The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have had success with TransTint dyes sold at places like Woodcraft.
I agree about Woodcraft, there's one in Knoxville - but for his needs, there isn't a problem with big box stores...

Here’s clearer pics

That is most definitely mahogany, not walnut--I have a Victrola looks just like that.

What you will want is some grain filler, otherwise it will look like a dish scrubber with all those little pores in it. The shiny glass-smooth look on some of these machines might not be correct for the 1920s but neither is the "wet-cardboard" post restoration look.

VanEps is right, that pic is mahogany... The part that is throwing me off is the lid, which might be a mixture of woods. The lid molding, being a thick solid piece and not veneered, might not be the same as the piece that you just showed in the last pic, they might have substituted some type of cheaper wood to save costs, which was common.

Curt A wrote:I have had success with TransTint dyes sold at places like Woodcraft.
I agree about Woodcraft, there's one in Knoxville - but for his needs, there isn't a problem with big box stores...

dzavracky,

I am done responding to your requests for suggestions, and will refrain from doing so in the future. We have another member of the forum who thinks he is the sole expert on everything phonographic and has to have the last word in nearly every thread.

Good luck with your restorations and enjoy the hobby. It has given me a great deal of satisfaction for over 50 years.

AZ* wrote:

Curt A wrote:I have had success with TransTint dyes sold at places like Woodcraft.
I agree about Woodcraft, there's one in Knoxville - but for his needs, there isn't a problem with big box stores...

dzavracky,

I am done responding to your requests for suggestions, and will refrain from doing so in the future. We have another member of the forum who thinks he is the sole expert on everything phonographic and has to have the last word in nearly every thread.

Good luck with your restorations and enjoy the hobby. It has given me a great deal of satisfaction for over 50 years.

WOW... I didn't realize that this was a competition or that I was the "sole expert", I guess there is no room in your mind for varying opinions or suggestions... My posts are only my opinions, take 'em or leave 'em...

However, we are definitely in agreement in this one area, I concede my title - YOU ARE THE EXPERT... so long... Stay healthy.

Interesting. I also have a Brunswick 210 the previous owner stripped. Someday I will get to it.

stetam wrote:Interesting. I also have a Brunswick 210 the previous owner stripped. Someday I will get to it.

Nice. I think we may have a different one though? The shelving on the inside of mine is different.

I've found that a lot of off the shelf stains and dyes need to be diluted to various extents to get a good colour match. Mixing different colours is also very helpful.
Stains used 100 yrs ago weren't fade resistant, so diluting modern stains can make all the different in achieving a good matching colour.
And of course, shellac will change the colour too.
I'm not sure if your machine was originally finished with shellac or lacquer, but unless you use the same one to refinish your Brunswick, it'll be almost impossible to make the outside match under the lid.

gramophoneshane wrote:I've found that a lot of off the shelf stains and dyes need to be diluted to various extents to get a good colour match. Mixing different colours is also very helpful.
Stains used 100 yrs ago weren't fade resistant, so diluting modern stains can make all the different in achieving a good matching colour.
And of course, shellac will change the colour too.
I'm not sure if your machine was originally finished with shellac or lacquer, but unless you use the same one to refinish your Brunswick, it'll be almost impossible to make the outside match under the lid.

I assume this wouldn't be amber shellac? So I guess I should test clear shellac and lacquer?

I have pieces of veneer that came off the bottom of the cabinet I am planning on testing stains/finishes on before I do the cabinet