The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Bought this Rivoli upright Serial # 214, (I know just another client machine ). Anyway the machine was a junker but despite its condition the wood internal horn caught my eye. The only good parts on this cabinet was the door knobs and the 4 casters, the sides were warped to the point they split the side wood and also the front legs. The lid was in 3 pieces, 3 of the doors had bad veneer and the 4th door appeared to have been hit with an axe at one time I knocked the cabinet apart and worked on it over the winter. The tone arm base (pot metal) was broke but I managed to get it back together with JB weld and a heavy paper clip frame.

The Heineman motor is currently at Ron Sitko's. At any rate here is the cabinet, almost done just waiting for the motor before putting it back together.

This is after all the woodwork, re-staining, 2 coats of Garnet shellac (sprayed), 2 coats of sprayed clear gloss lacquer, and after all the sanding to remove the gloss from the lacquer the cabinet is hand rubbed with Deluxing compound. I don't know what those marks are above the horn in the picture, cheap camera I guess. Cheers

Bill K

Very nice job! For the most part I don't get too excited over the so-called off-brands, but the cool wood horn on this makes it very interesting. I can't imagine many of these have survived, so thanks for keeping this one in the world!

Martin

Beautiful work! Amazing piece!

What makes a true phonograph collector, is that it doesn't matter what make or model the machine is---it's bringing a machine back to the piece of talking machine furniture it was when it was purchased and placed in the parlor ----a lot of pride and joy of the entertainment it provided. The Rivoli must of been as stunning then as it is now, with the same sense of pride and enjoyment. Hats off to the man that rescued the Rivoli.

Awesome job! I love seeing a phonograph brought back from the dead

Simply beautiful wish I could do work like that!

I can only echo what others have said. That is a labor of love. Nice work!

George P.

Outstanding job!

Wow, that was nearly a full rebuild of the cabinet. Quite an accomplishment! Congratulations and thanks for sharing. I would also be interested in some pictures of the tonearm repair process.

Andreas

alang wrote:Wow, that was nearly a full rebuild of the cabinet. Quite an accomplishment! Congratulations and thanks for sharing. I would also be interested in some pictures of the tonearm repair process.

Andreas

Yes especially keeping everything square. Not much of a process fixing the tonearm base - just put a light coat of JB on the joint and then fashioned that little frame out of paper clips - I was sweating bullets while I was twisting/tightening the paper clips, waiting for that horrifying 'tink" Then increased the thickness of the JB Weld. Anyway so far so good. Cheers

Bill K