Mahogany case question

[billybob62]

I have a spare Fireside bottom and maybe someone else would have a top to use as a pattern.I like cherry as a wood so maybe we can work something out. I suppose once you make a pattern you could use any wood.

Cheers,

John

[gramophone-georg]

I have a spare Fireside bottom and maybe someone else would have a top to use as a pattern.I like cherry as a wood so maybe we can work something out. I suppose once you make a pattern you could use any wood.

Cheers,

John

That's right, although if we go with other more fragile woods like Burls we would likely do a veneer over a hardwood as I have veneer softeners and a veneer press, and this would eliminate the difficulties of dovetailing over burls and voids,

[gramophone-georg]

I wasn't going to chime in, because we all know that opinions are like...ummm...noses. Everybody has one.

Still, Jerry expressed the potential problem perfectly.

But if Georg and Nick manufacture new cabinets prominently yet discreetly marked as reproductions, I'd have no problem with it so long as those markings cannot be easily effaced. It's an action that would make everyone happy and avoid unpleasantness in the future.

There's a current thread on this forum offering glow-in-the-dark Columbia style 6" 20th Century cylinders with an anachronistic selection recorded on them. Although either of these features alone is enough to prevent me from buying one, there's no chance that these fantasy records can ever be passed off as original to an educated collector. For that reason, I think it's a great idea - - let folks have what they want. However, a new mahogany cabinet for an Edison Phonograph could become a real problem for an innocent collector years down the road, unless appropriate markings are discretely included.

George P.

Right- I am thinking a burned in brand, like the old Lane cedar chests had, inside the cases on each wood panel. Anyone trying to pass one of our cases off as an original would have to gouge or chisel the brands out, which would leave behind obvious signs of tampering.

[phonogfp]

Right- I am thinking a burned in brand, like the old Lane cedar chests had, inside the cases on each wood panel. Anyone trying to pass one of our cases off as an original would have to gouge or chisel the brands out, which would leave behind obvious signs of tampering.

That sounds fine - such safeguards are a genuine service to the hobby (especially in another 50-100 years).

George P.

[soundgen]

Just for interest a mahogany Gem sold in London for over $2000 in 1991

The Auctioneer commented at the time that " we'll probably see a lot more now "

[soundgen]

And couldn't you get Gold plated Gems made to order ?

[Victrolacollector]

Back in 2005, I acquired an Amberola 30, it had the original components, but someone actually made a new case and lid for the machine. The case was spot on perfect except for the reproduction case appeared lighter in color and was of solid oak. I sold this as a machine with reproduction case. It was sold very quickly and the new owner really liked the new case. I just could not live with having a reproduction case.

[estott]

If you do it, why not have the EDISON script inlaid in light wood veneer, or in brass? It would be distinctive.