The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Looking for a black leather elbow for an early phonograph horn. Please PM me if you can help!? Send pictures please. Better quality is desirable, but I will look at anything. I am trying to upgrade from what I have, which is pretty marginal. I don't want it to be falling apart and missing all it's stitching!

Thanks,
Jeff
Wisconsin

Jeff, I'm sure you are looking for an original. To tide you over, I would get a repro one from Justin Schaub, JAS antiques. His are spot on. I would get one of those and save the original one for historical purposes, until a good original one shows up.
Harvey Kravitz

A possible opportunity for you... .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-Berliner ... SwhOVXfp6p

Thanks guys! I have an elbow, just looking for a better one. I cannot convince my local shoe repair guy to soak mine in Lexsol and restitch it by hand. He is afraid it will fall apart. I may just try it myself. It can't get any worse that it is already!!!

Jeff,
I have had good luck repairing split elbows using "zepher skin". It is a very thin leather made from animal intestines and used mostly commonly to rebuild bellows for antique Bird Boxes and Cuckoo Clocks. I cut an approximately ½- ¾ inch strip of the material. Using hide glue, which will dissolve in water if you want to reverse it, I place a small bead of glue in the split seam and also to one side of the zepher skin. I then place the seam back together and apply the zepher skin on the inside of the elbow overlapping both sides of the seam. wipe excess glue using a damp paper towel. I then place a piece of wax paper over the horn it fits on, slide it in place and clamp it in place with rubber bands. The next day is is a good stable elbow again and it presents well. The seam is tight and you don't notice the repair. I use Aniline dye to color the zepher skin to match the color of the elbow. I then secure the elbow to the horn using Rubber Cement, which is not permanent but keeps the elbow securely in place until you want to remove it.

I hope this is of some use...
Gregg

Gregg,

Good to hear from you my friend! Great times at the Union show. Leave it to you to have a "go to" solution that is reversible, reliable, and not obviously noticeable!!

Best!
Jeff
Wisconsin