25-03-2014, 08:55 PM
Thanks for reading and for your helpful comments Colin.
Yes, I'd noted that the grain is vertical rather than horizontal. I did wonder about soaking the veneer (or even making a steam box with a slot in the side into which I could slide say the top 3 inches of veneer, and making a male and female wooden clamp to the same contours as the cabinet top to clamp the steamed veneer in the mating clamps overnight. Just thinking out loud really. I think it's been veneered with two leaves down the front - not bookmatched as a feature - the joint is almost imperceptible and meant to be. I thought that if I could find some sapele with slightly sloping grain I could perhaps make a feature of it rather than to try to disguise the join, but come what may, I can't see me getting round to it for some time. I want to try to complete the AC77 before I start anything else and we're away or out so much that hobby time is scarce and random.
The overall size of the set is 20 inches wide, 12.75" tall and 9" deep, so if I did set about attempting to veneer the front, I guess I'd need two pieces say 12" wide and 15" long.
Needless to say, it's the top rolled edge of the cabinet where the veneer has come unstuck and been chipped off. To my eyes, it's an attractive set, but no attempt was made to use exotic veneers - I guess it reflects the severe shortage of veneers (and timber too) in the immediate post-war years, though sapele did seem to become popular in the mid to late 1950s - hence 'Contiboard' still with us today.
The book 'Setmakers' mentions that shortly after VE day radio chassis for the domestic market were rolling off the assembly lines, but 'with no prospect of any timber for cabinets to put them in'. Sets destined for the home market were limited by government quota due to the need to export at a time when the motto was 'export or die'. Odd that wood (including native wood such as walnut), was in short supply, but not steel. Bakelite was looked upon by many as an inferior product - 'fake wood'. How times change.
The Board of Trade was concerned that makers would seek higher quotas claiming their sets were for export, then rather than export, would sell on the domestic market and thus would worsen the balance of payments deficit. The makers were worried that war surplus radios and components coming onto the market and ending up in Lisle St shops would undermine their efforts.
The lack of Britain's self-sufficiency in timber in the post-war years lead to 'utility furniture' being produced in the UK during and just after World War II, under a Government scheme which was designed to cope with shortages of raw materials and rationing of consumption. Introduced in 1942, the Utility Furniture Scheme continued into post-war austerity and lasted until 1952, four years after the Murphy A124 went into production. Actually, thought not perhaps appreciated at the time, Utility Furniture was remarkably well made.
Oh dear, showing my age again!
Waffled and dribbled Yorkie.
Yes, I'd noted that the grain is vertical rather than horizontal. I did wonder about soaking the veneer (or even making a steam box with a slot in the side into which I could slide say the top 3 inches of veneer, and making a male and female wooden clamp to the same contours as the cabinet top to clamp the steamed veneer in the mating clamps overnight. Just thinking out loud really. I think it's been veneered with two leaves down the front - not bookmatched as a feature - the joint is almost imperceptible and meant to be. I thought that if I could find some sapele with slightly sloping grain I could perhaps make a feature of it rather than to try to disguise the join, but come what may, I can't see me getting round to it for some time. I want to try to complete the AC77 before I start anything else and we're away or out so much that hobby time is scarce and random.
The overall size of the set is 20 inches wide, 12.75" tall and 9" deep, so if I did set about attempting to veneer the front, I guess I'd need two pieces say 12" wide and 15" long.
Needless to say, it's the top rolled edge of the cabinet where the veneer has come unstuck and been chipped off. To my eyes, it's an attractive set, but no attempt was made to use exotic veneers - I guess it reflects the severe shortage of veneers (and timber too) in the immediate post-war years, though sapele did seem to become popular in the mid to late 1950s - hence 'Contiboard' still with us today.
The book 'Setmakers' mentions that shortly after VE day radio chassis for the domestic market were rolling off the assembly lines, but 'with no prospect of any timber for cabinets to put them in'. Sets destined for the home market were limited by government quota due to the need to export at a time when the motto was 'export or die'. Odd that wood (including native wood such as walnut), was in short supply, but not steel. Bakelite was looked upon by many as an inferior product - 'fake wood'. How times change.
The Board of Trade was concerned that makers would seek higher quotas claiming their sets were for export, then rather than export, would sell on the domestic market and thus would worsen the balance of payments deficit. The makers were worried that war surplus radios and components coming onto the market and ending up in Lisle St shops would undermine their efforts.
The lack of Britain's self-sufficiency in timber in the post-war years lead to 'utility furniture' being produced in the UK during and just after World War II, under a Government scheme which was designed to cope with shortages of raw materials and rationing of consumption. Introduced in 1942, the Utility Furniture Scheme continued into post-war austerity and lasted until 1952, four years after the Murphy A124 went into production. Actually, thought not perhaps appreciated at the time, Utility Furniture was remarkably well made.
Oh dear, showing my age again!
Waffled and dribbled 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'
