[Dan Walker]

I picked this up from Kijiji in Calgary. The owner said it worked years ago.. I found a bad resistor and changed the caps
now it sings real good. I have stripped the cabinet and when it get warmer[if it does] I will finish the cabinet.. this one goes in my living room

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[Dan Walker]

I am going to post more photos of the Sparton.

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[phil]

With all the dark toner removed, the veneer looks astounding! I see it a lot where people strip a radio then finish it with a lot less toner. I can see why they do it because they don’t want to hide the beautiful grain pattern and that is exactly what the heavy toner does. also they have usually darkened from time,the wood darkens from age and the laquer even if clear when put on is now anything but clear. So do we aim for a restoration where it looks right for it’s age or do we aim for that showroom shine? bit of a dilemma isn’t it? You can really see what I mean if you look at the original pics of the area just to the left and right of the speaker cloth. In those original pics you can barely make out any grain pattern, with a clearer finish you can see the grain, but in the pics with the original finish is almost gone, buried under the heavy toner, masked by age too.
In my mind a perfect restoration is one where one can’t decide if it has been refinished or if it was just kept on grandmas sideboard where it was protected from the elements and cleaned and cared for.
it’s almost that warm now. and the radio looks great!

• This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by phil.

[Dan Walker]

Yes Phil I agree with you on the part about making a decision. I am going to leave that beautiful grain on the top and front, and to the right and left of the grill. I will give the upright pillar looking pieces just a light coat of light walnut toner[haven’t decided exactly on color yet] I did give it a coat of shellac [1 part shellac , 5 parts methyl hydrate] to seal the cabinet] I have to mask it off and do the trim and so forth . I will post photos when I have it done.

[Dan Walker]

Since the weather got a lot warmer , I had some time to finish this radio. Here are the photos

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[Darren]

awesome work Dan! that grain looks beautiful!

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