My latest project, a Grundig RF255U...

[Nick_the_'Nole]

I got this beast at a hamfest over the weekend. It's my first German radio, and it seems to be a pretty nice one. It's a tube-type stereo unit, and was made in 1967. At $20 I think it was a pretty nice score, especially since it mostly works, but there are a couple of things that need attention.

The most obvious issue is the trashed veneer on the top, and there's also some missing from one side. It seems to just be pretty common quarter-sawn walnut veneer, so rather than trying to repair all the splits, I think what I'll do is strip all the old veneer off the top, saving a piece of it to patch the side if I can, then put a whole new sheet on the top. Any ideas what sort of glue was used on these things, and whether it's even reasonably possible to salvage a piece of the old veneer?

But the more pressing matter is the fact that the dial cord has come loose. The string itself seems to be intact, and I can probably even figure out how to hook it back up. But in order to get to it, I need to take off the dial glass, which requires removing the tuning knob. And that's where I'm stuck... nothing I try will budge that damn knob. I can't find a set screw anywhere, but pulling on it seems to have no effect either (though I didn't want to yank too hard for fear of breaking something). Is there some trick that I'm missing?