Detaching HP Classic Front Labels

[Les Bell]

I'm restoring a 65 with worn silver trim and have obtained a replacement case top assembly so that it will be good as new. However, the new top doesn't have the "HEWLETT * PACKARD 65" label on the front edge, so I'll need to detach that from the old case and attach it to the new one. Can anyone contribute advice on doing this while still preserving a good cosmetic finish? I'm guessing that a heat gun or hair dryer might do the trick, and with the case taken apart there's no risk of damage anywhere else. Or would some kind of solvent be better?

[Geoff Quickfall]

You got it, hair dryer on warm to soften the contact cement. Once removed I use 'label remover' to remove the contact cement from the label and the case.

Once cleaned of glue place the label between two layers of smooth vinyl and rub with the bowl side of a metal table spoon. This will remove wrinkles in the label.

Rubbing the label this way will cause it to cup. You want it to cup with the ends up and the middle lower. Place contact cement on the case and the label and reapply.

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/...ead=131014



Cheers

[Les Bell]

(09-17-2015 12:22 AM)Geoff Quickfall Wrote:  You got it, hair dryer on warm to soften the contact cement. Once removed I use 'label remover' to remove the contact cement from the label and the case.

Once cleaned of glue place the label between two layers of smooth vinyl and rub with the bowl side of a metal table spoon. This will remove wrinkles in the label.

Rubbing the label this way will cause it to cup. You want it to cup with the ends up and the middle lower. Place contact cement on the case and the label and reapply.

Thanks, Geoff - I guessed it might be the same adhesive on both the front and rear labels. I have a completely new rear label, so I can practice my technique on the rear label first at low risk, and hopefully re-use the existing label. Then I'll move on to the front label with more confidence.

BTW, when you say "cup with the ends up and the middle lower", I presume you mean that when reapplying it, the center should be attached first, then the ends lowered into contact, since ends positioned first and too close could leave a wrinkle in the centre?

(This is a rather nice 65 that lived its life - so far - at MIT and then the Australian National University, so it deserves a bit of TLC.)