Edison A-150 Bedplate Decal? Okay to us the A-250?

[Dischoard]

Hey folks, a very nice gentleman in NH gave me this lovely A-150 machine as a project this past winter and I'm just now getting around to tackling it. I've done some reading on these and I was just going to make sure that it was mechanically working and reassemble everything. I usually like for things to look their age and am loathe to get everything back to new and shiny. However, as many of you know, the paint on these machines just completely gives up and not only does it look terrible, it just keeps shedding paint all over. With that in mind I'm thinking I'll actually strip this bedplate, give it a new coat of Satin finish Rustoleum Black and then I'll need the decals. In looking online I could only find decals for the A-250 but in a side by side comparison, they look identical except for that section of corner brackets:

https://www.phonodecal.com/shop/phonogr ... 0-bedplate

Anyone else ever do this? Will the A-250 work for the A-150? Just some modifications? Honestly, anything is better than the way it looks now. Yes, I realize the reproducer is worth more than the machine and so I may be wasting my time and $ on redoing the bedplate but I really like, when these things eventually head out the door, for them to be complete. Who knows, I may end up keeping this one and letting my W&M go out the door!

Assuming I go ahead with this I have two other questions for those in the know out there: 1. Is there a non-invasive way of removing that tiny oil swing cover on the top without damaging anything or do I work around it and 2. what's the best, least chemically way to remove the original paint? Granted, there's NOT much left, but I was thinking of using a drill with a brass wire brush and just going over the whole thing that way. I figure that would also prepare the top to receive paint at the same time.

Looking forward to your answers, please no flame (though most folks here are generally agreeable to those of us dipping our toes into parts unknown).

Cheers! Aron

The A-150 Properly Prepped For Transport

Edison A-150 Serial No. 7667

Edison No. 3 Cabinet Factory

The Original Reproducer, matches the horn neck and the crank!

Edison A-150 Bedplate

The Paint on the horn is pretty much toast. I'm not touching that...

[drh]

I have no words of wisdom about the A-250 vs. A-150 pinstriping and corner decorations, but I *can* say that I think my A-150 may well be the best sounding of my Edison disc phonographs (otherwise, a C-250 and an Edisonic Schubert). It's a sweet little machine, and I can easily see how yours, once restored, might end up being your "keeper." If that does happen, it's worth trying to put together a set of the original storage albums that would have come with it. Another "worth more than the machine itself" item, and generally too fragile to be practical record storage, but even if they're not entirely pristine, they do dress it up.

[Lucius1958]

As far as I can see, I find absolutely no difference between the corner decals...

- Bill

[Dischoard]

I've ordered them. I have a friend who restores pinball machines, clocks, watches, and has done his fair share of model building. I imagine if anything needs to be altered/matched he'll be a great resource as I don't have a lot of experience with fine decals. The good news is that Phonodecal website says he isn't shipping until after the 24th of July, so I have PLENTY of time to get the old paint off, the bedplate prepped and repainted, and to patiently wait for my decals to arrive. If it isn't too embarrassing, I'll show folks the results after I'm finished.

[JerryVan]

Since it appears that you'll be buying your decals from Gregg Cline, I'd say that this is a question best answered by him. He may even be able to suggest similar corner decals used for different models. The A150 corners are a familiar design, but perhaps larger than most other examples. I would bet that, if that's the case, Gregg could scale up special set for you.

[EKzono]

Shouldn’t the bedplate be brown ?

[JohnM]

The bedplate finish isn’t “paint”, but rather tinted shellac. That’s why they have adhesion issues.

[drh]

Shouldn’t the bedplate be brown ?

Now that you mention it, my A-150's bedplate is in fact a deep brown, not black.

[JerryVan]

Shouldn’t the bedplate be brown ?

Now that you mention it, my A-150's bedplate is in fact a deep brown, not black.

The OP's sure does appear to be black.