[z-wave]

was photofinish used on the console 42-390? what are restorers using to replace or imitate photofinish? or do they bother?

[gary rabbitt]

Hi Z,
I am not familiar with the exact pattern of photo finish on your set, but I can refer you to a site that shows how to make your own photo finish. Is your original finish flaked of or in very bad condition?
Usually we try and save the original finish if at all possible. You can touch up a finish where it has flaked off, using artist's brushes and other tools to blend in to the orginal finish. After that, you can coat the finish with clear.

Besides Stewart's site, he can send additional info on how to recreate the finish using black and white prints of woodgrain, then use oil colors or colored pencils to get the color right. You can then attach the print onto your set.

If you found another set like yours, with good photo finish, you could take high res photos of the pattern, then make your own strip using the original image as a pattern.

For now, here is his site to give you an idea of one method.
http://www.philcoradio.com/schooley/index.htm

Other posts from the 'other' website in more detail
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

YOu can email him and he will probably send details of othr ways how to recreate the finish.

As for not bothering with the faux grain, you could add real veneer which might be fine. The other thing some do is to try and stain the cheap wood for the finish. That wood doesn't stain well at all, and makes the set look unfinished with cheap wood grain. I would opt for the real veneer than ever do any staining.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, and hope this helps.
Gary.

[Arran]

If you were to stain the wood under the faux wood grain you would need to use a penetrating stain or an aniline wood dye, hardware store oil stain is not going to cut it with that hard grainless veneer.
Best Regards
Arran

[gary rabbitt]

Hi all,
I know this is an old thread, but I am working on a 42-380 right now. I suspect the fnish is the same?
It has good photofinish in the columns.
I plan on making some sharp high-res shots of the patters, so those inclined can make their own repro photo finish.

This one has the greenish brown hue to it.

Once the pattern is printed, then the colors would be up to the person making the new finish. When I get the photos done, I'll post a link to them.
Take care,
Gary.

EDIT>>> I see that the -390 has a different place where the photofinish is. It almost looks like a tiger striped band around the upper part of the cabinet? I do have images of that style of photofinish. You will have to color it to match up.

[TimC]

Just picked up a 38-62 in need of photo finish replacement.
Looking forward to samples

Tim

[gary rabbitt]

Hi Guys
I will see if I can get some high res images of the photo finish on the set I have.
I know there are samples on the "Alternative radio forum" in their gallery of the striped band. I'll get a link if I can find them.

The 38-62 is the one with a full front photo finish? You may have to find a burled wood image to make your own, or check around and se if someone can scan the front of a whole cabinet.
I would probably try and redo the cabinet as original. but there is a member at the other site that had completely reveneered a similar set. It wasn't a photofinish set, but you could go that route if it is impossible to recreate the photo grain.
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=129758

I'll see if I can get the images of the photo finish from the 42-380 tomorrow evening if I can.

Gary.