Cloth Radio Restore

Cloth Radio Restore

Cloth Radio Restore
How do I restore/refinish my vintage Philco rube radio?

I have a vintage Philco tube radio, model number 38-9 from the 1930's. It's in good shape, it turns on but only hums. The outside does need to be refinished though, it has a ring on it from a drink being set on it, and is extremely worn around all the edges. The knobs and dile are fine, but the cloth covering the speaker is worn and could be replaced. How should a refinish it without destroying it's value? Do I just sand it with a fine grit sandpaper and re-stain it? Any experts out there?

The biggest problem with these classic radio's is that the cabinets are made from vernier woods, very thin wood covering a basic wood chassis. Too much sanding and you grind through the wood. Washing the wood will result in the vernier peeling off. Try using gojo hand cleaner without abrasive to remove the dirt, then sand lightly to get the wood looking good. Minwax is a good finish and comes in a variety of colors.
AS to the internals, find a local radio/TV shop with a old technician that like to work on these things. Many of the Components are no longer available and could be dangerous. For instance, some models use selenium rectifiers that are hazardous. many of the wires are cloth covered and over time the cloth and rubber parts have deteriorated to the point where they are not safe to use. Many have no polarity plugs and can make the chassis HOT if not connected correctly. The speaker grill covering is still available. The tuner strings are simply cotton waxed strings and can be replaced with heavy cotton thread. Some of the knobs and trim are actually bakelite, clean them with toothpaste, spray with clear finish and handle gently, they are not available any more.

Good luck