The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

chunnybh wrote:I found a rare speaker cabinet in a cold damp garage.
It's from the 1930's and is made from plywood and finished in a wood veneer.

Do please tell, Chunny. Is it an EMG?

zenith82 wrote:If you want to use hot hide glue and don't want to spend a ton of money on a glue pot, you can get one of the small $10 crock pots and it works just as well for a job like this. Use a glass jar slightly taller than the crock pot to soak your hide glue crystals in for about a half hour. Then, fill the crock pot about halfway with water and set the jar inside. Turn it on high. In about 15 minutes, the glue will be melted and can be applied with a small brush or through a syringe.

The Titebond hide glue is ok, but it has a finite shelf life. Hide glue crystals last longer as long as they don't get exposed to moisture, plus you can only heat up as much as you think you will need. When I crack open a bottle of the Titebond hide glue, it remains useable for maybe 3 months.

I do almost exactly as you suggest. I cut a board with a hole in it to support the glass jar as it sits in the hot water. It is important when you first set up your hot pot to use a candy making thermometer to find out what temp the settings give. Overheated hide glue is not very strong. I think the max temp is 140 F.

Another tip: Make up a batch of hide glue and pour it into an icecube tray. Put it in the freezer and when hard, remove the glue cubes and wrap in tin foil and put in a plastic bag. Next time you only need a small amount of glue, you are ready to heat it up. Don't reheat more than a couple of times. I love hide glue and do not find that it smells badly at all. Lots of good information on this stuff on the internet. I like it because the new glue will bond with the old, something that modern wood glues will not do.
Dave

Thank you all for your help. I'm waiting for some hide crystals and will post images as soon as I have finished the restoration. And yes, It is an EMG speaker cabinet with a wonderful direct radiator driver by Tannoy. I'll be posting some before pictures in the British section ...soon.

Dave, that tip regarding freezing small amounts of hide glue to have on hand is great -- thanks!