Dial glass/Jewels

[NYListens]

Has anyone here ever made their own dial glass for a vintage radio? I have a Fisher 500b receiver with no glass and I was wondering how feasable it would be to make a reproduction.

[NYListens]

Bump.

[Stuart Pedaso]

Haven't done it myself, but have had small dimensioned pieces cut at an ordinary neighborhood glass shop.
Looks like it might be practical to do at home too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bRi8ygZWE

If your 500b has no graphics on the glass, either of the above should be an easy fix. Screening graphics is a whole different challenge.

[NYListens]

Haven't done it myself, but have had small dimensioned pieces cut at an ordinary neighborhood glass shop.
Looks like it might be practical to do at home too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bRi8ygZWE

If your 500b has no graphics on the glass, either of the above should be an easy fix. Screening graphics is a whole different challenge.

I am sure it is easy to get a piece of glass cut to the right dimension. But I do want the graphics on it. I wonder if anyone has been able to reproduce the graphics on glass.

[Windwalker]

I am sure it is easy to get a piece of glass cut to the right dimension. But I do want the graphics on it. I wonder if anyone has been able to reproduce the graphics on glass.

I've wondered the same, when a bit of careless cleaning started taking off my dial graphics. I guess you could sit down with Photoshop, draw up your own and maybe take it to one of those quicky sign shops and they could cut you a small vinyl decal

[NYListens]

I've wondered the same, when a bit of careless cleaning started taking off my dial graphics. I guess you could sit down with Photoshop, draw up your own and maybe take it to one of those quicky sign shops and they could cut you a small vinyl decal

Well I hope someone in here has done it and can share their secrets. I did find a place or two that does this for vintage radios (real antiques.)

[Fisherdude]

Seriously, your best and cheapest option is to watch eBay.

You can make your own decals at home, but not with white lettering. Having a custom silkscreen made would cost more than buying another receiver with the dial glass intact.

[Windwalker]

You can make your own decals at home, but not with white lettering.

Do tell, how.

[Fisherdude]

You can buy kits that allow you to print directly to the clear plastic decal film using an inkjet or laser printer.

Then you cut them out, apply to the surface, and cover with a clear sealant. The whole process is done quite often in the antique radio restoration world.

[Tinkerbelle]

One option is to make the dial lettering in Adobe Photoshop, MS Word or whatever software you have available and then print on transparency. I used 3M CG3480 transparency paper and printed with my ink jet. The rough side of the transparency is the one to print on, not the glossy side. This can then be either clear taped at the edges behind a plain sheet of glass or can be sandwiched between two thin sheets of glass/acrylic.

The attached is a photo of a transparency print for a Fisher dial glass - I have placed a white sheet of paper and black background to help see the result.

[Windwalker]

Is there a master database somewhere here that we could ALL share designs.

[Tinkerbelle]

Good idea; if not, maybe we should start one for these

[Windwalker]

Good idea; if not, maybe we should start one for these

100 PERCENT Agreement, why re-invent the wheel

I've been working on one for a sony, not finished. Am sure others probably have ones somewhere

[NYListens]

100 PERCENT Agreement, why re-invent the wheel

I've been working on one for a sony, not finished. Am sure others probably have ones somewhere

I especially agree as I don't have one to make a template from. In the meantime, I will continue to watch e-bay.

[NYListens]

Oh and by the way, how much do they usually sell for on e-bay?

[Tinkerbelle]

Oh and by the way, how much do they usually sell for on e-bay?

That depends on how many people want one and how badly they want it. Also, the dial glass is sometimes sold with the front plate, lamps, etc, so those can bump the price of just a dial glass. I would guess you could spend between $40 and $80 to get a parts unit based on these variables - but that's a wild guess.

[NYListens]

You could probably get a parts unit for 100-130 off od e-bay and then part it out and make most of that back. However, I would feel like a criminal breaking up a unit like that.

[Tinkerbelle]

You could probably get a parts unit for 100-130 off od e-bay and then part it out and make most of that back.

Oh yes, just the knobs would fetch most of that, and then the transformers, switches, etc.

However, I would feel like a criminal breaking up a unit like that.

It's a tough decision and not one I have been able to make. I bought an 800-C parts unit and have ended up going down the path of resurrecting it; it now works great - still need to do restring & alignment, then make a cabinet and such.

[NYListens]

Oh yes, just the knobs would fetch most of that, and then the transformers, switches, etc.



It's a tough decision and not one I have been able to make. I bought an 800-C parts unit and have ended up going down the path of resurrecting it; it now works great - still need to do restring & alignment, then make a cabinet and such.

Fortunately mine was strung properly. However I do need to finish the recap (I only have the mpx filter to go) and have it aligned. Of course the big thing for me is the dial glass. But it sounds absolutely fantastic. It sounds like the Police are performing in my garage right now and last night I listened to a Cannonball Adderly album and it really took me back to the era when these things were born, of course it also sounded like a live performance.