07-02-2008, 01:15 AM
Hello Auplater! Thanks for the explanation of your re-plating services! That is a "artform",.. all in its self! I have been using a company in Houston (shipping items there) from across state, (small vintage Arvin metal- midget radios, Silvertones, etc, that have a "heavy-tin" stamped small metal cabinet. They measure approx 6"w x 4 h"x 4"d. That plating company is called "Bright Metals of the Heights", located in the central Houston area. They normally re-chrome the larger items such as bumpers, grills, etc. They have been charging me $60. ea, and do a fantastic job on plating the outside of cabinet only, incl the outside surface small metal flat rear panel pc that goes on the chassis to protect the radio (sm rear vented panel pc.) These little metal midget Radios types can be seen on eBay from time to time if you wish to see one. Just do a ebay search for "arvin metal radio", and or "Silvertone metal radio". They are very small vintage tube-type radios!
As far as painting the chassis' & tubeshields etc on vintage Philco "mid-chassis" radios, I usually do a complete "point-to-point" rewire under the chassis! It takes time, but I do carefully mark all wires incoming from the mid-chassis area, and completely remove that part of the chassis. I then carefully remove the variable tuning cap so I can replace all the old deteriorated orig rubber-grommets located under the tuning cap, & replace with new. Also, I replace the orig mid-chassis mounting grommets as well. New rubber Philco chassis grommets are avail at :www.RenovatedRadios.com Ed has a good selection of new rubber-grommets on his website, and a pleasure to order from! If the orig wiring on the power trans is OK?.. I simply "re-sleeve" each individual wire with shrink-tubing. If the wires are "crusty", I completely pull the AC trans from chassis, dismantle the AC Trans case, and use new wire all the way into the trans connection points. Otherwise, just "taping-off" works well also the tube-sockets, IF trans housings etc. After cleaning the chassis carefully, I use Ace Hardware brand "chrome"metallic spray paint. It dries very fast, then I add a coat of "clear" automotive type acrylic-lacquer (dries very fast also), made by "Dupli-Color", and is avail at most autopart stores! Makes vintage radio chassis look awesome!... however, not as "shiny" as actual re-plating! Your doing a Great-Job on your vintage Philco! Your chassis will be "show-quality" indeed!
As far as painting the chassis' & tubeshields etc on vintage Philco "mid-chassis" radios, I usually do a complete "point-to-point" rewire under the chassis! It takes time, but I do carefully mark all wires incoming from the mid-chassis area, and completely remove that part of the chassis. I then carefully remove the variable tuning cap so I can replace all the old deteriorated orig rubber-grommets located under the tuning cap, & replace with new. Also, I replace the orig mid-chassis mounting grommets as well. New rubber Philco chassis grommets are avail at :www.RenovatedRadios.com Ed has a good selection of new rubber-grommets on his website, and a pleasure to order from! If the orig wiring on the power trans is OK?.. I simply "re-sleeve" each individual wire with shrink-tubing. If the wires are "crusty", I completely pull the AC trans from chassis, dismantle the AC Trans case, and use new wire all the way into the trans connection points. Otherwise, just "taping-off" works well also the tube-sockets, IF trans housings etc. After cleaning the chassis carefully, I use Ace Hardware brand "chrome"metallic spray paint. It dries very fast, then I add a coat of "clear" automotive type acrylic-lacquer (dries very fast also), made by "Dupli-Color", and is avail at most autopart stores! Makes vintage radio chassis look awesome!... however, not as "shiny" as actual re-plating! Your doing a Great-Job on your vintage Philco! Your chassis will be "show-quality" indeed!
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