The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
I am restoring an Edison Standard model C and have removed the I.C.S. tag from the front of the case. I noticed that where the little nails were set in at each corner that the corners have bent forward. When I put it back on the case I would like it to lay flat. How can I flatten the corners down without damaging them?
thanks
Pete

flashpanblue

I would use a shop press, put the tag between two arbor plates, and apply light pressure with the press. That should flatten it right out.

John

I would be wary about exerting too much pressure on the tag. It is celluliod which becomes brittle over time. For instance, is that a crack beginning through the word "international"? It's a cool late version of the tag showing the change to Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Anyway, good luck. I'd be great if you can show us your progress on the machine.

Regards,
Martin

Use a hair dryer on low setting... once it has softened, gently re-form it.

I was going to also suggest warming it SLIGHTLY (please keep in mind celluloid is very flammable...) then flattening it between 2 sheets of glass with a heavy object on top.

Hello,
Just to up date you on my progress. I used the suggestion of the hair dryer to heat the celluloid tag then weighted it down flat on my work bench with an old heavy Sad Iron. It worked fairly well but could be better. I decided to give it one more attempt this time using much more heat. I left the iron sitting on it for an hour. It flattened it out perfect!!
thanks
Pete

You may also find that the tag has shrunk dimensionally, and the holes no longer register with the original ones in the cabinet...

You might be able to carefully tweak the escutcheon pins to compensate... you might also want to leave them ever so slightly loose, to allow the tag to "move" w/o curling at the corners... ?

Just a thought...