Hi all,

I recently purchased a 1948 Admiral console TV, model no. 30A14S. The finish is beyond saving and it needs some veneer work so it will have to be stripped and re-finished. That's not a problem since I have been doing re-finish work for many years. Anyway, here are some questions I hope someone can help me with.

1) Does anyone make a decal set for this Admiral TV?
2) The set is missing an inner knob, where can I find a replacement?
3) The back is missing and I would like to make a replacement but need to know what the original looks like. Anyone have a picture?

Thanks for any help from you experts, Don

Hi,

I have several late 40s Admirals including a 30A12 and 30A16 and have been slowly restoring them.

Here are the different finished they used. The 30A12 uses gold decals so I bet the 30A14 does too. The 30A16 uses dark brown decals.

30A12 - Walnut
30A13 - Mahogany
30A14 - Walnut
30A15 - Mahogany
30A16 - Blond

No one makes a decal set as far as I know. Follow this link to see a bunch of photos of a set with intact decals: http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=248025

You could try this place to have a custom set made: http://www.solidesign.bizland.com/

I believe I have a spare inner knob. I'll shoot you a PM.

The back is masonite and looks like this. I can take some measurements and better photos if you'd like.

I'm resurrecting this thread to ask whether anyone has made decals for this TV. I'm refinishing a 24C15 console whose decals look identical (in gold).

If someone has already done the artwork, I'd be happy to pay you for copies of those files.

My cabinet was so rough that it required stripping, but I preserved the area around the decals and may try blending the new finish in that area. The tricky bit would be matching the new color to the old, of course. If all else fails, I can restrip the front panel and have decals made from my photos of the existing ones.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Not that I know of, but I need a few sets too and would be happy to share the costs of getting them made.

The original decals on my 30A16 are in very good condition and might make a good start for the artwork.

I know how to do the artwork, but I hate doing that kind of thing and an experienced person could do it 50 times faster.

Perhaps some helpful forum member is a whiz with Photoshop or Corel Draw and could turn hi-res close-ups of the decals into cleaned-up two-color images for the decal maker . . . ?

An alternative would be to ship photos to the decal guy and let him do the artwork, but that costs more. For the photos you want a close-up of each decal with a ruler next to it.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Phil, I've been a Photoshop nerd for years. I'd be glad to do the artwork just for fun. Those look like one color decals? Both of you guys have been very helpful to me. Consider it a payback.
Ben

That's very generous. You're right, one-color is correct.

Brian's decals are in better shape than mine. His decals also include channel numbers, whereas my set has the numbers on a plastic backplate rather than the cabinet.

By coincidence, today I decided to take a shot at refinishing that panel and preserving the decals.

The old lacquer was really beat up, with many spots where it was worn or scraped or chipped off. I used solvents to remove most of the old lacquer surrounding the decals. Then I tinted some brushing lacquer, applied it to the newly-bared areas, and let it dry. Then I reflowed the entire panel, including the decals, with a brew of brushing lacquer, thinner, retarder, and a little color. Much to my amazement, it turned out pretty well.

This is the first time I've succeeded in reflowing without creating a hopeless mess. The decals don't look perfect -- they were worn to begin with -- but at least, I know it can be done.

I'll be happy to send you photos of my decals if you send a PM with your email address. They were all kinda dark and grungy, however, as if someone had slopped stain over that panel in the past. Brian, if you can supply a photo of your decals, that might be easier to work with.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

PM's with email sent to both of you.

Sent email with (grungy) decal pics.

Thanks!

Phil Nelson

Sure, I'll send some photos of my decals too. Note that although mine are dark brown on this blonde cabinet, I need a couple sets in gold for my other sets including the channel #s.
I've had good luck creating decals using water slide decals paper, but don't have the ability to print metallic inks.

Thanks!

P.S It's Bob not Brian

Bob - I can't detect any sign of clear decal film in your 30A16 picture. Is it there and just not visible in the photo, or were the originals possibly dry transfers or maybe even silk screened directly onto the cabinet? Just being curious.

The guy at solidesign can print metallic gold. Gets the ink from Germany. He prints as many sets as will fit on an 8.5x11 sheet, so the price per set is reasonable.

Sorry about the name. Some days it's an achievement to remember my own name

Phil Nelson

I'm not sure what technique was used originally but I can say that they're buried under the final layers of clear finish.



That's great! I'm also interested in some for the 19A15 7" wooden Admiral. The logo is about 20% smaller than the bigger console sets. Someone stripped mine and coated it in poly

I'm glad your reflowing was successful. That's something I really want to try someday.

Got Phil's photos--pretty dark but they'll work. Looks like Brian Bob Banderson's might be better With both of them I should be able to get it working.
I'll be checking my inbox today.

I took some close up photos this evening and sent you en email.

Do you think you can work with these ? Please let me know if you need better lighting, sharper focus, etc.

Thanks!

http://www.bobandersen.com/images/decal ... a1_decals/

SoliDesign is good. They did a decal sheet in "Aztec Gold" for a DuMont RA-105B I did way back in 2008. He covered the sheet with eight sets of labels.

The sheet is solid clear, with the lettering in the color selected. You have to trim them close with a razor blade. I clip the corners of the trimmed decals with a new nail clipper so they don't catch on a finger, and bury them in clear finish.

I believe he'll do them in any color you choose, within the color matrix he offers.

Those look great Bob. Best case scenario is if I can find that typeface for the dial text. If not it's pretty simple stuff--just nit picky. I have a few days off coming up to get it done.

Made a little progress on the decal graphics this morning. My last days off were spent replacing the timing belt on my car before the rain hit. Tomorrow morning I'll hit it again.

Solidesign is a nice find! Unless you guys have any caveats, I'll add them to the supplier list in the Tubes and Parts forum.

Yes, I was satisfied with the decals that he made for me.

Phil Nelson