[Phlogiston]

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[morzh]

Nice radio. A bit too glittery but maybe that's the reflections?

[Phlogiston]

Yah, it is polished lacquer just like when it was new. Outside in the sun there are a few reflections. Most people would not take those picture in that much light at those angles. Too much grain and uneven surfaces that show very easily. That is why you can see the ring made by the original speaker baffle. It is not visible in room light.

See the reflection of the leaves on the side of the arch in the 2nd shot. It is not smooth enough until you can see yourself.

Would you believe that that is not gloss lacquer? But then again, nothing in that finish is from the home store either.

[Mondial]

Its very pretty, but honestly I don't think it had a finish like that when it was new. These were mass produced radios and the cabinet shop could not spent the time and effort to put on multiple coats of lacquer, sanding between coats and polishing to achieve a piano finish.

[Phlogiston]

I know that no one wants to believe that because it would put a lot more pressure on "restorers", but they did.

I like to post these when ever that topic is brought up. Excerpts from a book on finishing from the time these radios were made:

   

   

   

Now I would not call what I do a "piano finish" but I do follow the directions on those 3 pages.

[Arran]

I try to tell people this but fro some reason they don't want to believe it and still restore sets improperly with satin lacquer. I have a few nice originals and they are pretty close to gloss, although I think that they may have had the finish rubbed out for a more burnished look, still glossy but less like glass.
Speaking of structural cabinet woods, that was the species I forgot about, gum wood, maple, poplar, ash, birch, and beech were some others. What one has to remember is that the cabinet and finishing shops worked on a production line basis much like the plant that build the radio chassis. One worker would cover each step over and over again on every cabinet that came down the line. There are some pictures that I saw from RCA's cabinet shops and yes indeed they did rub the cabinets out, the had consoles laying on their backs on padded sawhorses.
Regards
Arran

[Phlogiston]

Again I will have to say that the above finish is not gloss. It has quite a bit of the opaque additive that I use in it. The final sanding and buffing brings down the shine quite a bit more. The result is very reflective and smooth - "glossy".

I mix my own finishes and many of the colors. After all, what color is the base of a Zenith 5-S-127? You can't buy it in a can, that I know of.

So as I see it, the only major difference is that I have to wait longer between coats, or choose to. Then again, I don't have to finish 50,000 of them.

[Mondial]

I believe a lot depends on the cost of the radio. You would not expect the same quality finish on a $19 Model 80 as on a expensive console. I am sure the expensive models received the full finishing treatment, but not so sure of the less costly baby grands.

Here is a sales card for the Model 32. It specifically describes a satin finish on the cabinets.

http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=6276

[Phlogiston]

Yes, I think that this is true with Philco being a good example. Some of the early radios were not gloss. And some of those 80s and 84s were lucky to get any finish. What is also true is that some of the cheaper radios without walnut or mahogany were (and still are) easier to finish. But, into the 30s, they were mostly gloss.

[kporter]

Very nice, Phlogiston.

[codefox1]

Beautiful nice set, great job!.

[Phlogiston]

Thanks guys.