The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have seen the old advertisements that list the Amberola 30 as only available in golden oak and I have one in Golden oak. But I also one that is a dark oak and another center section that is also a dark oak. These seem to have a very slight dark red in the stain, maybe it is from a amber shellac. Did Edison used Amber shellac or clear? I know they offered cabinets in Fumed oak, most of these that I have seen are dark. And they do not seem to have any sign of any red, they look more like a walnut stain.
What finishes were the Amberola 30 offered in?
Jeff

All the catalogues and reference books I have seen show the Amberola 30 in Golden Oak only.
The 50 was available in Golden Oak, Fumed Oak and Mahogany.
The 75 added Weathered Oak to the choices available on the 50.

The case dimensions of the 30 differed between the early and late models, so perhaps the stain colour also differed. Only a side by side comparison between an early and a late example would answer that question.

Both of the dark samples that I have are the early models. The golden oak is the late model.
Jeff

In photo 30a, the early model golden oak is in the middle and the lid is on the bottom.
In photo 30b golden in the middle, lid to the left.
In photo lids, late right and early left, notice the grain difference also.
in photo early lida, the red hue stands out.

The early model 30 with the golden oak was stripped of shellac when I got it, but it more closely resembles the finish of many that I have seen. The late models have the shellac or most of it still on them and are darker. The Model 50 that I have is in Mahogany and is a different color all together. Maybe I am just seeing old amber shellac, but when I removed the shellac with a alcohol rub. I looks the same, the early lid has had all of the shellac removed on the top and the finish still matches the center section
Jeff

Have you taken storage conditions and various attempts to "clean up" a machine into thought here? Every 30 I've ever seen is basically golden oak, but a finish can darken over time (or be darkened) by various methods (cigarette smoke, stains, polishes), which is my suggestion here.

Sean

When I tested the finish with denatured alcohol to be sure it was shellac. It was shellac and came of fairly easy. But even with the shellac removed, the finish underneath stayed the same, no darker or lighter. That is why I am wondering if they offered something different on the early 30 or if the amber shellac added to the color of the wood even after it was gone. Did they use amber shellac or just clear. Many of the 30's that I have seen "restored" are using a clear and getting the lighter golden oak look. The amber tends to high light the grain and darken the color. I would like to refinish them to be a close to the original color as possible using the same stain and finish .
AND I got it backwards --- The light Golden oak is the early model and the Dark one is the later model serial number SM 39412. I will correct the earlier post.
Jeff

I believe the Edison catalogs are actually "not complete" on this one. Most Amberola 30's that are found are in "Fumed Oak". They were also available in "Golden Oak" as well which were mostly some Earlier Amberola 30 machines, not the Late ones. Why the Edison Catalogs only mention it being available in "Golden Oak" only remains a mystery...seeing as how most (The Majority) of Amberola 30 machines are in a "Fumed Oak" finish.

I have two Mint Amberola 30's... An Early Series 2 Machine (1917), and a Series 3 Machine (1919-1920), and both are in Fumed Oak finish.

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Tony K

Edison Collector/Restorer

I just did a wed search of "fumed oak shellac finish" and got many hits that look just like the two later cases that I have. I think the fumed oak plus raw amber shellac is giving them the color that I am finding. The earlier golden oak cases are a lot lighter in shade and color.
Jeff

"The earlier golden oak cases are a lot lighter in shade and color."

Yep. You betcha.

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Here's a good photo of an Edison Fireside. The Cygnet bracket has probably been on the back of the case for over a hundred years. I disassembled the machine and cleaned with GoJo. The original finish is as clean as it's ever going to get. The portion under the Cygnet bracket is probably very close to factory color but I really don't know, it's well over one hundred years old. The rest of the cabinet was more subject to environmental effects. I think this is a good example of the environment and how cabinets, like Amberola 30 cabinets, could leave the factory as identical and look so different today. Of course factory finishes may have changed over the long life of the Amberola 30.