Rene, thank you for the flattering words. Yet, because of the cold weather outside, a lot of the work has been performed on my wife's granite countertop....which isn't as "Edison jobber" as I would like.
Today, the snow is coming down HARD, and I am motivated to hear some lonesome Edison ballads, maybe even a harp solo. So, work commences. Because the bedplate lines are worn, and the paint has age and dulling, I made the executive decision to give the upper casting the matching appearance. To restore the machine to represent a machine of experience. One that has played Ada Jones so hard, that it leaves a rash!
I first hand applied gold lines with a .7mm paint pen.
Next, I buffed the black paint and the lines with 0000 steel wool. To dull the shine, and also to put some wear into the gold lines, to make it match the bedplate.
Next, to install the patent plate. Note, this machine is very early, and the earlier patent plates are SLIGHTLY SMALLER, and have cut corners. Here is a picture comparing the Early plates to the slightly Later ones.
One coat of amber shellac to orange the lines a bit, and to also add smoothness and inconsistency to the casting. I am getting more excited now.
One inherent problem with the weighted halfnut system is that if there is as much as 1/10,000 of an ounce of resistance put on the halfnut......it skips.
My solution was to cut a piece of governor spring, and hide it under the carriage arm screwed to the retaining ring which holds the halfnut bar shaft in place. This puts gentle downforce on the halfnut, and keeps it tracking.
And what a journey it has been! I installed some new leather belting, and......
