radio dial restororation

[stroker70]

My radios station numbers on the glass cover look bad and need replaced or redone. Anybody ever have this done? Any leads on who to contact?

[Fid]

Which radio is it? If it's the one used in the 1951-55 Kaiser, the numbers are etched into the glass and you can take the glass out, paint the back with white paint, then scrape it off of with a razor blade and it will look like new. If it's the 1947/48 KF style, with the tan background and white numbers, I've had pretty good luck redoing those with a small brush and a lot of patience. If it's the Henry J glass, the number are painted on it and recently there was some discussion on here about getting them redone. See this thread -
http://kfclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,937.msg4571.html#msg4571

[Terry T]

I have the HJ dial reproduced in a decal.

[stroker70]

Its a 53 so I will give the white paint a try. Thanks for the tips

[Fid]

I just did a '54 dial face this week. It may take a couple of iterations as modern paint is often latex or acrylic based and tends to stretch and tear. I've tried a few methods - spray paint verses brush, verses different types and I often have to take more than one pass at it but they always turn out looking just like new.  The only difference between the '53 and '54 is that great remnant from the cold war era - the '54 has those two triangles on it which were to ID the emergency broadcast stations so citizens would know where to tune in event of nuclear attack.
Here are before and after pictures -

and after:

It took me two tries to get it which is pretty good.
By the way, this '54 Manhattan / Late Special radio will be for sale when I finish the restoration on it.

[stroker70]

Looks fantastic Fid, just what I want for mine. Can I get some tips on how to remove the radio on my Dragon? I don't see anything in the shop manual about R&R.

[Fid]

Strange as it may seem, for as many of these as I've repaired, I've never taken one out of a car! Can someone else comment on that process? Seems I've heard there are a couple of tricks to it.

[oldpm]

Fid,

Please email me at oldpm@hotmail.com regarding the radio for the 54 Manhattan.  Description, price, how you do business etc.  I'm very interested.

Thanks much,

Barry

[stroker70]

OK, got it out, got the glass out and the numbers painted. I did not pay attention to the way the black painted hold down piece goes back in behind the glass. One edge allows the night light to enter and I don't know if that goes up or down.

[Fid]

Here's a picture of one before the glass was removed:


The picture also shows how the tabs on the spring clips need to go back on. It can be a bit tricky but if you can get them in place you just need to gently push them down with a screwdriver till the other tab slips into the hole on the side.

[stroker70]

That helps a bunch
thank you