19-02-2013, 05:29 PM
An amazing transformation Colin!
When it has the 'works' back in, and the dial and speaker fret in place it's going to look stunning.
Barkers were of course an upmarket furniture store and the radios were made on their behalf by radio firms, intended to compliment their range of living room furniture. How ironic that whereas before, the Barker 88 just looked like a typical woodie radio of the era, with a rather nice dial, only now - after Colin’s hard work and overcoming the tussles with taming the burr walnut - does it look like a top quality piece of furniture of the immediate post-war era! It’s evident from the pictures that Colin has posted to show his step by step progress, that a great deal of time and effort has been expended to achieve the wonderful finish. Colin’s skill and patience has transformed the cabinet from a 'Cinderella' into a princess of a cabinet, fit for the Ball!!
In the immediate post-war years when the Barker 88 was manufactured, rationing was still in being and would be for some years to come, so materials, including veneer and plywood, were in short supply. Apart from that, as Britain was bankrupt from the war years, the priority was in exporting - not satisfying the needs of British customers ('Export or Die'). In 1945 British set-makers were authorised by the Board of Trade to produce up to 400,000 sets, but mostly for export. I'd have thought that components and chassis would be in short supply, but in fact chassis started rolling off the production line soon after VE Day, but with no prospect of any timber for cabinets. I guess that's why the original veneer on the Barker 88 was nothing special. It is now!.
When it has the 'works' back in, and the dial and speaker fret in place it's going to look stunning.
Barkers were of course an upmarket furniture store and the radios were made on their behalf by radio firms, intended to compliment their range of living room furniture. How ironic that whereas before, the Barker 88 just looked like a typical woodie radio of the era, with a rather nice dial, only now - after Colin’s hard work and overcoming the tussles with taming the burr walnut - does it look like a top quality piece of furniture of the immediate post-war era! It’s evident from the pictures that Colin has posted to show his step by step progress, that a great deal of time and effort has been expended to achieve the wonderful finish. Colin’s skill and patience has transformed the cabinet from a 'Cinderella' into a princess of a cabinet, fit for the Ball!!
In the immediate post-war years when the Barker 88 was manufactured, rationing was still in being and would be for some years to come, so materials, including veneer and plywood, were in short supply. Apart from that, as Britain was bankrupt from the war years, the priority was in exporting - not satisfying the needs of British customers ('Export or Die'). In 1945 British set-makers were authorised by the Board of Trade to produce up to 400,000 sets, but mostly for export. I'd have thought that components and chassis would be in short supply, but in fact chassis started rolling off the production line soon after VE Day, but with no prospect of any timber for cabinets. I guess that's why the original veneer on the Barker 88 was nothing special. It is now!.
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'
