My first talking machines and info on their restoration

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
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Herderz
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Herderz »

Thanks, dzavracky. It is starting to come together now. I have ordered new seals for the reproducer with bee's wax for the seal on the mica and it will be here by end week. Then I am going to start polishing the tonearm and rebuild the reproducer.
I cleaned the doors the same way I cleaned the cabinet. I polished the hinges and the knobs and I can live with the result. The bottom of the doors had wood wear for the ball-bearing latches. It looked like it had a steeple on the inside of the bottom door for the ball bearing latch to ride on to secure the doors in the closed position. One door had one and the other did not.
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I used some epoxy to build back the bottom so both latches will hold, you cannot see the epoxy on the bottom of the doors which are normally closed.
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Here they are after reassembly.
20201116_083957.jpg

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Inigo
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Inigo »

This looks magnificent!
Inigo

Herderz
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Herderz »

Thanks Inigo. I cleaned the tonearm board and the main motor board the same as all the wood. Iinstalled the needle cups that I had cleaned up a couple weeks ago, mounted the motor and brake lever. The speed control knob and dial I backed away a little bit. It is a brass plate dial with screened black number scale. Trust me don't try anything on this combo but soap and water, anything else will take the paint right off the brass. I have had that experience a couple times with clock faces. The soap and water will clean most of the dirt off.
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I am starting on a polish for the tone arm.

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Inigo
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Inigo »

What a good work... It looks very very nice! Congratulations!
Inigo

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dzavracky
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by dzavracky »

You’ve done an amazing job with this machine! Bravo! :D

David

BillH_NJ
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by BillH_NJ »

It looks great!

Herderz
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Herderz »

Thanks guy's, I got my seals this week for the reproducer. I started to polish the chrome toned arm to see if I could get some of the years of buildup cleaned off. The arm has quite a bit of pitting in the chrome in places. Did not turn out too bad. I broke down reproducer and cut and fit the new seals, bee's waxed the mica and re-assembled.
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I think it sounds a little better but it could be looking and all I have done to it.

JerryVan
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by JerryVan »

You've done a really beautiful job! I like how the title of your posting reads "My first talking machine..." Looking forward to seeing your second.

(BTW, it's nickel plating, not chrome.)

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dzavracky
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by dzavracky »

You did a wonderful job on this machine. How does it sound??

David

Herderz
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Re: My first talking machine and info on it's restoration

Post by Herderz »

Thanks guy, it sounds pretty good but I only have 1 record that was make in 1906. I got some Margaret Whiting records, 1946, on the way to see how it will sound on a better record I hope.
I finished the machine off by cleaning the horn grill by the same method as the wood cabinet. I polished the hand crack and grommet also. after about a month she is looking nice over all. I will still coat her in bee's wax with a polish a few more times. She is at a nice satin gloss on the original finish and will get better each time I put the bee's wax on.
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I guess this tread has come to a close until my "Second Talking Machine" I am looking for a external horn machine next I think.

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