A lot of old TRFs have very interesting, elaborately designed brass escutheons, attached with either brass wood screws or round-headed brass "tacks." (I put "tacks" in quotes, because the guy at my Ace Hardware, upon being shown a sample, told me emphatically that it was not a tack - it's either a nail or a pin.")

What he recommended was a small box of 1/2" brass-plated "escutheon pins," for $1.29. Duhhh.

When fastening escutcheons with these pins, it's best to force the pins into the wood with a screwdriver's handle. If you try to drive them with a hammer or mallet, it's likely that the last blow or two may damage the escutheon.

Good point. I'd say that the blunt end of a screwdriver handle is about the best you could go for. Sometimes I use a concave tipped punch, which grabs hold of the head. Still, a slip, and then you have a dent in the radio. A screwdriver handle sounds best--especially a wooden one, as this may grip the tack better than a plastic one.

T.

:Good point. I'd say that the blunt end of a screwdriver handle is about the best you could go for. Sometimes I use a concave tipped punch, which grabs hold of the head. Still, a slip, and then you have a dent in the radio. A screwdriver handle sounds best--especially a wooden one, as this may grip the tack better than a plastic one.
:
:T.I HAVE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM TO MANY TIMES,YOU CANT SEEM TO FIND A TACK SMALL ENOUGH,I JUST GET OUT THE OLD DRILL AND A DRILL AND USE A SMALL BIT AND ENLARGE THE HOLES JUST A TAD,ALSO TO CLEAN THOSE ESCUTHCHEONS,NAVY JELLY IS A GOD SEND

::Good point. I'd say that the blunt end of a screwdriver handle is about the best you could go for. Sometimes I use a concave tipped punch, which grabs hold of the head. Still, a slip, and then you have a dent in the radio. A screwdriver handle sounds best--especially a wooden one, as this may grip the tack better than a plastic one.
::
::T.I HAVE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM TO MANY TIMES,YOU CANT SEEM TO FIND A TACK SMALL ENOUGH,I JUST GET OUT THE OLD DRILL AND A DRILL AND USE A SMALL BIT AND ENLARGE THE HOLES JUST A TAD,ALSO TO CLEAN THOSE ESCUTHCHEONS,NAVY JELLY IS A GOD SEND I just did this job on my Zenith 5S56. I used the 1/2" brass nails from Ace Hardware. I started them with thumb pressure and a piece of soft plastic and then drove them in with a nail set just as Thomas recommended. Looks just like the original.

Doug,
I have used the "nail set technique" as Will mentioned many times, and it works great. Once the pin is securely started into the wood, use a hardwood dowel of appropriate size and a small hammer to completely set it without damage to the escutchen. The nail sets can be purshased in many different sizes at most hardware stores.
marv

:A lot of old TRFs have very interesting, elaborately designed brass escutheons, attached with either brass wood screws or round-headed brass "tacks." (I put "tacks" in quotes, because the guy at my Ace Hardware, upon being shown a sample, told me emphatically that it was not a tack - it's either a nail or a pin.")
:
:What he recommended was a small box of 1/2" brass-plated "escutheon pins," for $1.29. Duhhh.
:
:When fastening escutcheons with these pins, it's best to force the pins into the wood with a screwdriver's handle. If you try to drive them with a hammer or mallet, it's likely that the last blow or two may damage the escutheon.