Follow the restoration: Edison Triumph model B

[Victrolaboy]

Let's start with the horn. Someone in the past has painted the morning glory horn an ugly gold color! Time for this to come off! I am using '0000' steel wool and paint thinner. I started with mineral spirits and a cloth to make sure that if there is any original paint under the ugly gold that I don't harm it. But who ever pained the horn gold has completely stripped the horn to bare metal.
Stay tuned for more.
-Nick

[martinola]

Gee. Even stripped the horn looks better. I'd be tempted simply to polish it and then coat it with lacquer. On the other hand, here is your chance to try your hand at painting roses.

regards,
Martin

[Victrolaboy]

I don't think I could ever paint roses that would look good. My plan was to pant the horn glossy black and do gold pin striping. What do you guys think I should do?
-Nick

[martinola]

I was actually sort of kidding about the roses. I'm sure painting it black as you say would work fine. One thing that you have going for you here is that the metal is still relatively smooth and shiny. If you wanted to do a semi-transparent blue (or red or whatever)to duplicate the original colored lacquer/shellac finishes, then you are in an excellent position to do so with it as it is. Clear shellac mixed with aniline stain of the appropriate color applied with a brush would possibly do the trick, or perhaps Stained Glass Spray Paint. Here's the link for that:

http://www.krylon.com/products/stained-glass-color/

I haven't done either, so it would be an experiment. I have a Blue Standard horn with most of the outside destroyed with rust, so I'd love to see how it works over good metal. The book Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks by Timothy C. Fabrizio & our own George F. Paul has some great photos that may give you some ideas for color treatments. Anyway, however you decide to proceed with it, you've already made it better. Good luck and keep us posted.

Regards,
Martin

[phonogfp]

I don't think I could ever paint roses that would look good. My plan was to pant the horn glossy black and do gold pin striping. What do you guys think I should do?
-Nick

Why black? Isn't there a color you'd prefer to have on a phonograph horn?

I agree about painting the flowers (although I'm sure Martin was joking)... Don't exceed your skills. The original flowers on phonograph horns were painted by fellows doing dozens of them per day. They're usually quite artistically done, and unless you have skills like that, your efforts will be wasted.

I have a horn (a very unusual one) that looked great except some bozo had inexplicably taken sandpaper or some similar abrasive and scrubbed off ONE of its rose blossoms. I took it to a professional artist who paints flowers on phonograph horns. The outside edges of the original blossom remained, so she wanted to "fill in" the center and blend it into the outside of the blossom. Heck, it was like connecting the dots. Should be a breeze, she said, although as she looked closely at the other intact blossoms she remarked, "Whoever did this was an excellent artist." I dropped off that horn in May. She wasn't satisfied with her work until the following March. By the time she was ready to relinquish it, she had wiped away her work and started over 3 or 4 times. When I went to her house to retrieve the horn, I was pleased; complimenting her on how good it looked. She told me to examine her blossom closely and then look at one of the originals. You'd never notice unless you examined carefully, but there is indeed a difference. I'm no artist, but I can tell a beautifully rendered, confident, effortless painting when I see one. Those original blossoms were all that, and the lady artist's blossom was a painstaking copy, but it lacks the mastery of the others. I'm so glad I didn't try it myself!

George P.

[phonogfp]

I was actually sort of kidding about the roses.

Ha!

If you go the semi-transparent route, you'll want to spray a base coat of silver or gold. Then the semi-transparent coats will have a consistent base hue without spots or blemishes. I've done this with horns several times and it's not difficult.

Good luck!

George P.

[Victrolaboy]

Where can I get some semi-transparent paint? Is it only available in red like the stuff Krylon sells? If I were to go with the semi-transparent paint I would go with a dark blue color, if it was available.
-Nick

[phonogfp]

Where can I get some semi-transparent paint? Is it only available in red like the stuff Krylon sells? If I were to go with the semi-transparent paint I would go with a dark blue color, if it was available.
-Nick

It's widely available in spray cans. I would expect any big-box store like Lowe's or Home Depot would have it, but try your local hardware store first if you have one. Don't forget the gold or silver base coat!

George P.

[martinola]

Hi Nick.
It looks like it's also in Blue and Yellow. Go to the Krylon link above and there is a "where to buy" link on their page. If all else fails, google is your friend.
Martin

EDIT: Nick, it looks like you're getting this advice in Stereo.

[phonogfp]

Nick, it looks like you're getting advice in stereo!

George P.