[Collins] Update on progress....75A-4 Receiver & 312A-1 Speaker

[David Knepper]

Ralph, I am delighted that you are moving along with your project.
Sometimes it does take time to get everything together and when you look
back on it, you will have a story to tell.  Just like my 75TH tubes that I
have been hunting for well over 5 years.  Thanks to a chap in New Zealand
who answered my plea from this wonderful mail list, I was successful in
getting a pair of tubes for my 30K-1.    How these little "bottles" survived
the trip from half-way around the world, I will never know.  Perhaps, the
pilot had clear air all the way!  A story out of the "Twilight Zone!"

When you get your Saint James paint, I would recommend that you cut it with
some paint thinner and then take a sponge to apply just like you would if
you were staining wood.  Wipe off so as not to destroy the "textured"
finish.  I have been successful applying Liquid Gold or some other petroleum
solvent to the finish to bring back the lustre without repainting.

We will be eagerly looking forward to receiving your jpegs on this project
for possible posting on the CRA website in the Collins Album section.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on your attempt to bring back some
very classic equipment.  Continued good luck.

Happy Holidays
David Knepper - W3ST
Secretary to the Collins Radio Association (CRA)
Publisher of the Collins Journal
www.collinsra.com
CRA station call - W3CRA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Howes" <rhowes@greenapple.com>
To: <collins@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 6:49 AM
Subject: [Collins] Update on progress....75A-4 Receiver & 312A-1 Speaker


> Greetings to the Collins reflector,
> As some of you know, I recently became the owner of the above mentioned
> Collins gear. They were very smoke laden and dirty from being stored
> unprotected. I have washed the cabinets several times and have removed the
> smoke smell but not all of the stains. I have ordered the paint from Mike,
> KE4LGX. I'm waiting on that. I washed the chassis with a damp cloth & "Sun
> ?" dishwashing soap and the chassis cleaned up very nice. I did not wash
the
> underside but did brush the components and washed the supporting panels.
> Most of the smell is gone but still have some. I'm planning on using a
> couple of shallow pans with Arm & Hammer under the chassis and on top of
the
> chassis then cover the whole unit with a heavy towel and let it sit for
> about a week then sit it in the sun for a while. Going to try this with
the
> speaker also. It didn't clean up as well as the chassis or cabinets. I did
> brush the unit and cone and washed the metal back, outsid and q-tiped the
> underside of the metal. The emblems cleaned up pretty well. The one on the
> receiver is ok except for one side, there is a little rust in the groove.
I
> will try a litte V file to clean up the rust and use some "Extend" then a
> little paint.
> I found a fellow in California that had a couple of end caps that he was
> willing to let go at a very reaonable price. They were white but identical
> in all other aspects. Used but good condition. I received the chrome hood
> from Butch and does it ever look nice. I found the bulb in a hardware
store
> in a little town south of here for aobut $6.00 less than most other
places.
> It is white, not clear.
> Well that is about it for the time being. I took some pics before I
started
> and will take some after I'm done and will make them available to this
> reflector and the CRA web site.
> I want to thank all who responded to my request for any and all of the
> information made a few weeks ago, especially Butch, Merle, Jim and Roger.
> They went way out of there way to offer information and even made some
> searches for me for the end caps. Sure meet some very nice folks in
amatuer
> radio............
> Best Regards to all and a Very Merry Christmas,
> Ralph Howes
> W8BVH
>
> Sponsored by the Collins Radio Association
> http://www.collinsra.com