Posts: 236
Threads: 30
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Minneapolis/St. Paul MN
Richard,
Overall, this radio isn't in terrible condition, there's just a couple of issues here and there. If you're not looking for a "perfect" restoration, here's what I'd do. For starters, remove the chassis, speaker, dial glass, etc., and clean the cabinet using a cream hand cleaner (GoJo or something similar). You'll be suprised how much grime comes off by just doing that.
For the patches around the dial, take a foam brush dipped in some medium walnut stain and dab it into the damaged area. Let it sit there for about a minute, them wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. If it's not dark enough for you, repeat the process.
For the scratches around the rest of the cabinet, use a rag and dip part of it into the medium walnut stain, and wipe it across the scratches, and they will almost disappear.
When you're satified how it looks, use some lacquer finish over the whole cabinet. Use either a gloss or satin finish (it's personal preference) in a spray can. You can get it at almost any hardware store or home center.
IMHO, it's still in pretty decent shape and wouldn't be worth the trouble to strip it.
Some of the other guys here might have some suggestions for you, but this approach is pretty simple and straight forward. Best of luck with your project.
Bill
Sent from my Pentium II on the AT&T Dial Network
Posts: 49
Threads: 5
Joined: Oct 2005
Bill's tips are good. Since it doesnt have big patches of lacquer missing.. I'd do the stain touch up like he said, but rather than spray lacquer over, you may get a nice finish by giving it a light rub down with Maguire's Mirror Glaze --- or such. You can get this at any auto parts store like AutoZone or whatever. Its used to take out small scratchs in automotive paint, but works nice on wood. Later tonight I'll post a picture of a Edison machine that I did the stain/Maguires treatment to....... you can go from there.
take care,
jerry.
Many thanks gentlemen for your help - any and all suggestions are appreciated. This phonograph has been in my family since my grandfather bought it new.
I posted some questions in the repair section but I'll put the here also.
I would like to replace the speaker - who, where, what?
Should I put in a new turn table or replace the needle cartridge? If so, from whom?
