The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The owner says it is the original finish. The pictures posted here sure indicate otherwise. So, what would be a fair offer for this if it really does require a pretty extensive refinish job?

schweg wrote:The owner says it is the original finish. The pictures posted here sure indicate otherwise. So, what would be a fair offer for this if it really does require a pretty extensive refinish job?

I actually don't think his asking price, $1500, is terribly out of line. In nice original condition would this not be worth at least $3,500-4000? So if the refinishing cost up to to $2,000, (it might)then your total expended would still be close to market price.

Of course there are not alot of people ready to drop $4000 into such am item should you want to sell.

Other opinions?

Sonny- I'm glad you put this one on here, otherwise I would not have seen it. I was returning from a whirlwind tour of OK City to visit my son, daughter-in-law, and FIRST GRANDSON, along with my daughter in NE OK (where I dropped off some radio parts for repair) and made a stop in Big D on the way back to have a look at this one. I made an offer and think they were just glad to be rid of it so it is sitting in the garage awaiting work.

Instead of being stripped and bleached, it was actually "antiqued" with the 1970's antiquing paint we all despise (at least not green), and then gold highlights were added in places. Also the tonearm was locked tight which worried me more than the paint.

I started working on the top and it doesn't look like I'll be able to just get the topcoat off without taking some of the underlying finish with it. Shouldn't be a big deal to re-stain though so I'll forge ahead.

Thankfully, the tonearm loosened up enough to remove it from the bracket so I will be able to save it by grinding off a little bit around the bottom where it slips into the base bracket.

The motor and wiring all appear to be in great shape so I don't think it'll take too much to get it up and running again.

It'll be another slow project, I'm busy at work so don't get to work on projects really regularly, but it'll get done.

Anyway, thanks again for posting it and for all the comments that preceded my purchase. Once I get it finished up, I'll add some pictures (if it turns out all right)..

Steve S

Steve,

congratulations to your first grandson, you must be very proud

Also, congratulations to your new project, I'm sure it will turn out great once the antiquing paint is gone. I'll never understand that, why would anyone put antiquing paint on something that's already antique?

Glad that you were able to get the tonearm working, this pot metal can be a real pain. You said "the motor and wiring appear to be in great shape", does that mean it has an electric motor?

Anyway, good luck with your restoration, I can't wait to see pictures once it's complete.

Andreas

Thanks Alang- It was a really great trip, especially seeing Jacob for the first time. He looks just like my son so it brought back a lot of great memories of getting splattered with body fluids, getting 3 hrs of sleep a nite, etc. No, just kidding, it brought back lots of great memories.

Yes, the motor is electric. There's a switch on the door that turns the light on, a set of gears that starts the turntable when the tonearm is moved toward the record. It's a really high end phono with all gold plating, including the motor support under the turntable.

One thing I forgot to mention, anyone have the cover that goes on the top of the light? Either a spare or something I could get a mold of so I could replicate it? I have one other Columbia Art model and it is also missing that cover. If you have that and could help out, please let me know...

Steve S. Oh yea, I'm a big Phillies fans so the good feelings fom the weekend continued last night!!

Ther've been many intesting things noted about this model, electric motor, auto start when door opens, size and detail of the cabinet itself among them.

One thing not noted so far is that in spite of the size of this model, there was no record storage! A separate, matching record cabinet could be purchased at extra cost acc. to Baumbach.

I guess for most potential purchasers of this model back in 1919 or so, space, even space for a matching cabinet, and practicality were not big issues.

Really a beautiful machine. Good luck with your project!

Making some progress. First, I know now why the Mauzy reference was made.

Here's one of the right side- as originally found.
Here's one of the left side as it stands now. The top is done and this side is getting there..
As I mentioned to Bruce- the good news is that much of the polychrome paint was still there and salvageable. The bad news is, the white paint in the grain has been virtually impossible to remove. The oak is really rough, like planking, so the grain is deep and the white is really sticking in the bottom of the low spots. I've been scraping with a small pick and getting lots of it but there's still lots left. I feel like a dental hygienist! I have a long way to go but wanted to post some pictures of the progress in case anyone is interested.

Steve S

Well the result so far is beautiful! It's really great you could save the original polychrome. That really dresses it up. Keep us posted on the progress.

Wow, what a difference. I love the polychrome colors on the dark wood. Why would anybody whitewash over something that beautiful? I can't wait to see the whole finished cabinet.
Thanks for posting.
Andreas

Looking GREAT! Like many others, I'm anxiously waiting to see how everything turns out!

Sean