The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Has anyone on here ever repainted a Maroon Gem. I was wondering what color or combination of colors you might used to achive the best results.

blizz

I would suggest Krylon "Stain Glass Color" #9020 red. It's a translucent paint that gives very good results. I would suggest a silver base coat. As you apply more coats of red, you start to lose the translucent appearance. The key is to apply light coats until you have the desired color. The photo shows my first attempt at a Maroon Gem color and I was quite pleased. Jerry Blais

Thanks for the info Jerry. The horn looks nice with the Fireside but I was interested in what would be the right match for the Maroon Gem.

They always look to be a muddier (for lack of a better term)or flatter brown maroon color.

Here is a sample pic,

Here is a horn that I have that was repainted but the color definately looks to bright when comparing it to an actual Gem machine.

Blizz

If it were me, I'd still try this paint and play with the base coat color. I have two Maroon Gems. One is factory painted maroon over black. It has a completely different appearance when compared to the other factory painted maroon color. I suspect it's the same maroon but the base color made the difference. Jerry

If you go to Wyatt Markus' website, there is a really wonderful story about the discovery and amazing restoration of serial #2 Amberola 1-A, a prototype machine. In it, he explains that the top works were repainted with 1984 VW Rabbit LS "Mahogany Red" paint. It looks to be just the thing. And it is well worth anyone's while to review all the material on that machine. Just incredible.

http://www.edisondiamonddisc.com/

And to think that as a youth I often drove within blocks of where it was languishing in a shed.

Clay

Thanks for the reply Clay.. The paint code I found for the 84 VW Rabbit is LE3K.

Looks like it would be an exact match for the Gem machine. Now I guess since the project I am concidering is the horn and the horn was used initially on the Fireside, would this be the correct paint for the horn.

There is a nice maroon Gem on Ebay right now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIME-CAPSULE-A- ... 756wt_1212

The horn in the listing certainly looks to have a much more matalic look to it, much closer to the color of the repainted horn I already have.

What are other members take on this color..

blizz

Hi Blizz,

I thought the way your initial question was worded you were looking for the color to repaint the Gem itself, rather than the horn. That was the reason for the heads up on the VW color.

Clay

Your right, my fingers were going faster then my brain... Thats what happens when you get old..

No sure wheather to mess with it or not...I have enough projects..LOL

Thanks for the link. Looks like the VW pint is spot on from what I see.

Blizz

Maroon Gems weren't painted with paint, they were painted with a tinted shellac. I cringe at the thought of using paint. That is not a historical finish for these machines. There are a few restorers who can reshellac, most notably David Teti of Connecticutt.