10-01-2023, 08:00 PM
Took the first real long look at this AK 32. Its a mess. While the chassis has seen some pretty damp environments, the wooden case is in relatively good shape. Its possible the case and the chassis are from two different sets or they were stored separately for some reason.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5y2yvsufem995....jpg?raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f5yxpcvj3...ai0n&raw=1]
The thing that has me most concerned is the condition of the variable caps. One of them is almost solid with corrosion and a second one has a chunk out of it.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9u5q0c4f2...rw7u&raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzh5cqzm3...0oxs&raw=1]
This little choke that goes between the antenna and ground also seems pretty toasty.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nc5sktt4x...4mer&raw=1]
The pulley's on all the variable caps are all pot metal and as expected have warped and would need replacement. I have located some of the needed pulleys and Leigh has drawings on his site that a machine shop could use to make some. The corners of the chassis show the most corrosion and rust which might indicate mice huddled up in the corners although I did not find any nesting materials. This set was donated to our local museum and the fellow who owned it may have already cleaned that up. In any event, I've got to decide if this is going to be something to spend time making it operable or just clean it up for display. Any thoughts from you guys?
If you like to play along, here's a link to Leigh Bassett's modern drawing of the circuit. Leigh has a very nice website with lots of Atwater Kent information.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f5y2yvsufem995....jpg?raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f5yxpcvj3...ai0n&raw=1]
The thing that has me most concerned is the condition of the variable caps. One of them is almost solid with corrosion and a second one has a chunk out of it.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9u5q0c4f2...rw7u&raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzh5cqzm3...0oxs&raw=1]
This little choke that goes between the antenna and ground also seems pretty toasty.
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nc5sktt4x...4mer&raw=1]
The pulley's on all the variable caps are all pot metal and as expected have warped and would need replacement. I have located some of the needed pulleys and Leigh has drawings on his site that a machine shop could use to make some. The corners of the chassis show the most corrosion and rust which might indicate mice huddled up in the corners although I did not find any nesting materials. This set was donated to our local museum and the fellow who owned it may have already cleaned that up. In any event, I've got to decide if this is going to be something to spend time making it operable or just clean it up for display. Any thoughts from you guys?
If you like to play along, here's a link to Leigh Bassett's modern drawing of the circuit. Leigh has a very nice website with lots of Atwater Kent information.
