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Re: My First Opera
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 11:28 am
by VanEpsFan1914
That's nice! The grease and dust probably protected it. Love the styling on this model--I wouldn't do a thing to it other than mechanical servicing.
Re: My First Opera
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:56 pm
by Pathe Logical
ChuckA,
You mention "the mandrel of course has lost it's oxidized finish due to the plaster inner core of the blue amberols played". Your Opera's mandrel may not have had a copper and black, oxidized finish to begin with. After looking at your pictures, it looks to me like your Opera's mandrel has a pretty nice and original "gunmetal" finish. Here's a pic of one of mine (the gunmetal finish on my Opera's mandrel is actual darker grey than in the photo), and a pic of a page from an Edison machine catalog discussing the use of a gunmetal finish on some Operas (see page 11 --- "Finish"). You've got a machine to be very proud of!!!
Re: My First Opera
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 9:57 pm
by pg1876
Absolutely stunning! Congratulations!
Re: My First Opera
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:15 am
by ChuckA
Pathé Logical wrote: Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:56 pm
ChuckA,
You mention "the mandrel of course has lost it's oxidized finish due to the plaster inner core of the blue amberols played". Your Opera's mandrel may not have had a copper and black, oxidized finish to begin with. After looking at your pictures, it looks to me like your Opera's mandrel has a pretty nice and original "gunmetal" finish. Here's a pic of one of mine (the gunmetal finish on my Opera's mandrel is actual darker grey than in the photo), and a pic of a page from an Edison machine catalog discussing the use of a gunmetal finish on some Operas (see page 11 --- "Finish"). You've got a machine to be very proud of!!!
Looking at the mandrel closer, I'm sure you're right. I don't see any remnants of oxidized finish on the mandrel anywhere. I always thought only the gun metal finished oak units had that mandrel finish, the mahogany ones all had the metal parts oxidized.
Your Opera is in fantastic condition also.
Chuck
Re: My First Opera
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:35 am
by Pathe Logical
Chuck,
Glad to be the bearer of good news for you! When I first obtained that Opera, I thought the finish on the mandrel was wrong. But after perusing the internet for other Operas with a gunmetal mandrel (and finding several examples), and finding the catalog page I posted here, I was relieved.
Bob
Re: My First Opera
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 4:27 pm
by danohallaron
Congrats! I have collected 3 from around the country, over the past couple of years. They are a nice piece of engineering.