Philco model 40-145 dial ruined!!
 

I have a rather nice example of an older Philco 3 band tabletop radio that I was cleaning up, but I took the cleanup a step too far. I made the tragic mistake of using some kind of cleaning fluid to wipe off the dial and that's exactly what I did; I wiped the lettering right off of the dial! :no:

This is just awful as the radio looks real nice and has this rubbed out dial. If anyone has one in a junk set or in their parts collection, I would love to have a nice one. Just PM me if you have this. It's AM-POLICE/AIRCRAFT-SHORTWAVE by the way. Thanks!

That's too bad, but you're not the first one to do that. The general procedure with dials is to brush off carefully and then try plain water in a corner that won't show and go from there.

Post the model number of the radio and someone may have a dial they can scan.

The mid-late 30's model Wells-Gardner radios have water soluble printing on the celluloid dials. You can't even use water on them. Just a soft dry cloth and you even have to be careful with that.
If someone with the same set, would make a photocopy of the dial scale and send it to you, you could possibly have a transparency made, at an office specialty shop. I never tried it, but I heard of it being done. :thmbsp:

:( Philco used water soluble ink on many of their dial scales. Mineral spirits can be used to clean them.

Radiodaze sells a reproduction for $19 http://www.radiodaze.com/product/14180.aspx

Some Zenith black dials can be wiped off with water...Don't ask how I learned...I did have a junk chassis on hand though.

There may be a reproduction dial available too....

After one or two incidents, I usually only gently wipe off the dust with a dry cloth.