[Boatanchors] Green "Power On" Jewel For Valiant

[Michael D. Harmon]

The Johnson transmitters used a smaller (5/16") pilot lamp bezel than 
the ones commonly used in other gear, which mount in a 3/8" hole.  The 
bushing also has to be longer because it helps hold the dial cover in 
place.  Actually, the original Valiant I had two red jewels.  The green 
power on lamp didn't appear until the Valiant II came out.  A lot of 
Valiant I's have been retrofitted with the green jeweled bezel, but it 
wasn't "factory".  I had the same problem finding a green jewel for my 
Valiant.   I used to mess around with old Motorola Motracs and Motrans 
back in the early days of 2m FM, and I had a few old Motrac control 
heads in the junkbox.  Some of the control heads had jewels almost 
exactly the size of the ones Johnson used on their transmitters, so I 
ground a little bit off the aluminum bezel around the jewel with the 
Dremel, popped the jewel out with a 5/32" pin punch, and super-glued it 
into a Johnson bezel.  Unless you look closely, you can't tell the 
difference.

You might even be able to CAREFULLY nibble a larger green pilot lamp 
jewel down to size using a pair of flush cutting wire cutters, although 
the curvature might be wrong.

73,
Mike, WB0LDJ
mharmon at att dot net