Eico 1171 vintage resistance decade box restoration

[Wartex]

So I saw this old broken decade box on eBay and decided it must be mine. This box was made circa 1955. Old school design and hammered metal paint job are pure porn, look at it:

It only uses 4 resistors per decade and 11-positions 2-contact switch, resistors are 1*10^n, 2*10^n, 3*10^n and 6*10^n value, and are cleverly switched into series to get all 10 values.

Some resistors are badly burned but are still proper values! Switches are shot tho, some positions go to ~500k if you nudge the switch, already ordered new switches.

rest of pics:

http://imgur.com/a/sZ2W4#0

[HLA-27b]

Nice one. Somebody obviously used it as a room heater 

[FenderBender]

Good luck with that! i guess you're really only keeping the box now, but hey, that's 5 less holes you don't have to drill and of course the box.

[Wartex]

Ok, found the proper switches and cleaned the box face plate. Now off to buy resistors. Couple of questions:

1. The knobs are original Daka-ware from 1955. They are made of bakelite, I read that it's toxic as a particulate, causing lung cancer. Should I replace them with modern ABS equivalent?

2. Should I buy 1% resistors or should I buy hundreds 5% resistors and find one that is closest to marked value amongst 5%? I looked on digikey and 1-3 watt 1-0.1% resistors could run up to $16 a piece. I need a total of 20 resistors.

[sonicj]

1. The knobs are original Daka-ware from 1955. They are made of bakelite, I read that it's toxic as a particulate, causing lung cancer. Should I replace them with modern ABS equivalent?

do you plan on grinding them up and snorting them?     

bakelite knobs have a way better look & feel than ABS imo...
-sj

[amyk]

I agree with sonicj, bakelite is only toxic if you actually ingest it or burn it and inhale the vapors. Probably not even as toxic as lead solder which most people here have probably handled quite a bit.