Hand painted Fern o grand

[phonogal]

Recently a friend of ours was on a trip looking for antiques when they came across this phonograph. They were nice enough to haul it back to me. I originally thought I would strip it and refinish it but on seeing it,I have decided it's more interesting like this. I don't know when or who painted it but they did a nice job. The flowers and the border designs are hand painted. What do you think, leave it as is or refinish it?

[Jerry B.]

I believe in fixing "bad" history but yours was done with a great deal of thought. I like it and if it were mine, I would enjoy it just as it is. Jerry

[Phonofreak]

I would leave it alone. It looks like this was done a long time ago with great care.
Harvey Kravitz

[phonogal]

The funny thing is that the person that painted it put a plug in the crank hole and painted over it. So they were not using it as a phonograph. The crank and the escutcheon were with the machine so I was expecting there to possibly be a broken spring or something else wrong with the motor. The motor works perfectly when wound. I rebuilt the reproducer ad it plays nicely. The vogue record came with it.

[fonograph]

Looks like they left the decal intact too. Can you post a picture of it?

I have a Fern o grand like that but the finish is too far gone to save. Yours looks great like it is.

Bob

[phonogfp]

I agree with the others. This was likely a professional commission; perhaps by a firm that specialized in custom decoration. In any event, it's a well-done finish, almost certainly period (otherwise why save the decal?), which is probably unique. Congratulations!

George P.

[phonogal]

Looks like they left the decal intact too. Can you post a picture of it?

I have a Fern o grand like that but the finish is too far gone to save. Yours looks great like it is.

Bob

Here's a picture of the decal.

[phonogal]

I wish I had taken a picture of the motor when we had it out. I've not seen one like it before. It is encased in a cylinder. Really interesting. Completely enclosed with just the spindle and the hole for the crank. Runs nice and quiet.

[CarlosV]

Very nice and professional, and to my taste better-looking than a varnished dark wood finish.

[zonophpones7]

I have the fer-o-grand decal available at my website should you need one for your restoration. Phonodecal.com here is a link to it. Gregg

https://www.phonodecal.com/shop/phonogr ... rn-o-grand