I just aquired this old radio chassis off of ebay.It was an unknown model.When I unpacked it (same feeling as when your a kid unwrapping Christmas present!!)I noticed the mounting stands that hold up the huge ,almost 15 inch long 4 section tuning capacitor were broken ,but I figured that anyways because in the photos on ebay the tuning capacitor was tilted at an angle.Anyways I had heard about pot metal and this is what the stands appeared to be made of as well as a long rheostat shaft that had sheared in half.On the stand was marked FADA. COOL!! my first Fada radio.Also below that was M.No D5, so I assume that is model number....but there is no D5 in the schematics but it is similiar to a couple other models.It has 3 24's 2 171A'S and 2 27's and separate power supply.The rf cans are beehive shaped (domed) really neat and there are posts instead of holes on top of the chassis for the grid wires of the 24 A tubes.The wires are missing.Has anyone seen this before and were there some kind of connectors that attach to the posts? There are 3 soup can shaped interstage transformer cans but one is missing and I think it is the output transformer.I think I will use 45's instead of 71A's since I have to use separate power supply and new output transformer anyways, so may as well. There is a burnt electronic smell under the interstage transformers so they probably need replaced and the 80 year old rubber insulation is brittle and flaking off.Lot's of fun!!I will have to fashion new tuning cap supports maybe out of hardwood or plate steel??Has anyone done this.I don't think I want to epoxy the old pieces together,not sure if that will work,maybe for the rheostat shaft .It would also be nice to make an imitation potted transformer can to replace missing one maybe out of sheet metal ? Has anyone here ever had to take the rf transformers out of a radio and peel off the old wire and rewind ,varnish etc.? Hopefully they are okay and I won't have to do that!

Chris,
This time of year you can find all manners of empty metal cans, round, ovate, boxes, tubes, cannisters, primarily aimed at Christmas giving. I've even found rusty metal tin panels in craft shops. Some more expensive containers come filled with goodies, with embossed logos. How 'bout a transformer can with "Trader Joes" embossed into the metal lol. Use your imagination to recreate the original enclosures. You'll need a sharp pair of trusty scissors, a straight edge, clamps/wood blocks for bending, and a 40-50 watt soldering iron/solder to put it all back together. I've done it numerous times, after some techie of yesteryear made his mark by removing or modifying chassis items on an old relic.

marv

:I just aquired this old radio chassis off of ebay.It was an unknown model.When I unpacked it (same feeling as when your a kid unwrapping Christmas present!!)I noticed the mounting stands that hold up the huge ,almost 15 inch long 4 section tuning capacitor were broken ,but I figured that anyways because in the photos on ebay the tuning capacitor was tilted at an angle.Anyways I had heard about pot metal and this is what the stands appeared to be made of as well as a long rheostat shaft that had sheared in half.On the stand was marked FADA. COOL!! my first Fada radio.Also below that was M.No D5, so I assume that is model number....but there is no D5 in the schematics but it is similiar to a couple other models.It has 3 24's 2 171A'S and 2 27's and separate power supply.The rf cans are beehive shaped (domed) really neat and there are posts instead of holes on top of the chassis for the grid wires of the 24 A tubes.The wires are missing.Has anyone seen this before and were there some kind of connectors that attach to the posts? There are 3 soup can shaped interstage transformer cans but one is missing and I think it is the output transformer.I think I will use 45's instead of 71A's since I have to use separate power supply and new output transformer anyways, so may as well. There is a burnt electronic smell under the interstage transformers so they probably need replaced and the 80 year old rubber insulation is brittle and flaking off.Lot's of fun!!I will have to fashion new tuning cap supports maybe out of hardwood or plate steel??Has anyone done this.I don't think I want to epoxy the old pieces together,not sure if that will work,maybe for the rheostat shaft .It would also be nice to make an imitation potted transformer can to replace missing one maybe out of sheet metal ? Has anyone here ever had to take the rf transformers out of a radio and peel off the old wire and rewind ,varnish etc.? Hopefully they are okay and I won't have to do that!
:

You can figure out whether the interstage transformers are bad by testing them with your ohmmeter. A burned smell might just be the chemicals and tar used to make them. Consider sleeving the wires with cloth spaghetti (available at www.tubesandmore.com) before you attempt to pull the transformers apart.

JB Weld is the same color as pot metal, so if you can put everything back together, that'd be an ideal fastener. It can be filed to shape.

T.

:You can figure out whether the interstage transformers are bad by testing them with your ohmmeter. A burned smell might just be the chemicals and tar used to make them. Consider sleeving the wires with cloth spaghetti (available at www.tubesandmore.com) before you attempt to pull the transformers apart.
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:JB Weld is the same color as pot metal, so if you can put everything back together, that'd be an ideal fastener. It can be filed to shape.
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:Thankyou Marv and Thomas for your info,I'll give these ideas a try.Maybe the JB weld will work fine for the pot metal!
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:T.
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