Thread: beard1747

Welcome to the forum. I can't help you but I am sure someone will be able to.

G'day and welcome.

Might they be Bakelite?? with no grain that may be the case.

A couple of photos might help, any name on it or other makers marks.

Hi Beard. radio cases in that era almost exclusively used shellac as the finish of choice. It's very possible that the moulding sections that are dark were treated to a stain then shellac top coat..

Hope this helps.

thank you for your replies; just for the record, i am a 61yo very part time woodturner with a crook lathe (motor dies under load); have posted 2 pics showing the radio shell which i have stained except for the top and bottom mouldings (not bakelite)which had the dark black stuff on (now sanded off); second pic shows close up of the black material over the partly sanded timber slats over the speaker;the brand of radio is Croyden; thanks again

G'day Beard1747 and welcome to our nomenclature of addictions.

Look like you might have a fine example of an Art Deco Radio. Will be good to see it finished.
Many of the pieces from that era were covered in a dark and ultimately brittle "varnish. Shame that it hid so much beautiful timber.

thanks Ed and Artme & others, i could not agree more that the black substance now identified as a varnish hid such a good timber moulding; unfortunately some black 'substance' leached into the moulding on the corners which i cant sand out so will have to go with the black finish; in any case, i guess it should be restored to what it was; pics i submitted are so small as i had to bring them down to an 800x800 dimension to fit this forums program format; by the way rang Feast Watsons help line; guy suggested Cabots walnut stain!! rather than something from their own range; will keep posted and try to get some black varnish; someone at work suggested black Japan;

Cheers and beers
John (beard1747)

Hi,
The mouldings are sure to be NDHW"non descript hard wood".Hard to match the walnut veneer so almost all of the time they were made a contrast.
Most manufacturers had their own finishes,highly unlikely shellac as to build up is too time consuming.Probably a gum based varnish and a last finish stage with a rubber(french polishing pad).This type of finish with it being fairly heavy became brittle and checked with age and heat.
jaywit

Hi Jaywit
thanks for your reply; think you are right about the contrast bit as it is dark and no grain shows; can you still get gum based varish? if so, what do you put on the rubber to finish it; I got a product from Feast Watson called French Polish (which you would no doubt be familiar with) from a hardware outlet couple of months back on store recommendation and put it on but it was useless and came up with a finish like light maple; will now sand it off

G'day Beard,
I'm moving your thread into the restoration forum.........otherwise you'll never get out of the "G'day" Area. Time to get your feet wet mate.

thanks mate i am a slow learner!!

No you're OK...Slowly Slowly Catchee Worm..........have fun.