The PHILCO Phorum

Hi all, this is my first post to this phorum. I have been restoring old radios now for about 10 years..I am 70 years old.
My question is this, I recently bought a model 20 philco radio.
I have the electronics all done except for a couple of bad 24 tubes.
The cabinet was or is a total wreck..The whole one side of the grill
was broken out. Used scroll saw and made a new grill that I spliced in.
The arch veneer was half missing. Replaced that with iron on veneer
that don't match the original. How do you guys match up the colors
before you stain? I have never used toners, and I am not a great
cabinet re-finisher..How can I make this new veneer match the old
veneer?
Thanks, Viscose Kid

I use a minwax stain marker to color match patches before toning.

Hi Kid,

Welcome to the forum.

If you could, place some photos of your 20 here, then the folks will know better how to advise.

I have found that the iron on veneer can never be made to match the old veneer. You can get kind of close, but it will always stick out like a sore thumb. I've had much better luck using pieces of old veneer stripped off of a scrap cabinet, and cut to fit.

Here is his cabinet..

I'm everywhere!!!!

Oh....so he trusted you with it! Boy is he in trouble now.

At least the frame of the grill is intact. I have two that are not.
Henry

You might be better off to cover the back with an entire piece of veneer, running from side to side rather than front to back as with 70, 60, and others you wouldnt have any seams to worry about and the dark toning would hide the buildup around the front. Just a suggestion