Hi all,
Been a while (many years) since I touched a radio. Life challenges are slowly clearing up now and I feel a little old radio fixing might offer some fun, although the true passion about collecting has died some time ago, I kept only the radios having a sentimental value; an Air King, Akradyne, Philco 84, Remler and the Russian radios to name a few.
I acquired a nice Philco 60 from a dear friend. The electronics has been masterfully restored by him (I'll post pictures when I have time), better than I could. He only left me the cabinet part to do- sigh-;o) Other than a few tiny pieces of veneer to fix, the cabinet is in great shape- aside from a worn finish-.
The actual color is a dark chocolate brown. I am used to two tones cabinets à la 84, but this one, even stripped, stays a dark brown all over the cabinet as if it was stained from the factory. The original Philco label is still affixed to front, so I am pretty confident the finish is original.
My question: is this a normal occurence for this model or am I looking at a side effect from aging in a difficult environment (nicotine etc.) ?
If someone has a similar model and is able to share pictures (original finish) as a reference it would be nice. Otherwise, I figure I'll strip and refinish with a walnut toning.
Not that I mind the color, on the contrary, but I like to refinish my keepers as close to original as possible.
Thanks a bunch,
Syl
Welcome back, Syl! 
Please take a look at this page, and then tell me exactly which 60 cabinet you have.
http://www.philcoradio.com/tech/60evol.htm
I can then tell you what the original colors should be. Most (not all) of the radios pictured on that page are in their correct original-type color combinations.
I wouldn't be surprised if that radio had been in an environment with a heavy smoker, or many heavy smokers. As it happens, I am finishing up a Model 60 chassis from a Radiobar; and the chassis was covered in nicotine stain. It's amazing what a little Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish can do with coil shields, tube shields, and the electrolytic capacitor cans - they went from dark amber to shiny aluminum.
But anyway -
it's great to see you here again! 
Ron Ramirez Wrote:Welcome back, Syl!
Please take a look at this page, and then tell me exactly which 60 cabinet you have.
http://www.philcoradio.com/tech/60evol.htm
But anyway - it's great to see you here again!
Hi Ron,
I knew I was knocking at the right door!
According to the pictures shown in the link provided, it would be a model 60B, june 35.
The color seems far from right according to what I have after stripping. Had to strip twice to get most of the dark brown removed using the picture as a reference.
I am attaching files. The chassis is masterfully restored. Forgive the poor pictures, I used my BlackBerry...
Thanks for the welcome Ron.
Syl
I can see from your photos that the finish on yours has darkened...a
lot.
So the wood is still dark, even after stripping? Hmmm...
In all honesty, I've never seen a 60 in this cabinet style, which still had its original finish, that was any darker than the Model 60B, 1935 (July 1934) on the link I provided above.
The 60B, 1936 (June 1935) in the photo is a set I used to own, that did have its original finish.
I honestly do not remember at present whether the top and sides were toned Extra Dark Walnut, or not. I want to say they were to a certain extent - at least, darker than the light colored panels on the front.
The chassis of your set looks good. And the pictures are fine, no need to apologize.
Maybe it's a Canadian version? Although it's missing the usual brass tag on the back of the chassis so probably not. I've got into the habit of trying to clean a cabinet first, even if it needs stripping, just to figure out the colour scheme sometimes.
Regards
Arran
Hi Syl! That sure is a clean chassis!
exray Wrote:Hi Syl! That sure is a clean chassis!
Hi Bill. The chassis is Den's work. I can only dream of achieving his skill. True mastership.
Syl
Arran Wrote:Maybe it's a Canadian version? Although it's missing the usual brass tag on the back of the chassis so probably not. I've got into the habit of trying to clean a cabinet first, even if it needs stripping, just to figure out the colour scheme sometimes.
Regards
Arran
Hi Arran,
The cabinet has been cleaned, What you see in the picture is a clean, very dark cabinet!
I guess I will refer to pictures available on Ron's website and work from there. The wood really look like it was stained. Strange. I'll strip it sometime this week-end and post pictures before and after lacquering.
The sound of this radio is surprising. Big full sound. I'll try to find room on my office desk. I've been switching radios every 2 weeks at the office. Most if not all have never seen an antique radio, much less a "playing" antique radio..."hey, where's the FM?"...[grin]
Syl
Very odd indeed, I've never heard of a Philco being stained at the factory, only finished with tinted lacquer.
I'm sure all of us are looking forward to more pictures of your 60, Syl. Good luck with it!
Hi Syl: Glad to see you post. I have 2 of the models previous to your set. One I refinished about 15 years ago, and the other needs cabinet work and refinish. The top and sides are dark like the darker parts on the front. They are not nearly as dark as your set. I have seen sets that I think were "freshened up" with a darker finish usually slopped on that was probably done in the 40's. May have been done on your set? A good photo is in Ron's book on page 68. Mine is the early book 1993
Great looking radio.
From the photo, the Philco decal looks to be legit, so that kind of points away from an amateur strip and stain job, but if someone did that with stain or varnish stain (a dreadful product from the past,) then replaced the decal, and then put more varnish on top, that's one way it could get in this state.
In any case, once you get everything stripped off and scrubbed out, I reckon you could use a light color grain filler and the correct tones of spray laquer to get this back to specs.
One think that I have noticed about that dark walnut shading lacquer is that it is really hard to strip and get out of the grain sometimes, judging by the top and side (or is it the arch?) it looks original. I know that Philco sometimes offered ivory white painted models, don't know if the 60 was one of those, did they offer an all dark finish as an option as well? Some manufacturers like RCA (at least in Canada) used to do this, I've had a few over the years.
Regards
Arran
Rob (The Bakery)
My suggestions:
Medium Walnut in the center of the front panel
Perfect Brown surrounding the center, and on the sides/top of cabinet
Extra Dark Walnut on the edges, trim, and grooves of the front panel
Thank you Ron! I appreciate the help.