some of these grilles had a marbled or mottled effect in the plastic which these 3D printed ones do not have, though apparently you can get plastic filament that does, I saw a guy selling ornaments at a craft fair that were multi coloured, and or pearlescent.
Regards
Arran

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - bridkarl - 11-27-2025

Interesting. At some point I’ll have to get a 3D printer and look into making that.
I suppose running some 300 or 400 grit sandpaper over it should be sufficient.
Thanks.

RE: 42-PT94 escutcheon sources? - MrFixr55 - 11-28-2025

I had a friend who molded replacements for his 42-PT94 from my 48-206. He even got the black swirl accents in the material, and the surface was shiny. He is too old to do the work again. If you try to mold one using a good grille, to make the mold, putting it under a vacuum should help.