FIRST VERSION.
PARTS
PARTS
FIRST VERSION.
COUNTERWEIGHT
1 - Heat treatment.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSERVATION :
The counterweight is first set to the rotor and then the overall is painted and heat treated (in the oven at 220°C, as mentioned on some early advertisement). It might sounds a bit strange but the plomb can handle such a treatment without melting.
The paint is strong and shows a skin-gloss finish.
The head screw position on the counterweight is virgin, as the underneath of it.
RECORDS : Early 308, early 358.
2 - Quality control transfers.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSERVATION :
The top face of counterweight is hand painted before being fixed to the rotor. Paint runs can be observed underneath it an in the screw head hole poisition. The paint isn't heat treated anymore (probably for the sake of the structural integrity of the counterweight). This paint is weaker than the previous one and might shows some cracks and lacks..
A red paint has been applied on the tip of the counterweight screw probably with a view of quality control. This pain has often been transferred to the bottom of the counterweight.
RECORDS : 312679 - 0367375.
3 - Standard.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSERVATION :
Same as above but Without anymore red runs. This is the most common counterweight version encountered in the 308 series.
RECORDS : 0423506 - 459932 - 501928 - 584982 - 674132 - 756128 - 787519 - 941845 - 1003051 - 1154157 - (1)297690 - (1)369653 -(1)438268 - (1)532843- E197107- F117204 - F134206 -G137205 - G107106 - G298110.
4 - Raw.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSRVATION :
The counterweight isn't painted anymore.
RECORDS : J170106 - xxxx05.
5 - Last Bail.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSERVATION :
The counterweight is fully reshaped in order to balance the new design of the Bail. Although its reference remains same on the schematic, the former counterweight and the new one should not be switched.
RECORDS : 1002 - 0211 - S201 – ♯FRANCE .
6 - Taiwan.
REFERENCE : 81279.
OBSERVATION :
Same shape and weight as above. The manufacture identification has been erased since the production was re-located in TAIWAN.
RECORDS : ♯MITCHELL TAIWAN.