Amberola 30 Data Plate color White or Black

[MidMich]

I have read where the late Amberola 30 Data tag was either White on Brass or Black on Brass. And I have read where it may be Black with a White primer. Here is a photo of a late 30, Brass plate and single screw on the lid support. I got it and was told that it was found in a old chicken coop, it had seen better days. I went to check and see if it was white or Black and I got a surprise. It is both! It is white underneath and black on the top, where the black worn down, it is clearly white. It looks like it could be White with dirt in the impression, making it look black. But when I tried to carefully clean a section with an old sock and denatured alcohol, nothing. it stayed the same. I will be removing the plate later and looking at it under a magnifier to see if I can tell white, Black or both? Here is a photo of it under a magnifier.
Jeff

[fran604g]

Jeff,

I did extensive research of the Chippendale C 250/C 19 Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph, and after examining hundreds of unit dataplates, I came to the conclusion that indeed the "white" lettering of this specific type of dataplate was not the intended outcome of the process used by the Edison co.

From December 2015 through September 2016, the Antique Phonograph Society featured my 4-part series of articles in their journal, and in Part III of the series I discuss the dataplates I observed with the C 250, and C 19 models.

I believe that dataplates during a short period of time were -- specifically from late 1918 through early 1919 -- brass with a top coat of some protective finish. I determined "The few “C 250 transitional-type” plates I’ve personally encountered were sheared out of brass sheet, coated with a transparent “protective finish” (clear lacquer or shellac?) with black lettering applied over a white/gray primer." This period of time was during the late production of the C 250, and extended through the transitional period of the early C 19, until at which point (around mid 1918), the dataplate was apparently changed to a different finish that has been observed to age with no real loss of the black lettering.

For whatever reason, it seems to me that the black lettering did not adhere correctly to the finish on these dataplates, eventually leaving traces of what I speculated to be primer. That being said, it's also possible that what appears to be "white", could have been the result of a chemical reaction between the black lettering and the top coat of the dataplate, after the black lettering was applied. And, as the black lettering either fell off on its own, or was slowly removed through other means (cleaning, sunlight, and/or other factors), what remained appears now to be "white" lettering beneath.

I have observed dozens of dataplates that exhibit this seemingly "white" lettering, and all have some or most of the black lettering remaining intact on them. This suggests that the "white" lettering was NOT the intended color; as it would not be possible for black to be present if white were the intended outcome employed.

I suppose that without further analysis involving something on the order of a company memo (very unlikely) addressing the issue, or spectral chromatography and chemical analysis, we may never know the reason the black lettering failed on this seemingly short-lived version dataplate.

The dataplates of this time period used on Edison Phonographs were more-or-less universal, so I am confident that the versions used on the Diamond Disc Phonographs, carried over to the Amberola's as well.

Best,
Fran

[MidMich]

Hello Fran
I think we can rule out sun light fade on the Amberola 30, the data plate is up and under the LH side of the lid. I think that you may be on to something with the "primer" Theory. When painting cars, you have to use a special "etching" primer when painting over aluminum and galvanized metal sections. So with the paint technology they had back then, they may of had to use a special primer. And you are correct, there definitely is a top coat. Given the era, I would agree shellac or lacquer. And being that I tried to clean it up using denatured alcohol and it did not affect the coating, I would guess that it is lacquer.
Jeff