Project HMV 118. Too far gone?

[Jaso]

The early model had a very odd tonearm bracket mounted. My first thought was it is homemade by someone, but the motorboard didn’t have any screw holes for the normal 118 bracket either. Anyway, it didn’t work well. Made a copy of my other 118 bracket from spring steel (gonna be chromed) and now it functions perfectly.

[Jaso]

118 parts chrome plated! There are also few parts for my 1936 Electrola 106UP. The 106 originally had a Lindstöm made 4A soundbox with chrome plated mazak front bezel which had completely crumbled to pieces. New bezel is an early HMV 101 brass one that has been chrome plated to match rest of the machine.

[m_nakamura]

I've been watching this for a while and I have to say it's insane that you've fixed it this much!! I thought there was no chance of this being fixed!!

[Garret]

Holy moly.

Can't wait to see this one finished!

Garret

[Jaso]

New case finally made out of a slab of 1930’s Burmese teak. Correct wood for the 118 case. Top and bottom are made from teak veneered plywood just like the original. I couldn’t find a way to exactly replicate the pattern of the original extremely narrow finger joint used on 118. This is the closest possible pattern with modern tools available here in Australia and the result is quite close to the pattern used originally on early front wind teak 101’s.

[Jaso]

Different HMV Calcutta made teak case joints. Starting from the last picture:
Early front wind 101, late side wind 101, 118 and my 118 replica case.

Next step mahogany colouring the teak.

[m_nakamura]

WOW!!!

[Jaso]

Mahogany tinted teak. Next step is filling the grain with pumice and french polishing to mirror finish. This is not the final colour yet. It is gonna get deeper and more even. Black bands is the final touch then.