[Steve Davis]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4512/3701...c1c3_z.jpg]105_1034 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Speed nuts for speaker mounting have been installed. The front panel is ready for installation.

[PhilcoJohn]

Steve, Your the man!! Very nice keeping us up to date and how building a professional radio cabinet is done. It sure takes a lot of work. I would not sell anything like that if I was able to make one. Looks like it came from the Philco factory!

[Steve Davis]

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4382/3656...b153_z.jpg]105_0989 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
Grain filler has been applied to front arch and wrap-around.

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4347/3701...271d_z.jpg]105_0999 by Steve Davis, on Flickr

Toner has been applied to the "white wood".


[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4334/3741...49fc_z.jpg]105_1001 by Steve Davis, on Flickr

Toned lacquer has been applied to veneered parts of the cabinet.


[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4511/3656...ce05_z.jpg]105_1015 by Steve Davis, on Flickr
[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4392/3701...60bb_z.jpg]105_1014 by Steve Davis, on Flickr

[Image: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4365/3724...ccf6_z.jpg]105_1013 by Steve Davis, on Flickr

Well, I forgot to take pictures as put the finishing touches on the cabinet.
I toned and finished the base moulding before installing. Then three coats of clear lacquer was sprayed over the complete cabinet. Finally, The front panel was installed. The cabinet is finished!

Steve

[morzh]

Here's an idea.

Buy back limited Philco rights from Philips, for 30s models only, and you could officially do the Philco cabinets which no longer would be considered reproductions.
Especially considering what they are.

[Warren]

Beautiful Cabinet.

[Arran]

I don't know if this was made as a jest or sincerely but it doesn't matter who owns the rights to the Philco name, they would still be considered reproduction cabinets. They are reproductions because they are re-produced, as in produced again. The trademark has nothing to do with it, nor does who is reproducing them, it's the number of years that past since Philco ceased their last production run.
Actually some Philco models did not have cabinets built by Philco, when the production orders exceeded the production capacity of their cabinet shops Philco would contract out to other furniture companies. But even though some cabinets were not made by Philco they are still original cabinets not reproductions. I'm not sure if this happened with the model 70 and 90 cathedrals but it did with with some consoles.
With antique furniture the rule of thumb they use is that up to 25% of a piece can be replaced in repair work and it will still be considered original, more then 25% and it is not. So if you replace the molding, or the front panel with something Steve makes, it's still considered an original cabinet, if Steve builds the whole cabinet it's not, even if he owns the Philco name. If these were terribly valuable sets it would matter, but in this case I don't think it makes much difference. Almost all of his cabinets are going to be replacing originals that were damaged beyond repair.
Regards
Arran

[OldRestorer]

Looks terrible Steve!

Send it to me so noone will ever see it again

I disagree Arran, This is one of the most desired radios for every philco collector. Value does not have much to do with it.

A reproduction is a reproduction only because it is not original to the era.
In 70 years this will be an antique and an original Steve Davis.
If you add in the chassis it is 50% original, with original hardware it add to the percentage so Its not far from 75% original.

I thank you Steve for showing us this chronicle. Now just make me all the jigs and router bits and I can try to make one too.

You should sell DIY kits!

Kirk

[morzh]

How about this: you repace 25% of an original with Steve's parts. Say a bezel.
Let it stand for a month.
During this time the new parts soak in the original spirit, as the whole thing is considered original.
Then you repace the trim.

And so, over a year you have an original cabinet.

Add to that an original chassis, and voila, jetz haben wir an original great looking Philco 70.

PS. If it is resod after each replacement it cannot be discovered.
And in the end you buy it back.

[Eric T]

What beautiful craftsmanship!

Excellent work, sir!

[Eliot Ness]

Beautiful, beautiful work Steve!

It's possible that a "Steve Davis" model 70 could be worth more in the future than an original, after all, there will be a whole lot more originals out there than Steve Davis cabinets. If I was buying another 70 I'd prefer a "Davis" over an original because I know the history of it.

I regret not bidding on a Philco 90 that appeared to have a Dick Oliver made cabinet for the same reason. After all, anyone can find an original Philco 90, but try to find one in a cabinet made by Dick Oliver and it gets a lot harder.

It's kind of like the Phil Weingarten fakes that are now selling for more than the originals:

http://w1tp.com/mawa7.htm

I hope to someday find a ratty 16B cathedral so I can slip the chassis into a cabinet made by Steve. We collectors are funny animals, you never know what value we'll place on something, even if it is a reproduction.

[morzh]

John

Funny, I was just about to mention a similar phenomenon, I do not remember the name of it, saw them in Lightner museum in Saint Augustine, those are (or rather were) European made porcelain compositions that at the time were imitations of some older valuable art form, and they became art in its own right. Prominent enough to have a whole exhibition.

[OldRestorer]

I love my grandfathers axe, I have had it many years. The handle had to be replaced twice and the head once. Is it still my grandfathers axe?

Who cares....

Words to live by, by Kirk Laffman Copyright 2014

kirk

[Chuck Schwark]

That axe reminds me . . .

I still have my grandpa's claw hammer that has a white oak handle.
Still in great condition and I use it. The hand oils and sweat over the
decades have turned the handle to a nice medium tan. Also have his
24 inch cherry-wood and brass end Stanley level too.

He taught me how to use them when I was old enough to handle them.

Chuck

[Steve Davis]

I need to replenish some of my supplies so I will be offering this cabinet for sale, first on the Phorum "For Sale or Trade", if no one here wants it, it will be listed you know where at a higher price to cover the fees.
Also, I will be offering not just the 70, but all cabinets in kit form.

Steve

[OldRestorer]

It's not a lack of wanting, it's having the cash available. Price is cheap for the materials and man hours.

Should not take long to sell
Best of luck
Kirk