FOLLOW THE RESTORATION: Steel Body Edison “O” Reproducer

[MicaMonster]

It has been a while since I have posted a FOLLOW THE RESTORATION thread, but this one is special. This steel bodied Model “O” surfaced recently, and I have been asked to bring it back to life. First of all, it was filled and covered with soot and dirt. The blackness in the nickel was probably acid etched by SMOKE in a fire. Then, things get more interesting. The 2/4 shaft was meddled with, and the knob is incorrect. I obtained a repro shaft for it. But wait, THERE’S MORE! This was probably submerged, or in the world’s wettest basement......the retaining ring on the reproducer looks seized with rust. Add to that...whoever sold this took what looks like a wire brush to the top of the reproducer body!

My client wants this to look GOOD and be functional. I feel like such an idiot....I put my mouth over the horn nipple, and blew AND drew air through, and got a MOUTH FULL of soot...black soot, and dead bugs. BLEEEECHHHHKKK! Yuck.

SO! The dark finish. WILL NOT come off with silver polish. I had to use steel wool (which I don’t usually do...it leaves scratches). The needle bar cage was also black. The pin holding the original selector shaft needed to be pressed out. And for now, the reproducer body is soaking in EVAP-O-RUST for at least 12 hours!!! More soon!

[rgordon939]

That’s one sad looking reproducer for now, but I’m sure it will be looking much better soon. Keep the updates homing.

Rich Gordon

[MicaMonster]

Look at this mess!

[Mormon S]

Look at this mess!

Wow! How does that even happen

[Curt A]

It looks like it spent some time in the bottom of a PortaJohn...

[MicaMonster]

I had to literally CUT the retaining ring off, because the rust buildup behind it was hideous. I did light polishing and added some nickel plating to the top brass center section. And in the 2nd picture....the power of Evap-O-Rust! I await a replacement retaining ring and friction ring (original is too rusty to use).

[MicaMonster]

Before you continue, please scroll to the TOP of the thread and see the BEFORE photos. I had to cut the retaining ring out, as I may have stated earlier, and replaced it and the friction washer with good originals that I had on hand. The 2minute sapphire had settled in its bar...I removed it and rotated it to a new facet. The 4minute sapphire had a slight flat, so I removed it and rotated it as well. Considering that this looked like it was found in the wreckage of the Titanic......like all things Edison.....they SING AGAIN!

[drh]

...like all things Edison.....they SING AGAIN!

Quite the amazing rescue job. The resultant applause should echo all over the world!

[Dave D]

Where did you get the turnover knob?
Dave D

[VanEpsFan1914]

This thing turned out awesome!