The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Finally getting around to restoring a little backmount machine I've had for several years. It's a Royal (one of the Chicago variants) and it appears that the edge of the turntable has some gold paint. Based on the original turntable felt and the overall condition of the machine it seems that this was applied at the factory. I've had many of the Chicago machines and this is a first for me. Anybody else seen this?

Kent,

I don't know anything about this brand, but found this one picture on line with the gold edge platter. James.

I wonder about this phonograph shown. Wasn't the Royal Phonograph a Columbia Client outside horn machine made about 1915 or so? This looks European. I never saw a Royal phonograph like this one before.
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:I wonder about this phonograph shown. Wasn't the Royal Phonograph a Columbia Client outside horn machine made about 1915 or so? This looks European. I never saw a Royal phonograph like this one before.
Harvey Kravitz

The machine in the photo looks to be a Frankenphone, with a Victor tone arm and a Viva-Tonal reproducer, so the turntable cannot be trusted either.

After all, with that external brake, any paint or gold plating would get rubbed off fairly soon...

Bill

Thanks for the replies. My Royal does have the searchlight horn (black with gold stripes) but, as mentioned, is more Columbia-like - aluminum tone arm, push-pull brake, etc. Also the turntable has a fairly thin edge. There's enough evidence of gold paint that I think I'll go ahead and paint it.