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Hi folk,

Would it be a mortal sin to strip an Amberola 30 bed plate
and spray it with automotive paint? I'm just thinking in terms
of durability?

Ade

Depending how bad the bedplate looks, I prefer to retain the original black finish from Edison.

Ade

Asphaltum is the closest thing to the original black japanning that Edison used. I'm attaching three links. The first two are sources for asphaltum products. The last is a description of the actual black japanning method used in Edision's time.

Painting may give presentable results, but won't be as "authentic" looking, in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

John

http://www.dickblick.com/products/aspha ... escription

http://libertyonthehudson.com/

http://www.cranialstorage.com/Wood/japanning.html

While everybody likes originality, you cannot escape the fact that some machines look so bad that anything you do will be an improvement. That broad gray zone between do or don't is up to your own judgment. It is your machine and a common model, so do what suits you without concerns about rarity. I think a baked automotive enamel would be fine. Some auto shops will do small jobs quite reasonably.

gibsonj wrote:Ade

Asphaltum is the closest thing to the original black japanning that Edison used. I'm attaching three links. The first two are sources for asphaltum products. The last is a description of the actual black japanning method used in Edision's time.

Painting may give presentable results, but won't be as "authentic" looking, in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

John

http://www.dickblick.com/products/aspha ... escription

http://libertyonthehudson.com/

http://www.cranialstorage.com/Wood/japanning.html

Thanks and appreciated John.

VintageTechnologies wrote:While everybody likes originality, you cannot escape the fact that some machines look so bad that anything you do will be an improvement. That broad gray zone between do or don't is up to your own judgment. It is your machine and a common model, so do what suits you without concerns about rarity. I think a baked automotive enamel would be fine. Some auto shops will do small jobs quite reasonably.

Hi, and thanks for your advice, I suppose there is some consolation in getting a professional to do it.

.

.

SydneyAde wrote:

VintageTechnologies wrote:While everybody likes originality, you cannot escape the fact that some machines look so bad that anything you do will be an improvement. That broad gray zone between do or don't is up to your own judgment. It is your machine and a common model, so do what suits you without concerns about rarity. I think a baked automotive enamel would be fine. Some auto shops will do small jobs quite reasonably.

Hi, and thanks for your advice, I suppose there is some consolation in getting a professional to do it.

You're welcome. Most important is the preparation (cleaning, sanding. filling) of the surface before priming and painting. Whoever paints the bedplate should take pains to plug the threaded screw holes to block paint from clogging the threads. The old threads are not the same as current standards and you will not find taps at the hardware store to clear the clogged theads.

Victrolacollector wrote:Depending how bad the bedplate looks, I prefer to retain the original black finish from Edison.

Thanks, ideally I also like to keep it all original when possible..