Paint Identification Problem

[David Dunlop]

I have run across a type of paint finish on my RCA AR88LF Receiver that I know I have seen before on some other electronics built in the 1930's and 1940's, but I do not know if this finish has a formal name. At first glance, it looks like the common wrinkle/crinkle finish we have all seen sooner or later on various pieces of MV, electronic or aviation equipment, both pre and post war, but this finish I have ever only seen in black.

Typical wrinkle/crinkle has a very uniform texture to it and has the feel of fine grit sandpaper to the touch. It also takes on a silver or grey sheen on the black paints under certain lighting conditions.

My AR88 and speaker were reconditioned in 1957. To my eye, the paint finish on these two parts is undoubtedly fine, black wrinkle. My problem has arisen since the arrival of a second, NOS RCA Speaker assembly for the AR88, with factory original 1944 paint.

The feel of this paint finish is far smoother than the wrinkle finish of the other two items. Depending on the lighting, this paint looks either like a black granite composed of 3 or 4 mm crystals, or like a well grained black leather.

Hopefully the following pictures may help explain the differences. The first one shows the side of the reconditioned speaker and AR88 cabinet with the fine wrinkle black paint. The second is the same speaker showing the original black paint on the inside of the speaker case. The 3rd photo is the NOS speaker on the cabinet, but it is hard to see the larger crystal/leather look of the speaker paint. The last photo is a closeup of the bottom of the NOS speaker, hopefully clarifying the larger crystal/leather texture to the paint.

Can anyone help ID what type of paint or finish this is? It is so unique at the moment, I would love to be able to recreate it on the AR88 cabinet when I redo it. It really pops when put next to the traditional (for lack of a better word) black wrinkle finish.

David