06-24-2018, 04:02 AM
There is a moratorium on the import of Cuban mahogany, there has been for decades, and it's due to it being overlogged, not because of the political situation in Cuba, so it would be near impossible to find real Cuban mahogany veneer, and even if you did you would not like the price. It's a bit misleading calling it Cuban mahogany because the trees were found throughout the Caribbean, it's probably a name some marketeers came up with and it stuck.
I'm pretty sure that the veneer used was French walnut as that seems to have been the species of choice on the majority of 1930s radio cabinets, including Philcos, with more exotic species used for highlights in bands and inlays. It is also a brownish red colour, but unlike Cuban mahogany it is readily available, though not as available as American black walnut.
Regards
Arran
I'm pretty sure that the veneer used was French walnut as that seems to have been the species of choice on the majority of 1930s radio cabinets, including Philcos, with more exotic species used for highlights in bands and inlays. It is also a brownish red colour, but unlike Cuban mahogany it is readily available, though not as available as American black walnut.
Regards
Arran