The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Marc,
They are beautiful. Out of my league, though. My goal is to get this phonograph running and get the doors and lids operating as they should. I will leave the detail work to whomsoever winds up with this in their collection. I will definitely pass on your information to whoever the lucky owner of this very rare machine will be.

I wish you the best of luck on your rescue of this Beethoven! Yes, it would be better for the end buyer to make the decision to buy the door pulls at $200. The Beethoven door pulls were difficult to duplicate as they are in three parts, the ornate pull, the door escutcheon, and the squared piece that goes through the door and received the bolt. I'd like to see some pics of it if you can. Marc.

Here are pics of the Beethoven

Yikes . If it weren't so rare that'd be a part-out for sure. But since it's only 1 of 21 in existence, I think it's worth restoring.

Yep, was a hard decision to make. That's why I am counting on the wonderful members of this forum to help me bring this thing back to life.

I was able to find a quality reproduction brass pull on eBay. In comparing them to Marc's photo he posted, it looks like a pretty good match (and they were less than $6.00 each). Can anyone tell me how to add the proper patina?

I also have a line on a horn from an Edison Schubert. Unfortunately it is in Australia. Does anyone have a junker Schubert in the US? If so let me know. Thanks. Mike

Look up "brass ager" on line, I think some craft stores sell it, you won't need a lot. Just be sure the brass isn't lacquered before you try darkening it. I've had luck darkening the brass then rubbing some of the dark off of the highlights with 0000-grade steel wool for a contrasting finish. I'll then protect that finish with satin or semigloss lacquer (not polyurethane). Be sure that the pulls are solid brass, the darkeners don't work as well on brass plated items, since the plating is whisper thin and plated items can go back to their base metal look with the darkeners.

I have absolutely no help to offer, but I just wanted to say I'm really excited that this is being saved. i always wanted a Beethoven, and every unit saved makes that just the more probable! Thank you for the effort to save it.

Am I the only person who thinks there is a decent demand for metal reproduction internal horns in larger sizes for Edison projects and Orthophonic styles? Somebody get welding!

Kirkwood wrote:Look up "brass ager" on line, I think some craft stores sell it, you won't need a lot. Just be sure the brass isn't lacquered before you try darkening it. I've had luck darkening the brass then rubbing some of the dark off of the highlights with 0000-grade steel wool for a contrasting finish. I'll then protect that finish with satin or semigloss lacquer (not polyurethane). Be sure that the pulls are solid brass, the darkeners don't work as well on brass plated items, since the plating is whisper thin and plated items can go back to their base metal look with the darkeners.

Thanks for the info. They are solid brass, so will give it a try and let you know how it goes.
Mike

Wow! Less that $6 each! Somebody is losing some money. Do you have them yet. At that price, they could be plastic! Were they advertised as being for an Edisonic Beethoven? Does the seller have more?


Also, I don't know if this fits your definition of a junker, but this Schubert has been on Ebay it seems like for years. It has been amputated and incorrect style legs put on. But it is complete otherwise even including an Edisonic reproducer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1920S-Edi ... Swd0BVv67x

Marc.