I am trying to accurately restore several AK battery radios (models 20, 30, 33, etc)

(1) What finish was on the front panel - smooth or fine wrinkle? Is there a source for an accurate color match?

(2) Did battery cable have any pins or lugs on end which connected to battery? All the sets I have have frayed wire ends.

(3) What is the best way, after cleaning, to bring back a good appearance to boxes? I've heard rubbing with 0000 steel wood followed by wax; spraying clear lacquer, etc.

(4) What is proper way of aligning "ganged" tuning capacitors (ie reinstalling bands on pulleys)?

(5) Is there a source for (reproduction) tags on bottom of radios?

(6) What is best way to clean brass emblems and brass rosettes on the corners of the front panel?

(7) What is best way to clean metal plates which identify antenna, speaker connections, etc?

Thank you very much in advance!

Hi Michael

The front panels of the battery sets are a fine wrinkle. You will need to mix your own paint, like for AK40's. Use flat, dark brown with lamp black and some water. If careful you should be able to match the paint so closely that even touching up the original doesn't show a difference. Cover the entire front panel with paint and spray lightly with crystal clear krylon.

All the battery cables I have seen are just wire ends.

I use paint remover to take off the finish from these cabinets. AK cabinets are solid wood, no veneer and refinsh nicely. Refinished they can be made to look original.

Backing off on screws holding the pulley on the variable will allow you to align the caps. If the bands are already off most likely the radio has pot metal pulleys and will need to be replaced with brass. AES sell the bands and pulleys.

There are three screws holding each variable cap. All except one cap are mounted with slotted holes in the panel. Once these screws are lose you can slide the variable to install the bands.

Use a tooth brush to clean any of the gold plated emblems. Be careful as you don't want to rub through the gold. I used to think these were just brass until Don Black in Australia mentioned they are gold plated.

A tooth brush can also clean the antenna and speaker plates or lightly rubbing with steel wool does a good job.

Let me know if you find reproduction tags, especially for the AK40 series tube locations.

Norm

: I am trying to accurately restore several AK battery radios (models 20, 30, 33, etc)

: (1) What finish was on the front panel - smooth or fine wrinkle? Is there a source for an accurate color match?

: (2) Did battery cable have any pins or lugs on end which connected to battery? All the sets I have have frayed wire ends.

: (3) What is the best way, after cleaning, to bring back a good appearance to boxes? I've heard rubbing with 0000 steel wood followed by wax; spraying clear lacquer, etc.

: (4) What is proper way of aligning "ganged" tuning capacitors (ie reinstalling bands on pulleys)?

: (5) Is there a source for (reproduction) tags on bottom of radios?

: (6) What is best way to clean brass emblems and brass rosettes on the corners of the front panel?

: (7) What is best way to clean metal plates which identify antenna, speaker connections, etc?

: Thank you very much in advance!

Hello,
I am in the process of restoring an Atwater Kent Model 20 radio. 
Since this is my first such project, I need all the help I can get. 
I am particularly interested in finding out what others recommend about
how to:

(1) restore the front metal panel;
(2) restore the wooden case
(3) dis-assemble the radio for cleaning and restoration
(4) testing components
(5) obtaining a power supply for the radio
(6) obtaining schematics and operating instructions for the radio
(7) understanding how to repair and hook up the battery cable (or replace
it)

Is there any source of this kind of information, or can you point me
to someone who has done this type of project and could assist me? is there a restoration guide for these type of radios?

thank you very much for any help you can provide

Alan Minsk

aminsk@corp.phone.com