Globe King 500C meters

[w4fms]

I am restoring a GK 500C.  On the back of the meters of the RF and mod deck there looks to be some type of meter shield that covers the back of the meter.  These look to be almost paper thin and on mine are rusty and chipping away.  I have the "newer" style GK meters that were used on the later B and C models and have a clear square-like bezel.

I wonder if someone can confirm these are meter shields and where they made of metal of some type.  We they orignally painted black or primed?

Frank, W4FMS

[w4bfs]

hi Frank ... welcome to the forum ... I am sorry, that is a new one to me .... what were they doing?

[Jim, W5JO]

What you have there is a metal film sprayed over the plastic meter back to form a shield. 

The downside of them is when you insert or remove the light, small bits of the metal can enter the meter.  Guess where they end up lodging?  In the moving coil, so check the needle to see if it moves as it should with a battery and variable pot.  If it sticks, clean the space around the magnet.

[K8WBL]

My Globe King 500A has the same metal covering the meters and with small caps soldered to it.  Also mine has the older Bakelite meters...which I really like better ...  matches my twin Globe Queens 400B and 400C I have. (soon to have on the air)

73, Tim K8WBL
Cincinnati