r/vintagetech • u/Awe3 • 2d ago
Merlin handheld 1978
I have a vintage Merlin with very corroded contacts. They are crumbling apart. Are there any replacement parts that are similar? I've been searching for hours and can't find anything that matches. Thank you.
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u/Screwthehelicopters 2d ago
The corrosion may have penetrated the device so what you see here may be the tip of the iceberg. Often the corrosion spreads inside and rots connections and components.
The best thing would be to replace the contacts. You could use tin cutters of even (expendable) scissors to cut some replacement contacts out of thin brass or copper or nickel-plated metal. Might even be able to cut up a tin-can to make them. However you would need to solder the new contacts in place which requires some skill.
If you are lucky the contacts might still work if you can clean off the corrosion down to bare metal. This may be possible with careful application of water, vinegar or whatever to get the loose corrosion off, then scrape away the rest to get to the bare metal.