08-31-2011, 07:43 PM
If the original grille cloth is in good shape I would send it out to be dry cleaned and leave it as is. Even though the reproduction cloth sources seem to be going through some turmoil right now in reality most of the grille cloth reproduced was the more common patterns from the pre war period, so there are a lot of patterns that were never reproduced and may never be.
I have been collecting and restoring radios for good number of years and I must confess that I have never bought reproduction grille cloth, most of what I have are Canadian market and off brand sets so with few exceptions (like Philcos) the original grill cloth pattern is unobtainable. So in most cases I do one of two things, I either make do with what I have and clean it up, or if it is missing or shreded to pieces I search for a satisfactory substitute. I know of someone that could custom weave grille cloth but in most cases it would not be worth it.
Regards
Arran
P.S The photo of a 48-1270 in the gallery is a Philco catalogue or sales brochure photo, does the speaker grill have a metal screen over it?
I have been collecting and restoring radios for good number of years and I must confess that I have never bought reproduction grille cloth, most of what I have are Canadian market and off brand sets so with few exceptions (like Philcos) the original grill cloth pattern is unobtainable. So in most cases I do one of two things, I either make do with what I have and clean it up, or if it is missing or shreded to pieces I search for a satisfactory substitute. I know of someone that could custom weave grille cloth but in most cases it would not be worth it.
Regards
Arran
P.S The photo of a 48-1270 in the gallery is a Philco catalogue or sales brochure photo, does the speaker grill have a metal screen over it?