The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all
Just said I d throw up a few pictures of a furniture making project that I ve completed. Its based on the Melba Pedestal of the early 20th century but I obviously had to make a few changes partly due to my own lack of ability and partly due to constraints place on me by the project guidelines.
I know its definitely not everyone's cup of tea but I said I might as well give it an airing anyway.

Superb craftsmanship, many congratulations and I am certain you will have derived much satisfaction. Well done indeed !

VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!Job well done!

Put that in a chicken coop for a month, take it back out and clean it up... you'll probably be able to pass it off as original. Looks great and a lot of work... By the way, do you have any plans for it so someone could make one?

Very nice !!!. Are you planing to ebonize it also..??. There is a man that had hardware sets made as original in cast brass. Not sure if any are still available, but they were not inexpensive.

Very good work and nicely finished .

Personally I am not keen on the centre raised panel , not sure why .

I wonder whether some colour rubbed into the scratch carvings would show them up .

Thanks for posting the pics. I think you've done a beautiful job ... you definitely don't "lack" any ability!

That sure is nice. You definitely have great talent and the ability.
Harvey Kravitz

Hi all
Thanks for all your comments, most appreciated. I had a number of constraints on what could be done so I kind of ended up with a subdued relation of the real pedestal. I ve attached some PDFs for anyone interested with the main measurements (in millimeters I afraid, wrong side of the pond for imperial)
Michael was good enough to post pictures and measurements for me so I ve included Michael s main measurements (in inches) aswell.
Thanks again for your interest and to Michael for his help in this project.

This is so cool. Well done. The originals were so badly made that they really needed to be ebonized just to keep them together. The ones I have seen may have been ebonized but really they look like they are covered in a thick black lacquer which flakes off in chunks.

What wood have you used?. An American Victor in oak would look great on this.
I like the subtle carving. The hardware looks dodgy, I personally would not have it.