Shawn wrote: Tue Aug 20, 2024 3:34 pm
There is one missing piece of paper with that held a word or words that needs to be discovered again. None of the paper labels has this word and it is not immediately apparent what it may be. The sentence is - bees wax will do, if xxxxxxxx is at hand -
... if no new wax is at hand... ???
I'm pretty sure the word "no" follows "if". The rest seems to fit within the surrounding context, I think.
When you look at the sentences above and below, you can calculate the spacing and approximate number of letters that will fit within that spacing. There are two spaces between every word.
I agree that the first word is no, and propose the second is wax = no wax. That requires 7 spaces and would fit within the space allocated. Adding a third word like "new" would make it too long.
They seem to draw a difference between "wax" and "bees wax" in the narrative, so it does kind of make sense.
As well, you can see the remains of what looks like an "x" just before the two spaces before "is at hand"
When you look at the sentences above and below, you can calculate the spacing and approximate number of letters that will fit within that spacing. There are two spaces between every word.
I agree that the first word is no, and propose the second is wax = no wax. That requires 7 spaces and would fit within the space allocated. Adding a third word like "new" would make it too long.
They seem to draw a difference between "wax" and "bees wax" in the narrative, so it does kind of make sense.
As well, you can see the remains of what looks like an "x" just before the two spaces before "is at hand"
Shawn
That all seems very plausible. I didn't take the double spacing into consideration. It even looks right!
The font used in the title "Care and Operation..."
and the company name and address at bottom is called Lining DeVinne No. 2.
I am sure I could photograph missing characters and send the pic to the "rebuilder" of the page.
Here is a nice Y. Let me know if you need any other characters.
The rebuilt text so far looks good as well as plausible. It is not technically "double" spacing -- it is just the spacing the typesetter used between words to justify the text. It would look nicer if the spacing was smaller, but it is at least a century too late to worry about it.
Here is a conservative "restoration" of the image. My preference is to have these images retain the character of an original, rather than make them look perfect. There's probably more that can be done, but here it is for now.
![[The Talking Machine Forum - For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings]](/styles/we_universal/theme/images/the_talking_machine_forum.png)
