Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - Printable Version
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Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - jrblasde - 03-25-2026
Well, folks. I sure have worked like crazy to restore the front dial panel on this Philco I picked up in Edmond! The veneer on this panel was so damaged that it wasn’t repairable. I opted to remove and replace it. Quite the complex process, because it’s comprised of 16 strips of veneer that have to fit together seamlessly.
Along the way I had to glue and clamp the underlying plywood in several places, because the layers were delaminating.
I also had to secure the layers of the dial bezel.
Repairs to the substrate complete, I was able to start replacing the veneer bit by bit.
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - Paul Philco322 - 03-25-2026
Great job. Paul
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - radiorich - 03-25-2026
Hello Joseph,
Great job! You’re a bigger man than me—I’ve never done veneer work like that before, and I have some radios that need it too.
Sincerely Richard
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - morzh - 03-25-2026
Anyone who has the resolve to deal with woodworking, let alone to actually do it successfuly, got my utmost respect.
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - jrblasde - 03-25-2026
Goodness, thank you all! Woodworking is certainly a tedious endeavor, but I enjoy the satisfaction when it turns out well. I don’t have any formal training in it, but I’ve always had a couple of projects a year. I can see tremendous improvement from the time when I was in college. Something goes wrong every time, and I take it as a lesson for the next project.
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - jrblasde - 03-25-2026
Actually, when I was a kid I can remember we had a copy of this book. It’s the size of a dictionary. I don’t know what ever happened to it, but I ran into another copy of it a couple years back when I was at Gardner’s Used Books here in Tulsa. Of course I bought it! Among other topics, there’s a wealth of information for woodworking, wooden furniture repair, etc.
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - RodB - 03-25-2026
Joseph,
I used to own one of those books. I think I gave it to one of my kids. Used it often, very handy.
So, is your wife/SO asking where the clothes pins have disappeared to?
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - jrblasde - 03-25-2026
Haha, she hasn’t missed them yet!
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - morzh - 03-25-2026
Ever since we got dryers and stopped putting the linens outside on a wire to dry, the function of the clothespins got redefined.
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - DaleHCook - 03-25-2026
I don't do cabinet repairs aside from simple things like repairing loose joints in a cabinet frame or touching up a faux finish. Seeing work like that veneer work is always instructive. Electronic and chassis mechanical work I can handle easily, but I am well equipped for that kind of repair because I have to do those things at work.
Dale H. Cook, Semi-retired AM/FM/TV Chief Engineer, Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA
https://plymouthcolony.net/starcityeng/index.html
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - radiorich - 03-25-2026
Hello Joseph,
that looks like a great book to add to my small collection !!
Sincerely Richard
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - Arran - 03-25-2026
The veneer scraps from redoing the top should come in handy for patching damage elsewhere on the cabinet. I walked away from cabinet with similar damage, one was a Canadian Westinghouse set that had cracks across the grain on the curve, but the way it was built would have made it harder to take apart and repair then your Philco. I then saw an identical one for sale later with out it, but didn't get to look at it for some reason. Much of the practice I got with veneer was in repairing cabinets from farm battery sets, and sets that were just generally rough, and not worth much.
Regards
Arran
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - MrFixr55 - 03-26-2026
My problem is that woodwork does not interest me as much as fixing the electronics. Same thing with cars. Fro some strange reason (well, maybe not so strange as it mirrors my radio philosophy, I have little patience for auto body and paint. I would rather fix the mechanics and electronics of the car, even the ECU and emissions control. I know, I'm SICK!!
462ron - 462ron - 03-26-2026
Very impressive Joseph!
I stand in awe of the work you did. In the last two pictures, is that a one piece of veneer or did you piece it together? I need to be forced by gun point almost to do cabinet work, it’s why I’m selective on what radios I buy. My 37-116 is a perfect example. I restored the chassis when I got it, then the cabinet literally sat for 10 years before I forced myself to refinish it. Ron
RE: Philco 47-1230 Cabinet Restoration - radiorich - 03-26-2026
Hello Mr. Fixxr,
I can’t stand autobody work, and while I don’t mind hanging drywall, I really dislike mudding and taping it. Funny enough, I enjoy woodworking, but I can’t stand doing the finishing or spray painting.
Sincerely Richard