[Hallicrafters] SX-28 What colours

[Barry Hauser]

On Fri, 10 May 2002 17:50:04 +0930 Greg Humphrey <gregjh at iprimus.com.au>
writes:
> I have just stripped the paint from the front panel of my SX-28 the 
> panel is a semi gloss black or very dark grey some of the engraved
lettering is deep red  
> but the rest of the lettering including all the graduation marks on the
panel controls 
> seems to be a very light blue-grey  is this the correct colour or is it
white like i have 
> seen on some of the refurb jobs on the net.  I have owned this set for
about ten years so i cant 
> vouch for it previous life but the finish does look very original.  Can
I have your comments please 
> ??

Interesting....  Most of the SX-28's I've seen, including the ones here,
have semi-gloss or gloss black panels with white and red fill-in of the
lettering.  I have one gray, rack-mount SX-28A that is finished in Navy
grey, similar to an SP-600, and with all white lettering.  It may have
been refinished several times, as the texture in the metal, unique to the
SX-28, is barely discernable, as if it has ample coates.  The lettering
is all white -- no red in the middle.

The light blue-grey may be the result of discoloration, perhaps from
cleaning whereby something got into the lettering paint.  The paints used
for filling vary, but these were often done with laquer sticks and later
on by restorers with water base acrylic, latex or even "wite-out".  All
of these tend to remain soft or absorbent, so could pick up some dye from
a rag or color from some cleaner.  However, they more usually turn yellow
or tan from cigarette tars.

Also interesting that the panel looks like very dark charcoal.  Many of
the later Hallicrafters -- post war -- like the SX-42 -- came in cabinets
that were black with silver perforated lids.  Most of those I've seen
have a slight metallic content.  In certain lighting, they look more like
charcoal than black.  Is it possible that your panel was refinished with
that Hallicrafters paint?  Or could it be that they actually started
using that subdued black metallic on some SX-28's, several years earlier?
 If you look real closely at the panel, can you make out any metallic
highlights?  Sometimes, though, that texture plays tricks with the light.

After all that, Greg, my sense is that the most prevalent color (or
colour) scheme is gloss or semi-gloss black with white and red letter
fill-in.

Barry

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