The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

(a little late to the party),

Scratches and gouges are part of the patina and tell a story, if you can't easily hide them, celebrate them.

Otherwise, I agree with the majority here, unless the finish is too far gone that you can't show the piece, clean it up, be creative in hiding some of the blemishes, and show your enthusiasm for the hobby when you demonstrate your machines. Your guests will be impressed.

I only refinish when it is absolutely necessary. An item is only original one time so the item must have a damaged finish to the point that it is a detraction or you feel like to must make an apology for its appearance. Trust your instincts and error on the side of originality.

I once had a visitor that suggested how nice my Amberola 1A would look if it were refinished. I was insulted to the point that I almost showed him to the door. My Amberola has its original dark fumed oak finish and it's in good shape. He must have felt that all oak machines should be golden oak. Don't ever fall for that. That same dark oak Amberola is my favorite Edison and it will be the last cylinder machine that I ever sell.

Jerry Blais

This is the progress I have made so far with just steel wool, Goop, Restore a finish and Feed and wax. The hardware store colsed before I could get the wax filler.

m0xiemama wrote:This is the progress I have made so far with just steel wool, Goop, Restore a finish and Feed and wax. The hardware store colsed before I could get the wax filler.

Amazing how far up it came!

Clay

Jerry B. wrote:I once had a visitor that suggested how nice my Amberola 1A would look if it were refinished. I was insulted to the point that I almost showed him to the door. My Amberola has its original dark fumed oak finish and it's in good shape. He must have felt that all oak machines should be golden oak. Don't ever fall for that. That same dark oak Amberola is my favorite Edison and it will be the last cylinder machine that I ever sell.

Jerry Blais

There is an Amberola 1A on eBay for $4,995 right now where the fumed oak finish has been turned into golden oak on the outside. Unfortunate.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edison-Amberola ... 2c63aceb17

Clay

I saw that listing. What a shame.

Hey another question, if anyone is following this still. What is a good way to get paint off my cabinets? Seems a couple of them have splatters. I don't want to do anything too abrasive. So far I have just been using my fingernail

My take on finish restoration is if it's presentable or if you know it's original and can revive it with some light treatment of some kind, do it that way. If it's NOT presentable - that is, it would look like an old piece of junk sitting in the house - then restore the piece, but do your homework and find out what the original finish was (it may have already been refinished in the '60's or '70's so it "looks old", but isn't) and do it as close to the original as possible. I too shudder at that Amberola 1A...

m0xiemama wrote:I saw that listing. What a shame.

Hey another question, if anyone is following this still. What is a good way to get paint off my cabinets? Seems a couple of them have splatters. I don't want to do anything too abrasive. So far I have just been using my fingernail

The fingernail method is good. You can also cautiously try Goof off- it is good at removing latex paint.

estott wrote:

m0xiemama wrote:I saw that listing. What a shame.

Hey another question, if anyone is following this still. What is a good way to get paint off my cabinets? Seems a couple of them have splatters. I don't want to do anything too abrasive. So far I have just been using my fingernail

The fingernail method is good. You can also cautiously try Goof off- it is good at removing latex paint.

I'd recommend "Goo-Gone" over "Goof-Off" for paint spatter removal. In my experience it's less likely to dissolve any surface finish. It smells nicer too!
Bob

barnettrp21122 wrote:I'd recommend "Goo-Gone" over "Goof-Off" for paint spatter removal. In my experience it's less likely to dissolve any surface finish. It smells nicer too!
Bob

One little note about Goo-Gone and related products (GoJo, Mineral Spirits, etc): I recently discovered that if you use Goo-Gone, or anything containing petroleum distillates near a pilot flame (my 1942 Roper stove has 3 giant pilots) your house will begin to smell like burning kerosene, as if you were using a kerosene heater. I couldn't figure out what was going on. After having the gas company come out, I learned that the pilot flame will start consuming the petroleum vapors and it smells like kerosene or diesel as it's being burned off and the smell can last for days if the house is closed up! No more Goo-Gone in the kitchen for me.