Pye fire and repaired set

[stevehertz]

In another thread I recently touched on how manufacturers were not above applying 'off the wall' measures in order to keep production lines going. This, even if it meant using non-standard parts, circuit changes or even using re-worked damaged parts.

In the early 80s I owned a 1930s Pye radio (T/M?) and at the front bottom edge it can be seen that the veneer had been applied over the top of fire damage. I thought this was most strange and could never quite figure out exactly what had gone on. It wasn't until many years later that I read that Pye had experienced a fire in its factory. So it seems my set had suffered damage in the fire, but inventive production staff had veneered over the damage! Later on in its life, poor storage conditions and perhaps the lack of adhesion of the veneer to the burnt area exposed what had been done.