Black stuff on C250 frieze

[fran604g]

When I stripped & restored mine, it was black paint there, not dirt.

That's what I suspected. I'm going to buy one in a few days, and so I should be able to confirm this theory.

Here is what I know about them, the C250 was before the first world war and has drawers, the C19 has no drawers and they have been replaced by record slots after the war.
I got that info from this book.

https://www.amazon.ca/Edison-Disc-Phono ... 0950546259

That's not correct. The C 250 was officially introduced to the public in January 1916, but earlier production was pushed for the release of some units in the late part of 1915. The C19 was produced with 2 different designs of drawers, and after the C 250 was designated as the C 19 in April 1919, 2 shelves with vertical "slots" for record storage that were numbered with 2 different indices (1-36 and 37-72; later 2 labels of 1-36). For a contemporary and more comprehensive history of The Edison Chippendale C 250 and its Successor: the C 19 see the series of articles of the same title, published in the December 2015 - September 2016 issues of "The Antique Phonograph" at the Antique Phonograph Society website.

Cheers,
Fran

[fran604g]

In regard to the OP's query as to the "frieze", it's my contention the rolled or stamped "diamond" feature caused the finish to appear darker - even black - because the process exposed the end grain of the wood, and the stain used was absorbed more into the wood during the finishing process of the cabinet.

The undulating aspect of the frieze is a separate construction glued onto to the diamond feature.

Here's mine (C 250 sn 23,481).

Cheers,
Fran

[gunnarthefeisty]

In regard to the OP's query as to the "frieze", it's my contention the rolled or stamped "diamond" feature caused the finish to appear darker - even black - because the process exposed the end grain of the wood, and the stain used was absorbed more into the wood during the finishing process of the cabinet.

The undulating aspect of the frieze is a separate construction glued onto to the diamond feature.

Here's mine (C 250 sn 23,481).
20211219_081847.jpg

Cheers,
Fran

yeah, there's the stuff I'm talking about!