The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Another survivor has found its way to me! This cabinet is incomplete, missing its motor frame, and the base board has cracks and scrapes, bumps and breaks. It has white paint flecks, and is in desperate need of completion!






As you see, there are some areas which need new wood. For such repairs, I keep a section of a 100yr old mahogany table to scavenge scraps off of.




I will start off by clamping the cracks, and building up the depressions and missing wood by layering strips of mahogany veneer on each imperfection, gluing each layer in place.



The cabinet is missing its motor frame, so I will have to make one. I do have a complete mechanism to drop into the completed cabinet when done, as well as the lid hardware. So, while we wait for paint to dry, let's clean that lid!



I like to use RAMAX New Life Furniture Masque.....its very gentle, especially to fragile finishes. It is buffered with orange oil, which leaves some moisture in the wood, and brings out its original color.




THE GLUE IS DRYING! Stay tuned for more!

Wyatt, thanks for sharing another project. Looking forward to your continued progress. I would be interested how you build up/replace that broken out wood where the motor board hinge goes. I have a similar problem with an oak case and my concern is how to make it strong enough to hold the hinge screws again.

Thanks again
Andreas

Looks great and I'm looking forward to seeing more as the progess continues.

what you did with the lid is quite impressive... it looks perfect now!

I see these Edison's in mahogany and it reminds me of Ted McCorkle. He was an old timmer and lived on the East coast near Myrtle Beach. He made a bunch of these cabinets in mahogany and you couldn't tell they didn't come from the factory that way. I always think of him when one shows up. That's some pretty wood work.

Wasn't Ted an older gentleman who made replacement lids in oak as well? If so, I don't recall his craftsmanship as being anything that would fool anyone.

JohnM wrote:Wasn't Ted an older gentleman who made replacement lids in oak as well? If so, I don't recall his craftsmanship as being anything that would fool anyone.

No one could ever FOOL YOU, and I repeat NEVER, but to those of us of mere talents/abilities that do not compare to yours and have seen and owned one (myself being a "poor soul" that he kindly gifted one to) appreciate his craftsmanship!! Gerard

Wyatt, you are truly a hands on genius!! I would love to live in your head for just one day. Gerard

Wow, another fantastic restoration. BTW, was this the Mahogany Home case that sold on ebay about a month ago? Just curious.
Harvey Kravitz

Cleaning of main cabinet:




Having glued layers of veneer in damaged hinge area, here is what it looks like now after shaving back excess wood: