@Shane-- I do think I used the right alcohol; it was denatured. Still just a lot of work. As for why do I sand phonographs with a tie on, I'm usually too lazy to change and have just gotten very good at not splashing phonogrime everywhere. Before I figured that out I washed a lot of collars and cuffs
Board shorts & a singlet (sounds like what Americans would call drawers & a T-shirt) is far too nice for wearing on phonograph repairs; that's dress code to go to Wal-Mart!
Well I'm still scabbing this old thing together, after a particularly busy and less than pleasant week balancing college, work, and apartment living--specifically cooking; I love to cook food but come home too tired to eat it.
But still not too busy to tinker with a phonograph off and on, though! I got the first two coats of shellac onto the cabinet, mended the crack in the baseboard (which I haven't filled and finished yet) and tried sanding some of the lid, which is a lot more work than it looks like.
Unfortunately some of the plating is ruined on some of the parts. I know some local plating companies and perhaps they can help.
So here's the Edison Home B at present in pictures.
What's missing:
Model C reproducer
Model H reproducer
Drive belt
Drive belt pulley, billet aluminum
Governor drive gear
Governor weights, screws, and leaf springs
Mainspring barrel
Mainspring
Winding crank
Rubber feet
EDISON HOME PHONOGRAPH banner transfer
Bedplate trademark decal
Supplies to paint pinstripes
Black paint
Motor shock mount (just one)
...and some kind of a horn.
I could go for a standard 14" witch hat, and space in my tiny apartment is limited. But I may yet put a proper horn on it--which means a crane, and notching the case so I can put the bracket for a replica on. (My budget doesn't permit an original clip-on crane.)
I shouldn't have bought it but am glad I did. Watching it go from scaly old wreck to a restored piece is kind of a reminder of why I like to fix phonographs in the first place. It will be a keeper when it's ready to go again, probably.