[Hallicrafters] SX-42 paint Schemes

[Craig Roberts]

As Roy mentioned, Bob -- W0YVA -- is having SX-42 front panels redone in 
a batch, complete with proper silkscreening and -- I think -- is still 
inviting those wishing to have the service performed to submit their 
panels  He and I have also had produced the "LOCK" legend that 
originally decorated the main tuning knob lock in the form of a clear, 
high quality, self-adhesive label. You can contact Bob at 
robert at isquare.com for more information on both of these items.

As for the SX-42 cabinets, the cost conscious folks at Hallicrafters 
sometimes used (as did other manufacturers) whatever was handy or 
economical to produce their wares. One of the variable components was 
paint.  Therefore, some cabinets were painted black (actually, a very, 
very dark satin gray) and others were sprayed with a slightly lighter 
shade of gray.  These represent variations in paint batches and possibly 
paint vendors.  If a cabinet is truly black, it's probably a repaint.  
Hallicrafters rarely used primer on their metalwork, so cabinet and 
panel paint tended to deteriorate dramatically over the years, unless 
the radio was always housed in a friendly environment.  Thus, many 
Hallicraftewrs metal pieces have needed repainting.

The SX-42 front panels were originally painted a sort of Dove Gray.  
I've never seen one actually painted brown (though that's not 
impossible, I suppose), but I've seen quite a few that have turned 
brownish gray (or grayish brown) because a uniform layer of  rust has 
formed underneath the porous paint.  This, again, is due to the lack of 
primer application.  In a photograph, these rusty panel do, indeed, look 
brown.

Speaking of  "non-standard" panel colors, I just got back from a 
delightful visit with Collins restoration artiste (notice the 
high-falutin' 'e'") Howard Mills who showed me a couple of light gray 
paneled R-388 receivers.  These were most often painted a wrinkle finish 
black, but at least one "lab" version sported a semi-gloss light gray 
panel -- as did a Beckman Co. rework of the R-388.  Though shocking to 
tditionalists, they look fantastic -- kinda like a Hammarlund SP-600.

73,

Craig
W3CRR