I just finished an electrical restoration on this console I picked up locally last fall. I kept the original finish and it plays well. The flash makes it look a little cloudy but the finish is good.

Congrats on the great looking radio and for leaving the finish orginial!! I was just looking at a 116X on ebay and wondering what it looked like in orgininal condition. Congrats again and thanks for posting the picture!!!

Lynn

Yes, looks nice. Some folks have asked me if I plan to re finish the cabinet of a radio. I respond by saying that I like things the way they are assuming they are not ruined already. Even Antiques Road Show disparages 'fixes' which loose the patina.
But I do see the new beauty of a well done re finish.

Congratulations!
I'll never forget the restoration of my Philco 116X back in 1990. it was the first time I ever re-stuffed electrolytics.
Once done, I was treated to some of the smoothest deep bass I had ever heard from a radio!

Philco certainly had an edge on tone quality!

deltysdal, One time I was at an auction waiting on a very nice original finish 1931 Zenith highboy. It was dirty, but in perfect shape!
A lady come by and said repeatedly "Oh, that would look great refinished!"
I was determined to be sure she didn't get it!
It is sad that some people just want to refinish everything

-Steve

Steve very nice job!!! I wish I had the know how to bring back a radio as beautiful as you have done. Besides my RCA 816 NOTHING performs like my Philco 38-116!!

Thanks. It sounds very good. I have a 38 690 and a 38 116 also, they are better sounding, but this is worth the effort to restore as well.

One of these days I want to try an RCA 816. I passed on an 813 a few moths ago. It was in too bad a shape for what they wanted. This was one of my first attempts to keep the original finish. I used the tips I read on the cabinet restoration discussion group.