I bought this radio about a week ago. I must be getting better because now it is all done. I recapped it and did the cabinet. It is a RCA model C8 16. Tonight I had it in my garage and it picks up all sorts of short wave with an antenna across the attic of the garage.
I checked all the tubes and ,they are all very good.
as far as the cabinet is concerned , I had to strip it , and that was not too hard because there was not much on a finish put on by whoever did it. Once it was stripped I gave it a coat of dark walnut stain. [I use that a lot]
next I used a sealer of one part shellac and 5 parts methyl hydrate. I masked it off and used Mohawk, Vandyke brown for the trim, and Extra dark walnut for the bottom.
Then I used a clear lacquer satin. I put three coats of that on. between each coat I used 4000 grit[if you can call that a GRIT] between coats.. Just enough to take away any small bumps. and for the final coats I used high gloss.
The reason I used high gloss is that the radio has been bought by some friends of mine that are going to raffle
it off at their car show.. Most of the public seems to like that shiny look.
I had to reverse the grill cloth ;it is backwards but it looks better that way
That wood on the sides is all original with matched wood on both sides. Back then there was pride in making something, and that is one of the reasons I like these old radios.
Here are the photos you requested.. One is a before picture
Glad you like it
Wow Dan, Shes a beauty! I love the swirls of the wood grain on the cabinet. It gives it charm! You do not see that craftmanship in the woodworking of today. And you did it all in a week....Beautiful job. Enjoy your set.