How Long Will Wood Last?

[Discman]

I often wonder if the long term enjoyment of our 100+ year old machines may eventually be compromised by the failure of the wood cases due to general deterioration of the wood fibers from heat and humidity changes. Each time I prop open the lid on one of my floor models, I think of the stress being put on the hinges, or the stress caused by simply winding them up. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or examples of other mechanical devices in wood cases that are so dependent on the stability of a wood support framework?
Dave

[estott]

There is a great deal of 18th C. furniture still around in regular use, so I think the cases might be good for a few centuries at least. In my experience the wood lasts well, it's the glue that fails.

[richardh]

I'm with estott on this one...I think the wood element of these machines will last a very very long time. The finish might suffer over time but with maintenance as any joint failure occurs I don't think there is much to worry about. I have an old sea chest from the early 1800's...the finish is a bit rough but its still holding together well after approx 200 years - even with daily use.

RJ

[gramophoneshane]

Life's too short to be worrying about such things
Keep em out of the rain & sun, and don't dance on the lid, and they should last 20 lifetimes.
Wind em up & enjoy them as often as the mood takes you. It's just a phonograph, & you can't take it with you when you go

http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Olde ... 3021.shtml

[3victrolas]

I agree w/ Estott. I had a neighbor who has a chair from the mid 1600's. Nice original finish! The only thing it needed was to be reglued in a few places.

[SonnyPhono]

Gramophoneshane is right! There is no reason these machines can't last 20 lifetimes! Here is the most important part though, (which everyone already knows I am sure.) If we baby our phonographs and regularly protect the wood with a light cleaner/water repellent then they will last for centuries. The important part is to "seal" the grain with bee's wax to ensure that moisture stays out to prevent the softening action of the wood rotting. If the machine has been taken care of over the years and we continue to take care of the wood, there is no reason they won't last another 200 years or more. I know that I have owned some early 18th century wood pieces that are solid with minimal structural problems. So take care of the wood, seal it, and definitely don't dance on it and hopefully our great great great great great great great grandchildren will have the pleasure of listening to these works of art as we have!

Now those stupid potmetal pieces are a completely different story!!


Ps. Side note, I would bet my entire collection on the fact that a phonograph in good shape will outlast any ipod ever created!!

[need4art]

Hi All,
A lot has to do with where and how wood is stored. In my field I have restored picture frames that were made in the 1600's and yet customers have brought in items made in the 1940's that I could not save. In these machines what you do not see is what will hurt them the most. The oil and grease that we use to lube the machine itself when allowed to drip on the shellac finished or raw wood can makes the wood fibers break down and turn into a soft mush. It can bleed through the sides and discolor the wood. When I clean up a machine I make a "drip pan" of heavy aluminum foil and place it under the motor and works area to catch any runoff and that may mean covering part of the horn. Using anything that can feed the wood will keep it from drying out and breaking down.
Abe

[larryh]

Wood today wouldn't last nearly as long.. Old wood is a different product it would seem.. I had a hundred old year house and it still had the original thick wood sills, today they rot out in a few years.. I agree that dampness is a danger mostly to the glue. The C 19 I purchased last year had pieces falling of it and seams coming apart. Clamping and gluing was all it needed. But if its turned loose the veneer thats another story and harder to fix well. As has been said, your not going to out live you machines.

[nipper]

I should Say long after all of us pass away.

The best we can do is to care for them till the next owner and so on and let the next guy worry.


Nipper

[NashTwin8]

I would guess that collectors will be faced with the problem of worn out records long before they are stymied by worn out machines, especially the cabinets. Given any care at all, wood holds up remarkably well. Perhaps water and fire are its worst enemies, and maybe termites or something like that.

As to the "old wood" vs. "new wood" observation, I would guess that the difference is not old vs. new, but rather the type of wood. For example, in my part of the world, fir was used for basic lumber in the past, but nowadays hemlock is often used because it is less expensive. Hemlock rots much more quickly than fir when exposed to the same conditions. In general, our antique furniture items were made of hardwoods, chosen precisely because they were able to hold up well for a long time.

Take care,

Jerry K