Hi,
I'm the guy who made the masks for these sets. I have some questions about the knobs for these sets since I'm not a T.V. collector.

Are the knobs the same for these two models?

I've just finished making molds for the three types of knobs used on these sets. The examples I have are a sort of mahogany color. Did some of these Motorolas use a different color?

Answers to the above questions would be great, but what I really want to know is what percentage of these sets have missing knobs. I'm trying to determine how many of each type of knob I should knock out, and whether it's worth messing with at all. I've had a few requests for these knobs, but that could be all I'll get.

Any help here would be appreciated.

I would think you would sell more than a few as this is a very popular tv. Many have been purchased with missing knobs. I currently need two for a VT-73 that I have.
Keep us posted I will buy some!
Mike

I say "go for it!" Your stuff is very good and you're a pleasure to deal with!
--Dave Sica

Knobs for the GE Locomotives would also be a good seller. Right now i know personally of at least a dozen collectors who need knobs for these including me.

As far as the Motorola knobs, there were two colors. Mahogony was the most popular color but they also had Blonde colored ones for the blonde cabinets and portable cabinets. They were all the same as far as style except for the early VT71's. The early ones only used three knobs since there was no fine tuning adjustment on the front. I know i will be interested in purchasing a set if you decide to make them Blacksmith. I've heard nothing but good things about your products.
-Tony

Knobs for the GE Locomotives would also be a good seller. Right now i know personally of at least a dozen collectors who need knobs for these including me.

As far as the Motorola knobs, there were two colors. Mahogony was the most popular color but they also had Blonde colored ones for the blonde cabinets and portable cabinets. They were all the same as far as style except for the early VT71's. The early ones only used three knobs since there was no fine tuning adjustment on the front. I know i will be interested in purchasing a set if you decide to make them Blacksmith. I've heard nothing but good things about your products.
-Tony

Were the three knobs on the early 71's all the same?

I might be able to make the Locomotive knobs if I had originals in good shape. Know anyone who has some?

The channel knobs on the early vs. late VT-71s are different. The early has the outer ring with 6 positions (chs 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12) and a small center knob for tuning between the upper & lower channels at each click, whereas the late VT-71 has ch. 2-13 clicked on the outer ring, and no fine tuning knob. Other later versions (incl VT-73?) also had dull gold plastic knobs, with the return of the fine-tuning knob. The last Motorola electrostatic sets with the TS-18 chassis had a totally different style of knobs, with large, clear plastic channel ring and orange knobs with brushed brass inserts.

Charles

I've seen the knob configuration both ways on early and later sets and theres been several discussions reguarding this on here and on ARF about that with no true answer to why. I apologize for the confusion. I'll post some pictures so Blacksmith can see the different types we're talking about. I'll start this post with the burgandy set with fine tuning knob.

Heres the burgandy set without the fine tuning knob

Heres the dull gold set that Charles mentioned. Note that the fine tuning knob is missing in this one but is a miniture version of the outer knob just like with the burgandy ones.

Heres the ivory or blond colored ones that are used on alot of the portables and the few blond wood cabinet models.

And last is the last type knobs that Charles mentioned with the clear selector and orange knobs with gold brights with motorola insignia in the center. Note on this photo that the fine tune knob is missing but looks like the two outer knobs and it fits inside the channel selector knob instead of on top like the older versions. This particular set belongs to a forum member on here who restored it to this condition after the case was badly damaged. A different but neat look isnt it?

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo's as they were retrieved off the net over the years by me to use as reference in restoring my motorola's. If any of these pictures belong to anyone here, i will give credit to those particular pictures. I hope this helps explain the differences.
-Tony

Heres pictures of the gold and burgandy channel selector knobs that use fine tuning.
-Tony

Heres pictures of the gold and burgandy channel selector knobs that use fine tuning.
-Tony

Wow, Tony. Thanks for all the pictures. I didn't realize there were so many variations. Right now, I'm ready to start making the burgundy ones with the small fine-tuning knob in the center of the other knob. Other variations will have to wait until someone sends me an example I can use for color reference and as a model if the size or shape is different.

Is the gold colored knob at the end of your posts the same burgundy knob but with gold paint in the center? Looks like it.

The burgandy and blond colored ones with fine tuning knobs are identical except for the color, so all you need is a color match for the blonds. On the sets without the fine tuning knob, the outside part is the same as the outer knobs on the ones with. Someone might pitch in and mention if the channel selector knob on the ones without fine tuning has the same style shaft as the outer two on the set. The main thing is you have the set with the fine tuning knob which is the most popular out of all of them. If you get a color match for the blond ones then you'll have what you need for 75% of the ones that need knobs. The burgandy and blond ones are identical except for color.

The gold knob is gold all the way around not just the center. The originals were gold reversed painted which means the knob was clear and the gold was painted on the back side of the knob to make it appear as it was solid gold. Obviously these didnt have finger wear problems because of this process. I have seen early replacements where the metallic gold was embedded in the plastic mixture during casting. These were less shiny than the originals but matched ok. I believe you can use the same molds to make these also as they are only slightly different appearance wise (mainly the channel selector knob) if you can figure how to do the gold for them. I wish i had some i could send you so you could figure whats needed to be done with a known example. I've seen these in person but dont have any to pass along or you would be welcome to them. All i have is one set of burgandy knobs with the fine tuning knob which you already have. Maybe someone will volunteer a blonde knob and a gold channel selector knob. You might run this by the tv guys on ARF also like you did when you started reproducing the masks and see if anyone has a couple you can borrow. I may have one blond knob for these i could send you but will have to dig in my box of knobs to find it. It will at least give you a color match. Just let me know and i'll look for it.

I will be buying at least two masks from you shortly and if you make a run of knobs i will be buying those too. Of course if you locate and are able to duplicate the GE locomotive knobs that will be a sure thing also. You have done such a quality job with your reproductions not only for the tv guys but also for the radio guys and we appreciate your efforts.
-Tony

The burgandy and blond colored ones with fine tuning knobs are identical except for the color, so all you need is a color match for the blonds. On the sets without the fine tuning knob, the outside part is the same as the outer knobs on the ones with. Someone might pitch in and mention if the channel selector knob on the ones without fine tuning has the same style shaft as the outer two on the set. The main thing is you have the set with the fine tuning knob which is the most popular out of all of them. If you get a color match for the blond ones then you'll have what you need for 75% of the ones that need knobs. The burgandy and blond ones are identical except for color."

OK, it looks like I have what I need except that I have some burgundy knobs where there are 3 lengths of shafts on the knobs that reach back into the cabinet. One is flush, one is about 1/8 inch extended, and another is about 1/4 inch extended. I was going to make the ones that are flush since they are easier to make, but maybe some sets have the control shafts recessed where the knob needs to reach in to engage it. Any thoughts on this?

"The gold knob is gold all the way around not just the center. The originals were gold reversed painted which means the knob was clear and the gold was painted on the back side of the knob to make it appear as it was solid gold. Obviously these didnt have finger wear problems because of this process. I have seen early replacements where the metallic gold was embedded in the plastic mixture during casting. These were less shiny than the originals but matched ok. I believe you can use the same molds to make these also as they are only slightly different appearance wise (mainly the channel selector knob) if you can figure how to do the gold for them. I wish i had some i could send you so you could figure whats needed to be done with a known example. I've seen these in person but dont have any to pass along or you would be welcome to them. All i have is one set of burgandy knobs with the fine tuning knob which you already have. "

I think I'll wait on the clear knobs. Too many projects right now to experiment with them.

"Maybe someone will volunteer a blonde knob and a gold channel selector knob. You might run this by the tv guys on ARF also like you did when you started reproducing the masks and see if anyone has a couple you can borrow. I may have one blond knob for these i could send you but will have to dig in my box of knobs to find it. It will at least give you a color match. Just let me know and i'll look for it."

Hah! ARF is paranoid about advertising on the forums. I can't even mention making knobs in conversation without my posts being deleted or locked. I'd appreciate a blonde knob if you can find one. Mold making from an original is non-destructive.


"I will be buying at least two masks from you shortly and if you make a run of knobs i will be buying those too. Of course if you locate and are able to duplicate the GE locomotive knobs that will be a sure thing also. You have done such a quality job with your reproductions not only for the tv guys but also for the radio guys and we appreciate your efforts.
-Tony

Thanks, Tony, for the compliment. I appreciate it. Unfortunately I'm down to my last couple of masks. I wore out the mold making them and since demand has dropped to zero lately, I don't know when I'll bite the bullet and try to make another mold. I'll have to wait to see if I get enough requests to offset the time and expense to do it again.

I wore out the mold
Probably a dumb question, but couldn't you make a new mold from one of the remaining masks?

Phil

Probably a dumb question, but couldn't you make a new mold from one of the remaining masks?

Phil

Yes, I can. I have a plastic model of the part too, but I'm talking about the time it takes to set up the new mold so it works right. It takes several hours of fiddling with the model to get it balanced and propped up in place, and takes about 3 days for the parts of the mold to cure. Then, an hour or more to make each mask, one at a time. And, several hundred dollars worth of material to make the mold and parts.

I can do it, but I have a lot of other projects in the works right now and my wife is bugging me to tear out the walls in the family room and do a total make-over. Then, remove wallpaper, paint the walls, and replace doors and wood trim in 2 bedrooms.

I can start a list of people who want masks, then when I get enough demand I'll know it's time to make them again. I just don't want to go through the effort and only sell 2 in the next year.

Making a list is a good idea. These sets are so plentiful that new examples seem to be trickling out of the attics at a pretty constant rate. I suspect there will be a continuing market for the masks.

Phil

I would definitely be interested in a set of burgundy knobs for my Motorola 9VT1 8" electrostatic set.