10-31-2013, 08:43 PM
Just finished restoring this tonight. There was a nasty crack on the top and a cigarette burn to deal with, but, thanks to a fiberglass repair kit, I was able to fuse it back together again. After a repaint of the brown cabinet, it's hardly noticeable. I managed to find a shade of brown spray paint that was an almost perfect match! One thing that was a surprise was the "padding" that was glued to the underside of the top of the cabinet. It appears this "padding" was actually some sort of an asbestos material, placed there to dissipate the heat. Silver paint was also added from the factory inside the cabinet, again for heat deflection. The tiny little plastic tabs holding the front panel in place were all broken off when I got the set, so I was forced to have to glue the front panel back inside the cabinet. Which is fine, because I have no plan to ever take it out again anyhow. It's a neat little set. Certainly one of the nicest designed cabinets Philco made during the post war years. I can see why these are so collectible!
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As for the fiberglass kit, it was one I had on hand for quite some time. There was just enough left to do this cabinet and patch a "Hippo" (which, in itself, sounds kind of funny, but I mean a 1946 PHILCO "Hippo"). I picked the kit up at the local Mills Fleet Farm store. Not terribly expensive. Basically just a two part solution to mix.