The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Lawyer wrote:I believe I read a quote in another post last week that stated " A horn should have a wood-grain finish because a re-painted black horn is just that----a repainted black horn and not very interesting." Very possibly that advice would be appropriate here. I wonder why that was not done in this case? If my memory serves me correctly, the quote being referred to was one the posts on the thread "RE-PAINTING HORNS" of last week. James

This would be due largely to the fact Victor flower horns such as these were not offered in a wood grained finish. Edison cygnet horns (like your horn) on the other hand were offered in black with gold stripes, or in a wood grained finish.

There is one exception regarding Victor flower horns. They offered a 24" flower horn that was made from and sold as all polished brass.

One must compare apples to apples. Or in this case companies to companies... .

I believe some Victor VI's came with brass belled horns with mahogany wood grained bodies. If I had an early Vic VI and needed a horn, I would consider taking a structurally good horn with poor paint and doing it with a wood grained finish. I would not strip good original black paint off a nice horn. I would only suggest doing a wood grain finish when it was offered as a factory option. Jerry

gramophone78 wrote:

Lawyer wrote:I believe I read a quote in another post last week that stated " A horn should have a wood-grain finish because a re-painted black horn is just that----a repainted black horn and not very interesting." Very possibly that advice would be appropriate here. I wonder why that was not done in this case? If my memory serves me correctly, the quote being referred to was one the posts on the thread "RE-PAINTING HORNS" of last week. James

This would be due largely to the fact Victor flower horns such as these were not offered in a wood grained finish. Edison cygnet horns (like your horn) on the other hand were offered in black with gold stripes, or in a wood grained finish.

There is one exception regarding Victor flower horns. They offered a 24" flower horn that was made from and sold as all polished brass.

One must compare apples to apples. Or in this case companies to companies... .

You missed the apparent humor in the reply received where a " black re-painted horn is just that---a black re-painted horn and not interesting.

Lawyer wrote:You missed the apparent humor in the reply received where a " black re-painted horn is just that---a black re-painted horn and not interesting.

I'm sorry, apparently I did. If memory serves, the comment you quote was made in error. The initial poster of said comment had misread the question you had asked regarding your Edison cygnet horn. He had understood you were restoring an Edison cygnet horn from scratch and therefore the comment.

Most collectors would agree when faced with a complete cygnet restoration and funds permitting.....a wood grained finish would be far more interesting to a "standard", run of the mill "black" horn.

Then again to reiterate, Victor flower horns (as shown above) were always black. Therefore, in this instance it really isn't a case in "not interesting", but of being correct.... .

Jerry, I'm sorry to high jack your "for sale" ad... .