The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I did not know the grills were meant to be removed when listening but it makes sense. If I want to really enjoy a diamond disc or amberola I to the fullest extent, the best way is sitting on a short stool in front of the horn with the grill removed. This still looks okay with the early A models and amberolas but a later model diamond disc machine (or amberola 30, 50 or 75 with the grill removed is certainly nothing special.

Beautiful phonograph!
The cabinet looks like the ones that was used for the Amberola I. Is it the same?

Paal1994 wrote:Beautiful phonograph!
The cabinet looks like the ones that was used for the Amberola I. Is it the same?

Paal, Yes it is made over from an Amberola I cabinet. If you look carefully at the description at the beginning of the thread there is a more detailed explanation of this.

In part: "An internal factory memo dated July 18, 1912, a copy of which was provided me some years back by the late Mr. Frow, includes instructions to take 25 of the Amberola cabinets in circassian walnut and “manufacture these over from the Amberola cabinets now in stock.” It appears this example is one of that first 25. (Mr. Frow added a picture I sent him to page 123 of the later softcover edition of his book)."

Cheers, Valecnik

Hi All,
The basics of wood graining are not hard—but learning the patterns of wood and how to make metal look like wood just takes practice. After 30 years of gold leaf and wood graining I can gold leaf most anything but have only gotten good at doing oak, walnut, mahogany and pecan. The problem with the Edison not keeping on the wood graining is one of prep in that the metal often began to rust almost as soon as the wood graining base was applied and then of course many have been stored badly. I have an Amberola V that I am working on that has lost a lot of its woodgraining. When I get to the horn I will photograph the process and with a bit of help from the group maybe I can post it.
If I get my act together I might just have a quickie wood graining class at the CAPS show in Aug. if anyone is interested.
Abe

Abe, I'm a little far away to attend your woodgraining class but surely would love to see pictures and some narration of the process when you are ready. I'd be glad to help you with the posting. I'm sure others will too.

need4art wrote:If I get my act together I might just have a quickie wood graining class at the CAPS show in Aug. if anyone is interested.

Abe,

If you get someone to film this for you, I think this would be a great thing to have online. If you or someone you know has a camera to film it, I’d be happy to help with getting it on YouTube or hosting it (in case it’s too long for YouTube).

But even photos and narration might prove to be very helpful.

— MordEth

Mordeth,
I do have a video camera- it uses dvd-r and I can set up to use it—what I might do in the near future is to just show how to wood grain using pieces of metal that I have—that might be a .good starting place. I do nothing with computers in my work so I do not even know how to post a pic. to sell things on e-bay and craigslist—OH! The Shame Of It All!!!—But I will get it on the camera with language and maybe we can make this happen.

Thx Abe

I hope that Abe is able to film a woodgraining demonstration. I have seen such paint effects used to great impact and would be greatly interested to see how such a realistic effect is achieved.

RJ

My understanding is that the early Amberola line had no grillecloth when new, but every production model Diamond Disc machine I've seen in vintage pictures did indeed have a silk cloth---that's the reason that some photographed looking white while others photographed looking dark grey. Silk changes in look depending on the direction of light source to the cloth.
I have an A-250 and indeed, the horn is slightly larger than the standard "laboratory" 250 horn. In a future post, I will provide the measurements as well as the serial number. On mine, the Cygnet horn neck clip is all that holds the two parts of the horn together.
By the way, does anyone know of a good reproduction or original grille for one of these? Mine was damaged when I got it and I made a replacement [at the age of 16] which is close, but not quite accurate---the only picture I had at the time was the one in "From Tinfoil to Stereo" of the Outdoor horn attachment experiment on an A-250. A good template would be all I need if no other method is available. I have the original frame for the grille, which is in use now.

http://grampstreasures.com/product_page ... d_disc.htm

Replacement grill