Before and after pictures

[Dan Walker]

My wife said she liked this little Lyric radio that she saw at an antique show so We bought it for $80.00. It did play but had a very bad hum. After replacing all the caps it played very nice. I must say that I have never seem a radio that was as well made inside.The tone and volume pots were in very good condition and I didn’t have to do anything to them It is a 1903-31 Lyric made by the Mohawk Corp. Here are a couple of before photos

The top was in bad need of refinishing,as was the rest of the unit

I was suprised that there was no glass or plastic over the dial scale. The knobs were all there and they are the original ones.
To start off ,I stripped the cabinet and applied grain filler to the top and then put thtree coats of dark walnut stain on the top…I gave all the rest of the cabinet a coat of the same stain.One of the little arches was broken ,so I had to take the good one and clean it up to us it for a template for a mould…I bought some rubber mould maker and had to paint about 10 coats of the stuff on the arch to make a mould…i made two of the new arch pieces for the radio and I was really pleasently suprised at how well they came out. Here is a photo of the arch.

After staining the whole radio I gave it a coat of one part schellac to five parts denatured alcohol.That stuff dries really fast.. Using 2000 grit sandpaper I lightly went over the top and sides
I then masked off the edge around the top and bottom so I could give it three coats of Mohawk toner laquer to make it darker.
The radio looked pretty good at this point so I applied three coats of clear laquer with light sanding in between using 2000 grit sandpaper.I mean ,,,I just touched up the areas that maybe were a little rough.So here is the finished radio ….And now my wife says it’s her favorite.

After it was done I applied a coat of Renissance wax ….I like the looks and the sound is very good with lots of tone and volume.
If you ever get a chance to pick up a Lyric I suggest you do so >The radio is only 32 inches high.
I hope you guys enjoy the photos Dan

[radionut]

Dan that is a very nice job that you have done on that Lyric.I have lots of cabinets that need doing just wish I new how to that stuff. I am just starting to learn how to fix them. I don;t blame your wife for saying that the Lyric is her favorite .
Bruce Ruttan

[Rogers flipdial]

re "Very nice job Dan – that Lyric sure looks very nice now! I am sure my wife would like it also… especially with it being so neat. I will keep an eye out for one."

A radio the same as this went up for auction last Saturday at the Ottawa club auction – If you really want it you might be able to make enquiries through the club as to who bought it etc.

Steve

[Bob Masse]

Dan Wrote::To start off ,I stripped the cabinet and applied grain filler to the top and then put thtree coats of dark walnut stain on the top…I gave all the rest of the cabinet a coat of the same stain.One of the little arches was broken ,so I had to take the good one and clean it up to us it for a template for a mould…I bought some rubber mould maker and had to paint about 10 coats of the stuff on the arch to make a mould…i made two of the new arch pieces for the radio and I was really pleasently suprised at how well they came out. Here is a photo of the arch.

Hi! Dan,
Nice job! It really shows some nice woodgrain. I am curious as to where you buy your rubber mould maker. It it a Canadian supplier? Info appreciated.
tks.
Bob Masse

[Dan Walker]

Bob I got the mould builder from a craft and hobby store here in Calgary. It is called mould builder made by Castin’Craft and I got it at Michels [spelling?] I believe that is a chain hobby craft store.
It does take some time to make the mould because you have to coat the original piece many many times,but that was the only choice I had since I could not find that part at all. These are different types of filler you can use to make the piece and one of them is a sort of acrylic and it is harder,but I think that you could stain or paint it. For mine I used plaster of paris but I do find that it breaks very easy. I had to make two of these before I was carefull enough not to break it.
I hope this information helps you Dan

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