20-05-2013, 03:57 PM
A good find Joe - it looks in quite good shape, and a much more sensible size than the monstrous original!
As I recall, these repro sets were marketed by Philips in 1983 (ish) to commemorate the 50th birthday of the 634 'Superinductance' TRF set (what later became known as the 'Ovaltiny' because it featured in an Ovaltine advert), the DC version of which went into production in 1932/3. An AC version followed in 1943. A large ungainly set, albeit much sought after by some. It was veneered with indifferent nondescript veneer, and 'faked up' with two bands of toner, as in Joe's repro set, to make it look like two bands of contrasting veneer.
As with all sets of the day, it was sprayed with cellulose lacquer, which flakes off, so amateur restorers who think they can 'restore' the cabinet get to work with Nitromors, only to find to their horror, that the toner (which doesn't soak into the veneer but sits on it), that they thought was bands of darker veneer, comes off, along with the lacquer. They then cut their losses and give it a few coats of Danish oil, doing irreparable damage as Danish oil doesn't simply dry - it goes through a chemical change and 'cures'. Once applied, it can never be removed.
Really, from the outset the veneer on these cabinets was of such poor quality that even in the hands of a professional, it would be pretty much a lost cause, trying to make what was a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Almost all of the Superinductance sets I've seen have been got at in this way. If you look at the example at the link below, you will note the following statement:
"The cabinet has been re-polished sympathetically and the set has been overhauled"...
(I suppose it depends upon one’s definition of ‘sympathetic’ but to destroy the original finish and replace it with an entirely different finish, destroying original features would not come within my understanding of ‘sympathy’). Any radio belongs to the person who owns it at the time, and it’s there’s to do with what they want, but to be blunt about it, with 'classic' radios - rather than just any old radio - if the owner for the time being doesn’t have the skills to do the work properly, why not entrust it to a professional, rather than make irreversible changes? I actually find this set offensive to the eye:
See: http://www.thevalvepage.com/radios/phili...a/634a.htm
Another example states:
"The famous 'Ovaltiney' model 634A, one of the 1932 Superinductance range. This is a very good clean example, which has had a thorough restoration and works well. It has lost the bands of stain round the top and sides, but the front has exceptionally nice veneers. original cloth, back etc".
It hasn’t ‘lost’ its banding - knobs and backs, and DAC90A mains leads get ‘lost’. The banding has been deliberately removed during a botched ‘restoration’ process at some time during its life.
See: http://www.vintageradio.co.uk/htm/sales4.htm
Pedantically postulated Yorkie.
As I recall, these repro sets were marketed by Philips in 1983 (ish) to commemorate the 50th birthday of the 634 'Superinductance' TRF set (what later became known as the 'Ovaltiny' because it featured in an Ovaltine advert), the DC version of which went into production in 1932/3. An AC version followed in 1943. A large ungainly set, albeit much sought after by some. It was veneered with indifferent nondescript veneer, and 'faked up' with two bands of toner, as in Joe's repro set, to make it look like two bands of contrasting veneer.
As with all sets of the day, it was sprayed with cellulose lacquer, which flakes off, so amateur restorers who think they can 'restore' the cabinet get to work with Nitromors, only to find to their horror, that the toner (which doesn't soak into the veneer but sits on it), that they thought was bands of darker veneer, comes off, along with the lacquer. They then cut their losses and give it a few coats of Danish oil, doing irreparable damage as Danish oil doesn't simply dry - it goes through a chemical change and 'cures'. Once applied, it can never be removed.
Really, from the outset the veneer on these cabinets was of such poor quality that even in the hands of a professional, it would be pretty much a lost cause, trying to make what was a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Almost all of the Superinductance sets I've seen have been got at in this way. If you look at the example at the link below, you will note the following statement:
"The cabinet has been re-polished sympathetically and the set has been overhauled"...
(I suppose it depends upon one’s definition of ‘sympathetic’ but to destroy the original finish and replace it with an entirely different finish, destroying original features would not come within my understanding of ‘sympathy’). Any radio belongs to the person who owns it at the time, and it’s there’s to do with what they want, but to be blunt about it, with 'classic' radios - rather than just any old radio - if the owner for the time being doesn’t have the skills to do the work properly, why not entrust it to a professional, rather than make irreversible changes? I actually find this set offensive to the eye:
See: http://www.thevalvepage.com/radios/phili...a/634a.htm
Another example states:
"The famous 'Ovaltiney' model 634A, one of the 1932 Superinductance range. This is a very good clean example, which has had a thorough restoration and works well. It has lost the bands of stain round the top and sides, but the front has exceptionally nice veneers. original cloth, back etc".
It hasn’t ‘lost’ its banding - knobs and backs, and DAC90A mains leads get ‘lost’. The banding has been deliberately removed during a botched ‘restoration’ process at some time during its life.
See: http://www.vintageradio.co.uk/htm/sales4.htm
Pedantically postulated Yorkie.
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
