04-04-2009, 02:37 PM
There's no hiding the split veneer, but I did a selective refinishing job, and the flaw is now less glaring.
It is such a nice performing and sounding set. So I have one minor issue remaining. There are a few areas on the dial glass where the decal has fallen off. These are thankfully in the area what is opaqued when viewed from the backlighted pilot light. All the other lettering is good enough. This model has a 7 watt "Christmas bulb" type 110 volt pilot bulb as it's pilot light. Amazingly, it's still good. And, you can still get 'em because they are used at "night lites."
Anyway, back to the dial glass. I am wondering whether to leave it be, or take a spotting brush and fill these spots with, let's say artist's oil sienna mixed up with a little bit of linseed oil or poly so it will harden. In any case does it do any good to apply a coat of (?) to the back of the dial glass to preserve what is left? I feared cleaning any area on the glass other than the clear area in the center. The radio had obviously been a smoker's home, or in the kitchen, or possibly in the kitchen of a smoker, and had a thick layer of greasy crud without and within. One of the three knobs was broken and crudely repaired as well and I'm working on it, since I don't have a spare. The sandpaper/steel wool/ brasso treatment followed by a fill with crazy glue, sandpaper/steel wool/brasso technique will be iterated until it is fixed. Or until I come across another knob.
But someone out there has probably been to this place before with the decal situation. If you care to share your advice I would be most appreciative. Thanks.
It is such a nice performing and sounding set. So I have one minor issue remaining. There are a few areas on the dial glass where the decal has fallen off. These are thankfully in the area what is opaqued when viewed from the backlighted pilot light. All the other lettering is good enough. This model has a 7 watt "Christmas bulb" type 110 volt pilot bulb as it's pilot light. Amazingly, it's still good. And, you can still get 'em because they are used at "night lites."
Anyway, back to the dial glass. I am wondering whether to leave it be, or take a spotting brush and fill these spots with, let's say artist's oil sienna mixed up with a little bit of linseed oil or poly so it will harden. In any case does it do any good to apply a coat of (?) to the back of the dial glass to preserve what is left? I feared cleaning any area on the glass other than the clear area in the center. The radio had obviously been a smoker's home, or in the kitchen, or possibly in the kitchen of a smoker, and had a thick layer of greasy crud without and within. One of the three knobs was broken and crudely repaired as well and I'm working on it, since I don't have a spare. The sandpaper/steel wool/ brasso treatment followed by a fill with crazy glue, sandpaper/steel wool/brasso technique will be iterated until it is fixed. Or until I come across another knob.
But someone out there has probably been to this place before with the decal situation. If you care to share your advice I would be most appreciative. Thanks.