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Did the Edison Amberola series, mainly the X, DX, and 30, come with grille cloth attached to the back of the faux wood metal grille? I also have a DX model with a genuine oak wood grille that matches the case finish perfectly. I assume the wood (oak) grille is a reproduction? They were all metal with faux wood grain correct ??

For a long time I though a wood grained horn was meant to be seen so it should not have grill cloth. I now think wood grained horns were used after grill cloth was the norm. I doubt if your wood grill is reproduction. The space allowed for a metal grill to slide up, in, and down is much smaller than the same space for a wood grill. It would be difficult to modify a cabinet to change from a metal to wood grill. Does that space look to be modified? Jerry

Jerry - the wood grille is aprox. ¼ inch thick but planed down thin on the top and bottom to fit the slot in the Amberola cabinet. The grille looks old and matches the cabinets patina perfectly. There are no signs of any grille cloth being glued to this wood grille. My 30 has a faux wood all metal grille, again with no signs of ever having cloth glued to it. The horn in the 30 is black and the horn in the DX is beautiful faux wood. I am confused about these Amberola grilles and having or not having grille cloth?

Frow says that some early 30s had a grill cloth, and the early 50s did as well, but he does not explicitly say anything about the X series or the 75. None of these would have had a wood grill.

There seems to be some good quality "wood" grilles for the Amberola 30 out there as attached. The original grilles it seems were metal with a faux wood finish. (we all agree?) I guess my oak wood grille is an older reproduction so it seems ??

briankeith wrote:Jerry - the wood grille is aprox. ¼ inch thick but planed down thin on the top and bottom to fit the slot in the Amberola cabinet.

The thinner tongue at the top and bottom is formed by cutting a 'rabbet'.

To set the record straight...

All Amberola 30's ALL had Metal Grilles. No wood grilles ever! If there is a wood grille in your Amberola 30, It is a reproduction!

All Amberola 50's and 75's ALL had wood grilles.

...And yes, This is an old thread!

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