The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So deep, deep brown that it basically appears black?

There's no mistaking mine is definitely black, and the serial number matches, and it's flaking off like an original, old finish...

Could this be a transitional model? Would anyone consider the serial number high?

Aron, it's great to see what you are doing with my old A-150. I was hoping you would give it a new lease on life!

Regarding the color of the bedplate I'm really interested in what others have seen on their A-series machines. I have an A-150, A-250 and an A-275 all quite original and every one a little different in coloration ranging from clearly reddish brown to virtually black like this one. The most black one I have (which is very intact so easier to tell than a very deteriorated one) is on my A-250 and it has an ever so slight maroonish tinge to it in strong light. Definitely not black like the C-series bedplates are but close to it. Seems to me duplicating it exactly would be tricky and black would be a reasonably close approximation for this machine. Or, alternatively, you could do reddish brown which I have seen done well on some completely restored Operas so somebody out there mush have a formula for it.

There are so many variations on Edison machines from the 1912-15 period especially the A-150's. It has seemed to me that almost every example is a little different from the next. For instance, it seems they start out with all the metal parts oxidized then as time goes by more and more metal parts are gold-finished as if they might have run out of the oxidized ones and just used the ones made for the A-200 and A-250's.
Just me guessing here but I wonder if there is any documentation for this happening.

Again, it's so great to see the machine being saved and returned to usefulness. A-150's are interesting machines!
Bob

Ah! So glad you found this post! As it turns out I was coming here to update the progress, my friend came over and, at least compared to what it looked like before, I think we did a bang-up job!

Here is a "during" and "after" pic. Not yet quite finished, I'm going to wait a day and then hit it with more clearcoat which should blend those edges in much better and give the whole thing some protection. Then it will be time to clean and re-attach everything and start putting this back together again!

If you continue adding layers of clear coat (I use shellac, clear or orange if you want to tone down the gold, I used both on this one) over the decals and then lightly remove a small amount with 1000 or 2000 grit paper then spray again and repeat you will eventually blend in any edges of the decals and end up with a mirror smooth finish.

This is a Spring Motor I did awhile ago, I think there are about 25 coats of shellac with sanding between until the last spray which I rubbed out with
polishing paste.
Chuck

Woah... that's intense

... but beautiful!

It looks great! Clear coating as already suggested should finish this beautifully.
I can't wait to see the finished project! Bob