The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

SSBN 657 wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 3:12 pm Well folks so far looks like the consensus is to leave well enough alone. Anybody else want to offer up their 2 cents?

I'd play around with different stain blends to get a match for the horn, then just refinish the phono cabinet.

Well, since you don't have the original surface, it's up to you to do what you like. If I may provide a word of caution: if you do refinish, then clearly know ahead of time what effect you want to produce. Secondly know what time and effort are required. Is any of the original surface still intact, say under the lid? That might give you a target to shoot for.

If it's already been refinished, I would go ahead and strip it down, and refinish it properly, of course using historically accurate finishes - and mix your own shellac. That premixed stuff just doesn't hold a candle to getting flake shellac, and mixing your own. I haven't down a horn yet, but my last big project was refinish I Vic VI that was pulled out of a barn, with little to no shellac left on it, and what little was still there was black. It took a lot of work to get it right, but once you get that red mahogany finish right, there's nothing like it.

Well, looks like the people have spoken. Being that it looks good as it is I think that I will just leave it for now. As a collector I feel that I'm just the caretaker for a phonograph until the next guy owns it. Operative word being Caretaker. Sometimes the best option is to "let the next guy worry about it". So, any way thanks to all for your input. Cheers!!




















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I’m obviously late to the party but I feel that since it has already been refinished it is fair game. It is your call, especially since it was not redone to the original color anyway.