My new toy...

[leadlike]

Just recapped the set, and it ran with a horrible hum until I found a cap was going to ground rather than the voltage divider. I did a restuff on the caps for what it's worth. Sadly, this chassis was a rusted hulk-I had to remove the tuning capacitor and give it a solvent bath to get it going. Sanding away at the chassis revealed rusted pitting that went almost the whole way through the metal, so I smoothed it out as best I could and applied aluminum paint to the set. I cringed to do it, but I did. Previous owner put their foot through the speaker, but it glued together perfectly. Sounds good, but it needs a massive antenna to work! I've never had a set where that made such a difference!

Now I'm onto the cabinet: VERY solid! Best work I have ever seen in a console! The only cost cutting I see is that they used scrap trim to form braces on the insides. The cabinet is done up in liquor-proof lacquer which may have been new for that year; older ones being done up in shellac. I've always had to strip cabinets to the bare wood and do my own lacquer spraying. Anyone have any tips on rehabbing an existing finish with spray lacquer?