Pilot Console

[jonboy55]

Just picked up a Pilot console with a 590 tuner/preamp, 232 amplifier, and Garrard RC88.

Mostly European tubes.

All complete. Original owner.

It was in a 3 story walk up house. Weighs a ton.

 

[Dswankey]

Congrats!!!!!, it's a beauty. Long Island City's finest. One day I hope to find a Pilot in the wild.

 

[radioactive]

Just picked up a Pilot console with a 590 tuner/preamp, 232 amplifier, and Garrard RC88.

Mostly European tubes.

All complete. Original owner.

It was in a 3 story walk up house. Weighs a ton.

.don't think I've ever seen that pilot speaker control switch before.nice grab in the console.

 

[mibag6]

Very nice.
Do you know if it works yet?
Did you happen to get the external speakers too?

 

[macgolf]

Welcome to the Pilot console club! That is a beauty! Congrats and let us know on your progress in restoring it.

Mark

 

[gadget73]

Nice. I have a 590 that I pair with an SA-260.

 

[jonboy55]

Very nice.
Do you know if it works yet?
Did you happen to get the external speakers too?

I don't know if it works.

No external speakers were present.

It's still in the car. Have to wait until tomorrow until someone comes by and helps me move it.

Sorry for the poor photos. I took the photos while it was still in the former owners place.

 

[jonboy55]

The 232 amplifier is working. I slowly powered it up with a variac and and had it operating for about an hour. The top filter can runs just slightly warm (not unusual) and I'll be replacing the necessary coupling caps and electrolytics.

The console has 2 x 12" woofers, 2 x 6" mid-range, and 1 x 3.5" tweeter speakers.

I have a question on the 590 tuner/preamp. The front panel is dirty and I've usually stayed away from cleaning metal front panels for fear of making things worse or accidentally removing type face. The front panel is gold colored on both the front and back. At the bottom of the front panel some of the gold is missing (rust?) and I know there is no way to fix that (?).

Any suggestions on cleaning the front would be appreciated.

Attached are some photographs of the front panel.

Thank you.

 

[gadget73]

Its a tinted lacquer on steel I think. Metal polish will make it go away but you should be able to put it in the sink and use dish soap and warm water. Just don't scrub at it. Mine is in pretty similar shape.

 

[mibag6]

Put a small magnet to the faceplate and see is it sticks. It maybe solid brass but I haven't seen one for a while as mine went to gadget a couple of years back.
As I recall it is brass and you may be able to carefully polish the spots with a fine polish like MAAS and a Q-tip.
I believe the faceplate is attached to the metal trim ring with tiny sheet metal screws and the trim can be removed to facilitate cleaning.
If it is plated steel, I wouldn't bother trying to get the rust off.

 

[jonboy55]

A magnet will NOT stick to the faceplate but a magnet DOES stick to the surrounding trim (used in console models).

 

[mibag6]

The bezel around the faceplate is attached to the faceplate with several small sheetmetal screws. That can be removed fairly easily to polish the edges of the faceplate, if you are so inclined. I would stay away from any lettering.

 

[Hull Rust]

The gold finish on the bezel will come off easily if polished too aggressively.

Yeah, I'm that idiot.

 

[jonboy55]

The gold finish on the bezel will come off easily if polished too aggressively.

Yeah, I'm that idiot.

You are not the only one to "over polish". I'm also guilty of that - as are many many others!

Thank you for your advice.

 

[gadget73]

I've purposely polished off gold finish that had leprosy before. The shiny silver look is better than splotchy gold IMO. The cover on my FA-590 and the one on my Stromberg 433 are no longer gold. I'm sure it could be re-sprayed but it has to come off first.

The 590 faceplate might be brass, I'd have to look at the back side of mine, I really don't remember for sure. The lettering is not engraved, and it has some sort of finish that will come off if you mess with it too much. I'd really avoid any kind of polish on that. Warm soapy water won't hurt it though.

The knobs are some sort of silvery metal with tinted finish. Zinc I think. No polish unless you want to strip and refinish them

 

[WhiteSE]

That is Nice!!!! I neever had Pilot gear in a console...

 

[Hull Rust]

Pilots models have both metal and plastic knobs.

No idea why. The 1060A I have is metal, but a 402 and 602 I’ve had have been plastic.

I’ve rattle canned both kinds so they have the same look as the faceplate.

 

[Audioracer51]

Hello guys! I inherited a Pilot 3402 console. Absolutely beautiful piece of furniture. My grandparents bought it new. Unfortunately the 402 got pitched. I have a Scott LK -72 in there now. The rest is original in touched.

 

[Dswankey]

Hello guys! I inherited a Pilot 3402 console.... Unfortunately the 402 got pitched.... Any one have a 402 for sale ???

Nice console & welcome to AK. If you plan on staying around for awhile I would suggest on brushing up on the forum rules, in your case inquiring about purchasing

https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/audiokarma-rules.301366/

"All ads or offers to sell, buy or trade anything must be in Barter Town."