Busy restoring A tombstone style Philips 535U (1934)There was not much left of the dial scale which consists of a thin piece of plastic (celluloid?) which was stuck together with cellotape. I managed to scan and reconstruct the dial. There were however several station names printed on the dial that could not be read so I had to take a thumb suck and fill in with cities such as London, Brussels etc. While I was busy doing this I suddenly thought of filling in my own name (desmiles) as one off the unknown stations, there are 70 stations listed on the dial. I've printed the final dial on paper and asked friends if they can see anything unusual with the names of the cities and none have noticed my name!! I think this was due to a lack of real interest in what I asked them to do. If I look at it, my name seems to glare out at me.If I finally print this dial on film and install it in the radio, is anyone ever really going to notice this!! or will I be immortalised for the next 70 years! Once when I was restoring a battery powered Zeneth I wrote my name and date on the chassis that is covered by the vibrater unit, I don't think anyone will ever see it again. Does anyone out there ever do this sort of thing, or is it completely out of the spirit of radio restoration?
Des Miles - South Africa.

Des,
I did the same thing last week with a Philco dial glass, but just couldn't duplicate the Philco fonts with any of my PC applications. I do early precautions as well, by first scanning (full size) the dial glass immediately upon removal, and even before cleaning, then clean it, wrap it and set aside. I restore old trunks, tools, phonos, cabinetry, radios and create one-of-a-kind wood crafts as hobbies. Sell some and give others as gifts. I have my own small hand ground electric branding iron, which I usually apply to an inconspicious area on wood cabinetry or crafts. Although not registered, my own unique trademark usually brings a smile to most faces, and most insist that it be on my creations/restorations. If you're like me, don't be modest. Send us some pix.

marv

:Busy restoring A tombstone style Philips 535U (1934)There was not much left of the dial scale which consists of a thin piece of plastic (celluloid?) which was stuck together with cellotape. I managed to scan and reconstruct the dial. There were however several station names printed on the dial that could not be read so I had to take a thumb suck and fill in with cities such as London, Brussels etc. While I was busy doing this I suddenly thought of filling in my own name (desmiles) as one off the unknown stations, there are 70 stations listed on the dial. I've printed the final dial on paper and asked friends if they can see anything unusual with the names of the cities and none have noticed my name!! I think this was due to a lack of real interest in what I asked them to do. If I look at it, my name seems to glare out at me.If I finally print this dial on film and install it in the radio, is anyone ever really going to notice this!! or will I be immortalised for the next 70 years! Once when I was restoring a battery powered Zeneth I wrote my name and date on the chassis that is covered by the vibrater unit, I don't think anyone will ever see it again. Does anyone out there ever do this sort of thing, or is it completely out of the spirit of radio restoration?
:Des Miles - South Africa.

:Des,
:I did the same thing last week with a Philco dial glass, but just couldn't duplicate the Philco fonts with any of my PC applications. I do early precautions as well, by first scanning (full size) the dial glass immediately upon removal, and even before cleaning, then clean it, wrap it and set aside. I restore old trunks, tools, phonos, cabinetry, radios and create one-of-a-kind wood crafts as hobbies. Sell some and give others as gifts. I have my own small hand ground electric branding iron, which I usually apply to an inconspicious area on wood cabinetry or crafts. Although not registered, my own unique trademark usually brings a smile to most faces, and most insist that it be on my creations/restorations. If you're like me, don't be modest. Send us some pix.
:
:marv
:
::Busy restoring A tombstone style Philips 535U (1934)There was not much left of the dial scale which consists of a thin piece of plastic (celluloid?) which was stuck together with cellotape. I managed to scan and reconstruct the dial. There were however several station names printed on the dial that could not be read so I had to take a thumb suck and fill in with cities such as London, Brussels etc. While I was busy doing this I suddenly thought of filling in my own name (desmiles) as one off the unknown stations, there are 70 stations listed on the dial. I've printed the final dial on paper and asked friends if they can see anything unusual with the names of the cities and none have noticed my name!! I think this was due to a lack of real interest in what I asked them to do. If I look at it, my name seems to glare out at me.If I finally print this dial on film and install it in the radio, is anyone ever really going to notice this!! or will I be immortalised for the next 70 years! Once when I was restoring a battery powered Zeneth I wrote my name and date on the chassis that is covered by the vibrater unit, I don't think anyone will ever see it again. Does anyone out there ever do this sort of thing, or is it completely out of the spirit of radio restoration?
::Des Miles - South Africa.

Hi Marv,
I commonly mount a business card inside. It helps with standing behind my work. I think it increases value to sign your work. On a radio I have had the cabinet refinished professionally, I place the refinisher's card with mine, too.
I also like to place the date, too. It indicates how old the radio was at time of restoration. I am even considering on some, including a CD-ROM with 'before' photos.
Placing your name as one of the radio station calls is cute. In the future, people will probably already know that the dial is not original. The signature in this case is merely an admission of the truth.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

Bill,
I have a business card size version of my cute little trademark, which I use from time to time depending on what the buyer wants. I usually have a plethora of .jpg's of each restoration from the get/go, but stored on my PC only. The CD is a good idea though, and might offer that when my CD burner software decides to start working again.

marv

::Des,
::I did the same thing last week with a Philco dial glass, but just couldn't duplicate the Philco fonts with any of my PC applications. I do early precautions as well, by first scanning (full size) the dial glass immediately upon removal, and even before cleaning, then clean it, wrap it and set aside. I restore old trunks, tools, phonos, cabinetry, radios and create one-of-a-kind wood crafts as hobbies. Sell some and give others as gifts. I have my own small hand ground electric branding iron, which I usually apply to an inconspicious area on wood cabinetry or crafts. Although not registered, my own unique trademark usually brings a smile to most faces, and most insist that it be on my creations/restorations. If you're like me, don't be modest. Send us some pix.
::
::marv
::
:::Busy restoring A tombstone style Philips 535U (1934)There was not much left of the dial scale which consists of a thin piece of plastic (celluloid?) which was stuck together with cellotape. I managed to scan and reconstruct the dial. There were however several station names printed on the dial that could not be read so I had to take a thumb suck and fill in with cities such as London, Brussels etc. While I was busy doing this I suddenly thought of filling in my own name (desmiles) as one off the unknown stations, there are 70 stations listed on the dial. I've printed the final dial on paper and asked friends if they can see anything unusual with the names of the cities and none have noticed my name!! I think this was due to a lack of real interest in what I asked them to do. If I look at it, my name seems to glare out at me.If I finally print this dial on film and install it in the radio, is anyone ever really going to notice this!! or will I be immortalised for the next 70 years! Once when I was restoring a battery powered Zeneth I wrote my name and date on the chassis that is covered by the vibrater unit, I don't think anyone will ever see it again. Does anyone out there ever do this sort of thing, or is it completely out of the spirit of radio restoration?
:::Des Miles - South Africa.
:
:Hi Marv,
: I commonly mount a business card inside. It helps with standing behind my work. I think it increases value to sign your work. On a radio I have had the cabinet refinished professionally, I place the refinisher's card with mine, too.
: I also like to place the date, too. It indicates how old the radio was at time of restoration. I am even considering on some, including a CD-ROM with 'before' photos.
: Placing your name as one of the radio station calls is cute. In the future, people will probably already know that the dial is not original. The signature in this case is merely an admission of the truth.
:
:Best Regards,
:
:Bill Grimm
:
:Best Regards,
:
:Bill Grimm

:Bill,
:I have a business card size version of my cute little trademark, which I use from time to time depending on what the buyer wants. I usually have a plethora of .jpg's of each restoration from the get/go, but stored on my PC only. The CD is a good idea though, and might offer that when my CD burner software decides to start working again.
:
:marv
:
:::Des,
:::I did the same thing last week with a Philco dial glass, but just couldn't duplicate the Philco fonts with any of my PC applications. I do early precautions as well, by first scanning (full size) the dial glass immediately upon removal, and even before cleaning, then clean it, wrap it and set aside. I restore old trunks, tools, phonos, cabinetry, radios and create one-of-a-kind wood crafts as hobbies. Sell some and give others as gifts. I have my own small hand ground electric branding iron, which I usually apply to an inconspicious area on wood cabinetry or crafts. Although not registered, my own unique trademark usually brings a smile to most faces, and most insist that it be on my creations/restorations. If you're like me, don't be modest. Send us some pix.
:::
:::marv
:::
::::Busy restoring A tombstone style Philips 535U (1934)There was not much left of the dial scale which consists of a thin piece of plastic (celluloid?) which was stuck together with cellotape. I managed to scan and reconstruct the dial. There were however several station names printed on the dial that could not be read so I had to take a thumb suck and fill in with cities such as London, Brussels etc. While I was busy doing this I suddenly thought of filling in my own name (desmiles) as one off the unknown stations, there are 70 stations listed on the dial. I've printed the final dial on paper and asked friends if they can see anything unusual with the names of the cities and none have noticed my name!! I think this was due to a lack of real interest in what I asked them to do. If I look at it, my name seems to glare out at me.If I finally print this dial on film and install it in the radio, is anyone ever really going to notice this!! or will I be immortalised for the next 70 years! Once when I was restoring a battery powered Zeneth I wrote my name and date on the chassis that is covered by the vibrater unit, I don't think anyone will ever see it again. Does anyone out there ever do this sort of thing, or is it completely out of the spirit of radio restoration?
::::Des Miles - South Africa.
::
::Hi Marv,
:: I commonly mount a business card inside. It helps with standing behind my work. I think it increases value to sign your work. On a radio I have had the cabinet refinished professionally, I place the refinisher's card with mine, too.
:: I also like to place the date, too. It indicates how old the radio was at time of restoration. I am even considering on some, including a CD-ROM with 'before' photos.
:: Placing your name as one of the radio station calls is cute. In the future, people will probably already know that the dial is not original. The signature in this case is merely an admission of the truth.
::
::Best Regards,
::
::Bill Grimm
::
::Best Regards,
::
::Bill Grimm

Hi Marv,
Nice hearing from you.
I have thought about the quesiton a little more and the answer may be 'you really ought to do something like this.'
There is a big difference between an electrically restored radio and a 'working' radio. A restored radio will work into the forseeable future, and if it fails it will be due to an easily replaced tube. A 'working' radio is one which is ready to turn into a big hum or and electrolyte fountain.
Marking a radio as electrically restored with the date will put subsequent owners on notice that the radio will have a reliability not seen in 'working' radios.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm