Well I'll tackle just about anything if I have some kind of instruction on how it's done. I really don't like "It Can't Be Done" as an answer. Does anyone know where there are instructions on how the original faux finishes were produced and applied to these old radios? I've heard it referred to as "Photo Finish"? I played with photos of wood grain and I can see how it may work but how it is applied to the radio without bubbles and wrinkles is beyond me. Thanks!

These were originallly printed on thin decal paper, which was then applied to a wet layer of varnish. After the varnish dried, the paper was moistened and pulled off of the surface, leaving behind only the ink. A finish was then applied over the ink.

In the modern world, I've had some considerable success by staining the stripped, unfinished wood with analine dye, and then having the paaroprite wood grain printed in balck and white on rub-on trnasfer paper. the stained wood is sealed with shellac, and the printed wood grain is then trnasfered to the surface ub the usual manner, by rubbing. The set is then finished with tinted shellac or with tinted toning lacquer.