Amplion Junior AR39 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

garyozradio · 30th Jun 2022, 2:50 am

I acquired this Amplion Junior AR39 at our radio club Auction. The horn is immaculate and is possibly a reproduction.
Does anyone know what the finish on the horn should be? I think it should be a black wrinkle finish, not gloss black.
Perhaps I should leave it as is?
Thanks,
Gary

PJC58-Hythe · 30th Jun 2022, 4:46 pm

Page 19 of this link https://worldradiohistory.com/Archiv...0s/1998-08.pdf suggests you might be right.

Mr Moose · 30th Jun 2022, 7:25 pm

Hello,
I don't have that model of Amplion speaker but I do have several other models and they all have a wrinkle finish, although it is quite a wide random wrinkle.
I have attached a close up picture of the wrinkle below.
There is a picture from the internet here http://www.gifarmer.com/radio/speake...r39_1_550h.gif
Yours, Richard

Radio Wrangler · 30th Jun 2022, 8:13 pm

That's an unusual wrinkle, it's more flat with random ridges... more like a fake leather in reverse.

The more usual (nowadays) is a less flat, sinusoidal sort of ripple. This is the sort of paint you'd get steered to by, say, the MG car club people who often need it for their dashboards. Often referred to as Black Crackle paint.

It may all depend on thinning and depth of application, of course.

David

Gridiron · 30th Jun 2022, 9:50 pm

The finish was known as a crystalline finish and was widely used in the 20s and early 30s, I heard that it was banned after this because of the toxic nature of the chemicals used, don't know what they were. I know one collector of sets of the period tried to find out if the finish could be reproduced without success.
Mike.

garyozradio · 3rd Jul 2022, 1:06 am

Thanks for your input Gents.
I'll paint it with MG Dash wrinkle finish which is available in a spray can

30th Jun 2022, 2:50 am	#1
garyozradio Diode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Woodvale, Perth, Western Australia Posts: 5	Amplion Junior AR39 I acquired this Amplion Junior AR39 at our radio club Auction. The horn is immaculate and is possibly a reproduction. Does anyone know what the finish on the horn should be? I think it should be a black wrinkle finish, not gloss black. Perhaps I should leave it as is? Thanks, Gary Attached Thumbnails

30th Jun 2022, 4:46 pm	#2
PJC58-Hythe Heptode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 630	Re: Amplion Junior AR39 Page 19 of this link https://worldradiohistory.com/Archiv...0s/1998-08.pdf suggests you might be right. __________________ Peter - M0HYT - BVWS Member - GQRP Club http://www.retroworkshop.co.uk

30th Jun 2022, 7:25 pm	#3
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: Amplion Junior AR39 Hello, I don't have that model of Amplion speaker but I do have several other models and they all have a wrinkle finish, although it is quite a wide random wrinkle. I have attached a close up picture of the wrinkle below. There is a picture from the internet here http://www.gifarmer.com/radio/speake...r39_1_550h.gif Yours, Richard Attached Thumbnails

30th Jun 2022, 8:13 pm	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Amplion Junior AR39 That's an unusual wrinkle, it's more flat with random ridges... more like a fake leather in reverse. The more usual (nowadays) is a less flat, sinusoidal sort of ripple. This is the sort of paint you'd get steered to by, say, the MG car club people who often need it for their dashboards. Often referred to as Black Crackle paint. It may all depend on thinning and depth of application, of course. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

30th Jun 2022, 9:50 pm	#5
Gridiron Heptode Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 662	Re: Amplion Junior AR39 The finish was known as a crystalline finish and was widely used in the 20s and early 30s, I heard that it was banned after this because of the toxic nature of the chemicals used, don't know what they were. I know one collector of sets of the period tried to find out if the finish could be reproduced without success. Mike.

3rd Jul 2022, 1:06 am	#6
garyozradio Diode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Woodvale, Perth, Western Australia Posts: 5	Re: Amplion Junior AR39 Thanks for your input Gents. I'll paint it with MG Dash wrinkle finish which is available in a spray can