The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just bought a Victrola VV-XVII and would like to have some of the parts re-plated. What is the best place to have this done? Cheap too would be nice. Thanks

Replating isn't going to be cheap no matter where you go. Have you tried cleaning the parts in question with ammonia? My XVIII had parts that looked terrible until I cleaned them.

Sean

I checked with some platers, and gold plating is very expensive. Several years ago, I inquired on having a speed control, turntable brake, needle tin, crank and knobs replated. Many were talking in the 400-600.00 range. That was more than the machine was worth considering it was an off brand. I ended up selling the machine and moving on.

I have tried the ammonia trick and cleaning with ammonia does work nicely.

Does anyone know the precise formulas Victor employed for their gold plating?

Garret

Do you mean the formula of the plating solution? Generally these are a cyanide and acid bath which might explain the high cost. Not sure if anyone knows the exact formula, but the only thing left on the machine is gold so that shouldn't matter. The key is surface preperation.

You can buy the stuff at jewelry supply houses or online, but it is a few hundred dollars a quart and a nightmare to ship, keep and dispose of. You will also need a gold source to provide the plating, but a small (1/10 oz coin will do a lot of victrolas). You can buy solutions at http://www.goldplating.com/Products/pro ... ongold.htm. You need to be careful as the warning is "fatal if inhaled swallowed or absorbed through the skin" also it usually needs to be heated as well. I have never tried the brush-on plating.

Be aware, you will have a hard time getting rid of the solution once you are done as most dumps won't take it (even on toxic waste days). I finally found a jeweler who said he would take it off my hands.