Some radio manufacturers did use stain. Many did not. Commonly commercial furniture (including old radios) is finished first in toning lacquers, and then with clear lacquer. You will find this especially so on the radios that had dark decorative trim that you can't seem to darken again with stains. This was originally covered with a dark colored lacquer. Mohawk sells toning lacquers. Walnut is going to be more of an orangish-purplish tone, where-as van-dyke brown is going to be more of a yellowish-greenish brown. The walnut comes in both light and dark, and I believe that tavern pine is the lighter shade of the van-dyke brown. Could be wrong on that.
Take pictures and try hard to memorize what was there before you strip. I find that most lacquer finishes can be removed with steel wool soaked in acetone, though others have their preferred methods. Not all cabinets need to be refinished. Some can be mended by just touching up problematic areas, etc.
If you're not sure what you want to do with a radio, you can purchase all shades of toning lacquer, and then actually test them on the radio, especially if the radio hasn't been stripped yet. They wipe off easily with acetone, once you're ready to do the real job. There are, of course, surfaces that will require no toning at all, and there you should use clear lacquer, unless you wish to darken them.
If you are working with fresh wood, you do not want to test toning lacquers, as they will discolor the wood somewhat. It's best to test on a scrap piece of similar wood.
T.