Philco Valve Radio Restoration

[Castaway]

Hi all,

Its been an absolute age since I was last here, more like an ice age really.

Thought I would share one of my recent valve radio cabinet restorations. This is a 1938 Philco set made for Australia. Philco were more common in the US but did make sets for the Australian and NZ market.

Picked this set up a few years back and like a lot of things just recently got around to restoring the cabinet. After stripping the old varnish I then brushed on 2 coats of a clear lacquer letting dry between coats. Once dry I sand back, I continued doing this to fill the grain pores until I get a flat surface to start doing the final finishing. Then working with a spray on gloss varnish I do several coats sanding in between each coat until I achieve the required finish. Wanted a very high gloss finish on this one as it suits it well.

Have not dealt with grain fillers before and though this would speed up the process of filling the pores before starting the final clear coating. A lot of the timber used in these old radios were walnut which pores needed to be filled to get a nice smooth finish. Working with veneers doesn't give you much to sand with.

Even ordered exact reproduction Philco decals from the US. Just finished it off nicely I think. Anyway hope you enjoy the pics.

[Groundhangers]

Mmm, I want that on my sideboard. Fantastic finish!

[Indranil]

What a lovely finish you got. Its looks lovely. But couldn't you get the same look with shellac? Just wondering.

[Castaway]

Mmm, I want that on my sideboard. Fantastic finish!

Thanks Groundhangers, at the moment it sits above my grandfathers STC Console radio. I'll keep an eye out for one for your sideboard...

What a lovely finish you got. Its looks lovely. But couldn't you get the same look with shellac? Just wondering.

Thanks Indranail. I have done one other radio in shellac before and it came up very well. It is the one I have attached. But the majority of these types of radios, consoles, table (this one) and mantle the smaller ones were done in a cellulose based lacquer. The only ones that were done in shellac were those tall standing gramophones and very high end sets. Not an expert on the whole shellac thing and would like to know how to properly grain fill with it.

[Indranil]

To be honest, I don't know that much about shellac either. My dad used to work for the gramaphone company in Calcutta way back in the late Sixties and they used to make radio, stereo and amplifier cases with this really beautiful finish. Your restoration work reminded me of them. I recall my old man would go on about the art of shellac work and how some fellas were making so much money out of it! Best of luck with your other projects.

Thanks Groundhangers, at the moment it sits above my grandfathers STC Console radio. I'll keep an eye out for one for your sideboard...



Thanks Indranail. I have done one other radio in shellac before and it came up very well. It is the one I have attached. But the majority of these types of radios, consoles, table (this one) and mantle the smaller ones were done in a cellulose based lacquer. The only ones that were done in shellac were those tall standing gramophones and very high end sets. Not an expert on the whole shellac thing and would like to know how to properly grain fill with it.