Re-lettering radio faceplate
 

I wonder if anyone here has every done this, and if so, how. I have seen
references to vintage radios having been restored and the markings and
lettering silkscreened on a refinished faceplate. It seems to me that
refinishing the faceplate is the easy part, but who does this sort of
silkscreening? I've called a couple of places and all they do is clothing
like T-shirts and hats. Any ideas? Thanks.

Jeff

It seems to me this is a not infrequent topic at
rec.antiques.radio+phono

"Unrevealed Source" wrote in message
...
I wonder if anyone here has every done this, and if so, how. I have seen
references to vintage radios having been restored and the markings and
lettering silkscreened on a refinished faceplate. It seems to me that
refinishing the faceplate is the easy part, but who does this sort of
silkscreening? I've called a couple of places and all they do is clothing
like T-shirts and hats. Any ideas? Thanks.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I have done the artwork using Design CAD for a number of my boatanchors. I
start by doing a hi res scan of the front panel and then importing it to my
CAD program. Using an overlay, I create the new artwork and select the font
used on the original panel.
If the panel is in color ( as in a Johnson Navigator I am now doing)
individual images are produced for each color.
Once the artwork is complete, I send the images to a print shop and they
make positive side transparencies. These can be used by the silk screen shop
to burn screens for each color. Although you can purchase do it yourself
silk screening kits- it takes skill and it would be a nightmare to
strip/prime/ lay down color base coat and then to have one of the screens
get smudges as each color is placed on the panel. I let the pros do the
screening. Search your area for metal finsihers/ painters- they often also
do screening.

73,

Dale W4OP
for PAR Electronics, Inc.