The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So, on the cheap, I've managed to pick up 3 brunswick model 117 (2 mahogany, 1 oak that somebody antiqued) with the 4 spring "Type B" motor and double head Ultona reproducer. The oak one has the earliest serial numbers (cab #172216, motor #3607), and the mahogany ones are tens of thousands of units later (cab #208609 motor #45894 and cab #210600 motor #49287). While in production they must have been pulling motors for other models, because using the numbers I have, cabinet numbers only increase by 38,384, and the motor numbers increase by 45,680.

As far as making a decently good one out of the bunch, the oak cabinet would be nice with the pinstriped motor, but the antiqued paint on it is probably the best done and thorough job that I've seen, and would be a PITA to restore back to oak. So I think I'm going to go with a mahogany one. I'm assuming it makes no difference if I switch motors between the mahogany machines, as they aren't that collectible, right? Also, what's the best way to touch up the gold lettering? Any method for touching up the black on the motor plate?

Motor observations:
Early - Pinstripe around motor plate, stamped letters are more fine, additional hole near the back of the plate for attaching to cabinet, speed dial has 80 [rpm] stamped on it, motor oiling tubes are bent at 90 degree angles, felt is lighter green

Later - no pinstripe on motor plate, stamped letters are more broad/wide, only 2 holes for mounting motor plate to cabinet, speed dial just has an extended tick for 80rpm, motor oiling tubes are not at 90 degree bends (shorter tube = less cost?), felt is darker green

I haven't noticed anything else as far as differences. In the pictures, earliest is on the left, latest is on the right.

It's a damned shame that the oak one got "antiqued", and not one of the mahoganys.


If the antiquing was done with latex paint, you may be able to remove it and restore the original finish.


That would probably involve less effort & bring better results than trying to restore a proper mahogany "piano-finish"...


I also have two 117 uprights, one in Golden Oak, the other in alligatored brown mahogany.

The oak needs some work ( broken pot-metal ), but I would rather put the effort into that one than try to restore that damned mahogany piano finish.

In terms of construction and mechanics, all are top-quality machines.

If the antiqued one was done with latex paint, most of that should come off with acetone and leave the old finish relatively intact. Then you can strip the old varnish off without having all that paint to get into the grain. Those inexpensive children's wading pools will be on sale soon and work good for such a mess. I have one for painted stuff, and one for varnished. Someone did kind of go crazy on that one. I saw a Columbia awhile back that got the tan naugahyde and 10,000 upholstery tack western theme tune-up last year! I should have taken a picture, but didn't have my camera with me. It had horse heads and cactus plants all over it. I didn't look to see if Gene Autry records were in it.
Even if it's oil paint it will all come off. It's just a lot more work of course.