[R-390] On the subject of manufacturing front panels...

[Tim Shoppa]

Roy reminded me of the subject of front panels... why was
anodizing front panels (black, other colors too) never very
popular for 50's/60's radios?

Something to do with fungus-proofing maybe?

Certainly by the 70's consumer stereo equipment was being
anodized.

Anodizing with engravings can get a bit tricky (with "grown"
thickness smearing out the engravings) but it's gotta be
less of an effect than painting.

Looks like someone with a little bit of patience and a PC could design
up a pretty spiffy R-390/390A front panel using

  http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/material/examples.htm

and get it anodized black or green or bronze (looiks more olive to me)
or whatever, lettered (engraved, maybe silkscreened?), and delivered
for circa $150-$200.

Tim.