Yes or No to slight cosmetic modification on Edison C 19

[JRPrieto]

Just got an Edison C-19. It's in pretty good shape but has some missing veneer on the bottom sides and quite a bit on the back. That area around the bottom edge is separated a bit. I can glue it back but am considering something else. I was thinking of applying a ¼-inch thick x 2-inch tall mahogany strip right at the bottom. It will conceal most of the missing veneer and help protect the edge. The C-19 does not have that trim so it would be a modification making it less desirable I imagine. I guess I am looking for opinions if this is a good idea or should I just leave it alone. What are your thoughts?

[paradroid1793]

Hmmm. While doing this might slightly harm the desirability, the C-19 would look much more appealing if you pull of a good job. If are planning on keeping it for your collection, I say go for it. I did a similar thing with an Amberola 30, it looks much nicer!

Of course, it's your phonograph, and you could make it look any way you wish.

[Lucius1958]

The back is not as crucial; the side could use something.

The veneer damage is not nearly so bad as I had on my C-250; if you can get some good pieces of old veneer from a furniture repair shop, you could cut patches to cover the damaged bits.

In the end, it's your decision. A C-19 is not an irreplaceable rarity.

- Bill

[52089]

If you mean cutting an actual rectangle to cover or replace the bottom inch or 2, that might work on the back, but I wouldn't do it on the side. You should consider creating individual, irregularly shaped patches to make the repair harder to see. I'm quite sure there are videos on YouTube on how to do this.

[Marco Gilardetti]

I am usually much tolerant with "customizations" (and at times I do them myself) but in this case I would suggest not applying the wooden strip over the missing parts. Inlaying the missing parts is an easy job for a cabinetmaker, and at a point in time you will most probably be able to do it yourself. If you now cover the area with the wooden strip, a proper repair will be much harder to do later.

If you can't stand looking at the chipped parts, I suggest you try to apply a matching colour to the uncovered parts of raw wood, and then apply just over those areas a coat of shellac with a brush. In my experience, just matching the colour makes these defects much much harder to notice.

[JohnM]

If you mean cutting an actual rectangle to cover or replace the bottom inch or 2, that might work on the back, but I wouldn't do it on the side. You should consider creating individual, irregularly shaped patches to make the repair harder to see. I'm quite sure there are videos on YouTube on how to do this.

Veneer repairs are properly done by cutting ‘dutchmen’ — tapered strips — that blend in with the grain better than a simple butt-joint. The edges of the dutchmen and the damaged veneer are cut at the same time and at a 45-degree angle so that the Dutchman drops right into the repaired area and can be concealed more easily.