The Fisher 800b

[Tim D]

Any thoughts on cleaning the 800b face plate gently? It appears to be anodized aluminum, but not 100% on that. Knob cleaning ideas I picked up from another thread, but all ideas an thoughts to clean both are welcome.

I use windex with paper towels and cotton swabs on my aluminum faceplates. I haven't used it on faceplates with the gold lacquer yet, so test it first.

 

[Tim D]

In regards to the light bulbs I was able to find an original style replacement for my Fisher KM-60 tuner but your receiver looks like it uses bulbs with different dimensions than the part I used (longer and skinnier?). In any case here is the link for the one that worked for me. Perhaps that might spur a hunt for something that will fit yours.

6V 3W SV7 8 x 36 MM FESTOON BULB CAR NUMBER PLATE INDICATOR INTERIOR LIGHT LAMP

Check the dimensions on your bulb and the voltage that it requires. The one I used wasn't painted white to direct the light, but I'm sure that you could add that to any bulb.

BTW, the link is for an international seller and if you thought that shipping international was slow before the current disturbance - wow you should see how long it takes now! I bought some hair clippers from the big retail site and didn't know that it was coming international. It took 3 months! I did get reimbursed, but that's much too long. The big auction site will generally tell you if it is international. The big retail site generally will not tell you, but they estimate shipping time (usually) and if it goes much longer they will often refund your purchase.

 

[BostonBrian]

I use windex with paper towels and cotton swabs on my aluminum faceplates. I haven't used it on faceplates with the gold lacquer yet, so test it first.

Good idea Tim. I’ll try Windex on the rear side in a small spot an see how it works. I had read in a different thread (might have even been for different unit) 3 parts water, 1 part ammonia for the face plate, an soak knobs in dish detergent. Open to all ideas an thoughts. Faceplate will be off next few days waiting for LED bulbs to arrive.

 

[BostonBrian]

In regards to the light bulbs I was able to find an original style replacement for my Fisher KM-60 tuner but your receiver looks like it uses bulbs with different dimensions than the part I used (longer and skinnier?). In any case here is the link for the one that worked for me. Perhaps that might spur a hunt for something that will fit yours.

6V 3W SV7 8 x 36 MM FESTOON BULB CAR NUMBER PLATE INDICATOR INTERIOR LIGHT LAMP

Check the dimensions on your bulb and the voltage that it requires. The one I used wasn't painted white to direct the light, but I'm sure that you could add that to any bulb.

BTW, the link is for an international seller and if you thought that shipping international was slow before the current disturbance - wow you should see how long it takes now! I bought some hair clippers from the big retail site and didn't know that it was coming international. It took 3 months! I did get reimbursed, but that's much too long. The big auction site will generally tell you if it is international. The big retail site generally will not tell you, but they estimate shipping time (usually) and if it goes much longer they will often refund your purchase.

That link looks close to original minus white paint. Yes shipping is really all over the place at the moment Tim. Wife wanted a sewing machine last week, suppose it’s fair I got this new toy, an we went to local chain fabric store. None in stock within 60 miles. Clerk said, prepay for it now an should arrive within two weeks. We didn’t fall for it an left to check, apparently Singer is back ordered 6 + months! It’s a sellers market on sewing machines and hair clippers

 

[bhamham]

Brian, your bulbs are 5mm x 42mm, 6.3v. Others are too big around and/or too short and won't fit. Madwing had you right for a link to LEDs upstream in this thread. If you don't want LEDs but the old stock, then do a fixed search on ebay for 800b/500b dial bulbs or lamps. They're pretty rare but come up for sale time to time.

 

[BostonBrian]

Brian, your bulbs are 5mm x 42mm, 6.3v. Others are too big around and/or too short and won't fit. Madwing had you right for a link to LEDs upstream in this thread. If you don't want LEDs but the old stock, then do a fixed search on ebay for 800b/500b dial bulbs or lamps. They're pretty rare but come up for sale time to time.

Thanks Bruce, I went with the LED’s Mad suggested in another post, rather than wait for some originals to appear on the Bay. Looking forward to the arrival of speaker wires later so I can plug her in, an warm her up. It came with some spade to bare wire pieces left hanging off back, more to show their placement.
Thank you to everyone for all your comments, suggestions an help. I’m sure as I move forward there will always be more questions, but again thank you all.

 

[BostonBrian]

Thanks Bruce, I went with the LED’s Mad suggested in another post, rather than wait for some originals to appear on the Bay. Looking forward to the arrival of speaker wires later so I can plug her in, an warm her up. It came with some spade to bare wire pieces left hanging off back, more to show their placement.
Thank you to everyone for all your comments, suggestions an help. I’m sure as I move forward there will always be more questions, but again thank you all.

I wanted to update this with the solution I found due to all your help. The faceplate was easy to remove, an once I did, I found what appeared to be two small pieces of a canvas belt that I knew couldn’t be factory. I thought they were there to take up some space between the faceplate an dial glass. The original festoon bulbs were installed, but not lighting the dial. When I powered it up with the canvas removed, both bulbs lit up the dial brightly! Maybe someone was bothered at one point by the light? I’m glad they didn’t just remove the originals an chuck them. So I removed the original bulbs to save, and installed the LED’s I had ordered. I like the look of the newer ones, more white less orange, an got to save the originals for a rainy day. Strange to me that someone would cover the bulbs, an not be able to see the dial.

 

[Tim D]

Might have been used as a bedroom system or an office system where the light was bothersome.