Bhigdog Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 (edited) This may help some in their restoration efforts. A few may know I have a fetish for old art deco battery chargers. I recently picked up an old (70's) charger made by Allen. I did get all the electricals sorted out and fully functioning but I was really stumped about how to restore the control panel graphics. There is a shop near me that has a sign reading "Vinyl Creations"....... What the Hell is that? I took the rusty beat up panel in, explained my problem, and showed them the panel. He said "No problem, 20 bucks." He ran a copy of the panel, a couple of days later he Emailed a proof of the proposed vinyl over lay for approval. Below is the before and after. They even applied the vinyl after I cleaned, smoothed and primed the panel. They also covered the upper panel in matching white, no graphics needed, for $6....Bob Edited June 3 by Bhigdog (see edit history) 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparksNArcs Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 Did you opt for some modifications to the original graphics? I see the new and old aren't exactly the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 (edited) I did.... I'm kind of an originality stickler when it comes to my cars.........But a battery charger?...... The timer was missing, replaced by an on/off switch. New timers, made for chargers, are available but as 120 minute rather than the original 60 Minute. The timer dial graphics came with the new timer as a stick on. The girls at the vinyl shop could have simply retimed the graphics, as original, to show 120 minutes but i liked the stick on so they copied that. I also changed some colors and removed the makers logo from the stick on. I got the tour and was blown away by the process. It's all done on a computer screen. Color, font, shading, anything you want is just a click away. The printer is about 6 feet wide and can print pretty much any color on the Pantone pallet. I marked up two proofs before I approved the final layout. I'm still awed by the technology. .............Bob Edited June 3 by Bhigdog (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
37_Roadmaster_C Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 They may not be exactly the same, but they look outstanding and they sent a proof to approve. If it was not acceptable Bob could have had them edit and send another proof. The great thing about this method is that it is just a specialized color printer with the proper inks. The work is in the design on the computer. If you do not like something it is as simple as editing a drawing. In any case. $26 for the materials and the time is a great value. Looks GREAT!! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike "Hubbie" Stearns Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 You’ll want to clear over the vinyl. Originally it would have been screen printed. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 2 hours ago, Mike "Hubbie" Stearns said: You’ll want to clear over the vinyl. Originally it would have been screen printed. Mike Be careful. Some paint solvents will interact with the vinyl film Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 9 hours ago, Bhigdog said: I got the tour and was blown away by the process. It's all done on a computer screen. Color, font, shading, anything you want is just a click away. The printer is about 6 feet wide and can print pretty much any color. With a car, it can be painted with ABB's new 'PixelPaint' process: PixelPaint | ABB Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 3 hours ago, Mike "Hubbie" Stearns said: You’ll want to clear over the vinyl. Originally it would have been screen printed. Mike The print is a two step process. First the graphics then an over lay of clear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 31 minutes ago, bryankazmer said: Be careful. Some paint solvents will interact with the vinyl film I'm guessing that's correct. Of course some solvents damage any type paint or coating..........Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 I had a set of license plates done in a similar process. Couldn't tell them from original from two feet. 37 is right, it's all in the computer prep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparksNArcs Posted June 3 Share Posted June 3 That's a hell of a deal then! I work with a screen printing company often and the cost of silkscreening one-off designs is much more expensive if you don't have large quantities. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 13 Author Share Posted June 13 I finished with the Allen charger. Electricly it's 100%. Cosmetics and graphics came out very nice. Here,s few pix of the before and after. Have no idea what I'll do with it. I have vintage chargers coming out of my ears. I need an intervention ...........Bob 16 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 Love it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdillinger Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 I did a similar thing to save my original number plate on my Packard 120. All the graphics had been lost so I found a high quality scan of the one I needed then had it printed full size on adhesive vinyl. A little judicious work with an Xacto and all was well. Your battery charger looks great! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 2 hours ago, Bhigdog said: I finished with the Allen charger. I have vintage chargers coming out of my ears. I need an intervention ...........Bob No. You need more vintage battery chargers! Hair of the dog and all... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 2 hours ago, Bhigdog said: I finished with the Allen charger. Electricly it's 100%. Cosmetics and graphics came out very nice. Here,s few pix of the before and after. Have no idea what I'll do with it. I have vintage chargers coming out of my ears. I need an intervention ...........Bob I'm in Wisconsin and wish you were closer as I would buy it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 13 Author Share Posted June 13 (edited) Yeah i,ve gotta make room. This is getting silly. Edited June 13 by Bhigdog (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Matthews Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 Bhigdog, Wow, it looks really great. You do not work. Thank you for posting a before and after pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl456 Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 You can teach a Bhigdog new tricks. Looks great Bob. Best to you. Dennis 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted June 27 Author Share Posted June 27 After I thought I was finished I realized that there is supposed to be an instruction plate on the lid. I had no original so I made up my own instruction sheet and went back to the vinyl guy. I picked it up today and showed the guy a pix of the finished charger. He asked if I wanted to sell it but I guess he didn't like the price I gave him...............Bob 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif in Calif Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 Great job! I used "Fast Signs" to make new numbers to restore the speedometer on a '51 Simca where the numbers and lettering were painted on the glass. It's a project that didn't support a high end Speedo restoration, but now it looks very good and it was $50! They can do surprisingly small and fine work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 On 6/13/2024 at 4:38 PM, zdillinger said: I did a similar thing to save my original number plate on my Packard 120. All the graphics had been lost so I found a high quality scan of the one I needed then had it printed full size on adhesive vinyl. A little judicious work with an Xacto and all was well. Your battery charger looks great! Photo, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdillinger Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 (edited) 35 minutes ago, West Peterson said: Photo, please. Before and after. Edited June 28 by zdillinger (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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