The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
I am wondering if any one knows who can properly restore the finish on Edison Diamond Disc bed plates? For example there is a very nice A250 listed in the Trader section. The only thing that really detracts from the machine is the large amount of paint that has flaked off the bed plate. I have seen other machines with the same problem. Now I know it is nice to keep everything original but in some cases it would really improve the look of a machine if the bed plate was restored. Does anyone know who does this type of work? Any first hand experience of what it might cost?
thanks
Pete

The Diamond Disc bedplate uses Nigrosene, It's the same exact stuff used on the Edison cylinder Phongraphs. It is readily available from most Phongraph Dealers. Edison Beplates from 1913 to 1917 were all black, and had gold pin striping, A Diamond shaped logo in the lower left hand corner of the Bedplate, and a Thomas Edison signature logo in the upper right hand corner of the bedplate. Bedplates from 1918 to 1927 were much simpler, and were all Black and just simply had a Thomas Edison signature logo in the upper right hand corner of the bedplate. Obviously, The later 1918 to 1927 bedplates would be much easier to restore. The Thomas Edison signature logos are waterslide decals readily available as well and are the same exact ones used on the later Edison cylinder phonographs.

From Wikipedia: "Nigrosene is an outdated trade name for a black dye made from oxidised aniline dispersed in water. It was used as a colourant in shoe polish until the 1940s, and as a dark stain for bedplates, brackets, crank handles, and wood."

Nigrosene is available from APSCO here:

http://www.antiquephono.com/cabinet.htm


)

Tony K.
Melbourne, FL

The A250 would have a brown bedplate wouldn't it?

rizbone wrote:The A250 would have a brown bedplate wouldn't it?

Yes, it would (and does). I would think Steve Farmer would be able to restore this bedplate to look brand new, but it won't be cheap...

The B-250 also had a brown/maroon bedplate until 1915. Ditto the entire 1914 A-series Disc Phonographs, and Amberolas 1B, III, IV, V, and VI.

George P.

My A250, SN 8355, has a black bedplate.

Clay

FloridaClay wrote:My A250, SN 8355, has a black bedplate.

Clay

That's interesting!

There's a B-250 here (No.3424) with a brown/maroon bedplate.

I don't recall ever seeing an A-250 with a black bedplate. Could you post some photos?

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

FloridaClay wrote:My A250, SN 8355, has a black bedplate.

Clay

That's interesting!

There's a B-250 here (No.3424) with a brown/maroon bedplate.

I don't recall ever seeing an A-250 with a black bedplate. Could you post some photos?

George P.

There is a picture of it, and a related discussion, in this thread from when I first bought it. It is original to the machine, as the numbers are correct.

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 0&start=10

Clay

Thanks, Clay, for the link to the earlier thread. So evidently there HAD been an A-250 in my past with a black bedplate...but I had forgotten it!

What use is it to learn things if I'm only going to forget them?!

George P.

phonogfp wrote:Thanks, Clay, for the link to the earlier thread. So evidently there HAD been an A-250 in my past with a black bedplate...but I had forgotten it!

What use is it to learn things if I'm only going to forget them?!

George P.

Don't feel bad! I am at that stage where my memory resides in sticky notes.

Clay