Hi all,

Have just got my hands on the wooden version of the AWA Empire State Radiolette I'm not sure of the model number.

Its in really bad shape and will need to have all the veneer replaced, but everything is all there. I need some help with the way its supposed to look ie. the painted black highlights that appear around the radio etc.

If anyone has some pics of one that thay can send me it would be much appreciated. Need a few good pics of the sides, top and front. My email is peter_ihotmail.com


Cheers
Peter

http://users.vic.chariot.net.au/~lcval1/R27.jpg.

Brad

Thanks for the reference. Can you tell me if the timber that runs from the top to front through the middle of the radio is originally painted all black as I have seen another that was just done in clear varnish.

Cheers
Peter.

On my example it is a dark stain then clear-coated with lacquer though in some radios the colouring is reversed and you'll see darker panels to the sides of the speaker grille and a lighter coloured speaker grille.

The edges of the timber would have been painted with black japan though I just use flat enamel. it produces much the same finish and isn't hard to find.

I've been trying to get mine restored for a while now and am about half way through though it won't be finished until I can score some time on the laser cutting machine at work - I have to make a new speaker grille.

Brad,

Did you have to replace the veneer on yours? Seems like I'm going to have to replace all the venner on this one.
I have done veneer jobs on radios before but this has the veneer going under the rectangular sides and also under the vented woodwork panelling.
Any suggestions on best how to attack it as taking these apart look like a massive challenge.
These are such a grand little radio and I hope that you get to finish yours off soon. Do you have to recreate the whole front speaker grill?

Cheers
Peter

I do have to make a new speaker grille, yep. This is because part of the fluting on the front is missing, as is part of the top layer of plywood.

Be mindful that on this model the veneer on the front is very thin, almost the thickness of a human hair. You may not get a faithful-looking result if you iron on standard thickness veneer on this part of the radio cabinet.

Thanks for the heads up.