[gary rabbitt]

Hi Z,
I am not familiar with the exact pattern of photo finish on your set, but I can refer you to a site that shows how to make your own photo finish. Is your original finish flaked of or in very bad condition?
Usually we try and save the original finish if at all possible. You can touch up a finish where it has flaked off, using artist's brushes and other tools to blend in to the orginal finish. After that, you can coat the finish with clear.

Besides Stewart's site, he can send additional info on how to recreate the finish using black and white prints of woodgrain, then use oil colors or colored pencils to get the color right. You can then attach the print onto your set.

If you found another set like yours, with good photo finish, you could take high res photos of the pattern, then make your own strip using the original image as a pattern.

For now, here is his site to give you an idea of one method.
http://www.philcoradio.com/schooley/index.htm

Other posts from the 'other' website in more detail
http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopi...&highlight=

YOu can email him and he will probably send details of othr ways how to recreate the finish.

As for not bothering with the faux grain, you could add real veneer which might be fine. The other thing some do is to try and stain the cheap wood for the finish. That wood doesn't stain well at all, and makes the set look unfinished with cheap wood grain. I would opt for the real veneer than ever do any staining.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, and hope this helps.
Gary.