Post by Philconut on Oct 8, 2022 19:10:49 GMT 12
Some considerable time ago now, I bought from Trademe a Philco chassis & speaker. It looked like an 8 valve set but quite extensive investigation didn't support that idea. I eventually decided that it was a model 71, 7 valve, chassis. Anyway it was of lesser importance. When it arrived, it did indeed turn out to be a model 71. It was, as all old wirelesses are, in need of extensive repair. Not to worry, I had been there before and the task wasn't to daunting. Time & effort later and I had a operational wireless. Interestingly, Philco had offered a kit to fit a shadow tuning indicator to this model but, in this instance, it hadn't been fitted. As Philco did, this chassis was fitted to several different cabinet designs and from the speaker mounting board which was still there, I concluded that this chassis had been in the grandfather clock style of cabinet. Well, I wasn't going there! Woodwork has always held a great interest for me and over many years I have made a considerable amount of furniture, including a pipe organ, so I opted to make this a 71B model in a classic, grand, Philco Cathedral cabinet. I have a model 91 in such a cabinet so that was the starting point. I spent many hours at my computer drawing and redrawing the design until eventually I was satisfied that I had it correct. These cabinets do not follow circles. They are a series of intersecting circles and ellipses which is what gives them their distinctive appeal. Once the drawings were complete, it was into the workshop for the real work! I started with the two different mouldings. I had to make a little filler piece for the router to surround the cutter so that I could cut the pattern in the edge of the cabinet front, shown in the vice. 
So far, so good. The other moulding fits around the opening in the front and this too took three router passes and some sanding to achieve.
Now to the front panel. I had prepared a piece of walnut veneered MDF to which I glued the printout of the plan.
This gave me the exact details of centres etc. Now to routing it out. This is where the nervousness set in as one tiny slip with the router and the piece was ruined! After lots more time and great care, the front emerged from the dust and it was perfect.
Next was to route the inside curve of the front which was another three router passes.
So far, so good. The other moulding fits around the opening in the front and this too took three router passes and some sanding to achieve.
Now to the front panel. I had prepared a piece of walnut veneered MDF to which I glued the printout of the plan.
This gave me the exact details of centres etc. Now to routing it out. This is where the nervousness set in as one tiny slip with the router and the piece was ruined! After lots more time and great care, the front emerged from the dust and it was perfect.
Next was to route the inside curve of the front which was another three router passes.
