Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
User avatar
walser
Victor II
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
Location: Spain
Contact:

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by walser »

Chapter 6, The cone gets a subtle enhancement

As you will remember, the cone was crushed and that kind of damage is very difficult to repair without damaging the triple ridge that it had.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-22 at 7.28.53 PM.jpeg
In addition, I agreed with the owner opinion that this Fontanophone/mecanophone horn was a little bit on the chubby side. Every other one that we had seen was taller and way more graceful.
This is one example:
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-25 at 3.27.15 PM.jpeg
So, I suggested to the owner to make it a little bit taller, just enough to make it more proportionate but not as much as the other ones we have saw.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-23 at 3.49.04 PM.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-23 at 3.49.04 PM (1).jpeg
Then , it was a matter of cutting the new pattern using the cardboard mock-up and making the triple ridge.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-25 at 12.35.50 PM.jpeg
For making the triple ridge, again, I do not have a tinsmith bead roller so I made a tool to make it to the exact dimensions as the original.
20210915_213047.jpg
Around one hour later, The cone was finished and soldered to the rest of the horn.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-25 at 3.08.50 PM.jpeg
Then it was a matter of soldering again the thread and it was ready to paint!
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-23 at 1.20.59 PM.jpeg
20210725_181057.jpg
Next chapter will be the process of painting it.

Regards,

Pedro Martinez
PedroFono
www.pedrofono.es

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by Curt A »

WONDERFUL :!:
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

User avatar
alang
VTLA
Posts: 3108
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:36 am
Personal Text: TMF Moderator
Location: Delaware

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by alang »

AWESOME! Simply AMAZING! I admire (and envy) your skills!

Andreas

User avatar
Inigo
Victor VI
Posts: 3753
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
Location: Madrid, Spain
Contact:

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by Inigo »

Grrrreat!! :)
Inigo

User avatar
dzavracky
Victor IV
Posts: 1547
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:37 pm
Personal Text: college collector
Location: Knoxville Tennessee
Contact:

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by dzavracky »

Wow this is really impressive. Great work!

I am excited to see the finished product.

David

User avatar
walser
Victor II
Posts: 210
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
Location: Spain
Contact:

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by walser »

Chapter 7. Lets put some colour!

Based on the pictures of the old horn before it was massacred by the previous "restorer", I managed to mix similar colours taking into account what would have looked when new.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-27 at 9.01.27 PM.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-28 at 9.54.45 AM.jpeg
The first coat is an etching primer to ensure that the paint will never flake off followed by 2 layers of Off White:
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-27 at 8.57.43 PM.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-27 at 8.46.38 PM.jpeg
Then I switched to a smaller aerograph nozzle and started painting the green borders:
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-29 at 9.33.21 AM.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-29 at 10.47.44 AM (1).jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-29 at 10.47.44 AM.jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-29 at 10.58.33 AM.jpeg
This was followed by a couple of satin varnish to protect them.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-29 at 10.16.39 PM.jpeg
Finally, the pinstripping brushes came to play to make all the gold lines. It was specially difficult to make the inside bottom part because of its shape that greatly limited the access.
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-30 at 2.37.09 PM (1).jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-07-30 at 2.37.09 PM.jpeg
And..... The owner was so delighted with it that he sent me some pictures if the gramophone with the horn installed.
WhatsApp Image 2021-08-27 at 5.52.26 PM (1).jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-08-27 at 5.52.25 PM (1).jpeg
WhatsApp Image 2021-08-27 at 5.52.25 PM.jpeg
And that's the end of this restoration. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did making it.

Regards,

Pedro Martinez
PedroFono
www.pedrofono.es

User avatar
Inigo
Victor VI
Posts: 3753
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
Location: Madrid, Spain
Contact:

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by Inigo »

No words... It has been a great labor of love. Thanks for allowing us to share this wonderful trip!
Inigo

User avatar
TinfoilPhono
Victor IV
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:48 pm
Location: SF Bay Area, Calif.

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by TinfoilPhono »

Absolutely stunning work!

User avatar
gramophone-georg
Victor VI
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by gramophone-georg »

:o :o :o :D !!!
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar

User avatar
Lucius1958
Victor VI
Posts: 3935
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:17 am
Location: Where there's "hamburger ALL OVER the highway"...

Re: Fontanophone /Mecanophone horn replica.

Post by Lucius1958 »

Beautiful replica!

- Bill

Post Reply