The PHILCO Phorum

This is very strange. I had a Philco 71B cabinet professionally refinished about 10 years ago. While getting ready to dust it off I found these cracks in the finish on the front around the tuning knob. At first I thought it was wear from turning the knob but I hardly use it. Then I noticed some cracking on the left side and right side of the front panel. The front panel is the only place where this cracking has occurred. Any ideas on what might have caused this? Sorry for the big picture size but it makes it easier to see the issue.





- Geoff

Do you know if the refinisher stripped the cabinet? It could be a case where he just coated new lacquer on top of the old. The cracks may be in the original lacquer and now coming through the new top coat.

If not, then the only thing that causes cracks is expansion or contraction of the wood or lacquer itself. What kind of enviroment has the set been subjected to? Extreme heat or cold, or dryness can do it.

I live in Southern CA and during the winter we keep the house at 68. Where I'm at it can be over 100 in the summer. Inside the house it does not get above 90. Once it is over a 100 outside we turn the AC on. Very dry environment though.

I'm almost positive it was fully stripped. Here it is before refinishing:





Here it was right after finishing about 10 years ago.





This is the 71B that Ron has on his site:

http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/1932b.htm#v

Kind of a bummer with the cracks. It's also received a few chips now and then. I'll post some photos of those later but I'm not sure what can really be done about them.

Thanks,
Geoff

Except for polishing the bezel, it looks like he did a good job.

Beats me. the fractures don't run with the grain. Could be expansion and contraction around the knob hole. This would be a place that moisture could enter the wood.

That's very curious, I have some radios that I refinished over 20 years ago and they have no crazing in the lacquer at all. I would take a guess that it may be caused by using lacquer to fill the grain rather then grain filler. It could also be that too much material was sprayed on in too short of a time.
I also agree with the opinions regarding the dial escutcheon, they were antiqued when they left the factory, at least the one used on my 60L was. I was a coat of shading lacquer they used and not a chemical treatment, so it's easily fixed, on my 60L you could see that the back side was bright brass whereas the front was made to look like bronze.
Regards
Arran