The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Nothing special, but it's an old pal of mine that I've had since I was 13, and no I didn't buy it new. This is my Model D Standard which has been silent for years but now is singing away to itself in my junk room. New main bearing from Ron Sitko and rebalancing the governor and it's never run this well...or as quietly. Why didn't I futz with the governor 30 years ago? It's an early D : I suspect it dates from 1909 because part of the crane for a front mount horn came with it. And it's a loud little thing. I need to play with the reproducer a bit: it has the Model H buzz but I'm diminishing that. Now, with this machine I could do a southern Ontario version of an Uncle Josh story. My uncle got the machine from Bill Arnold down in Sombra township when he sold the farm. Didn't work, of course because Alf Ferby took the governor out of it to use in his father's Amberola VIII. I happened to mentioned this to to Alvin Waner who ran the butcher shop in Brigden, and he said "Well I got parts of a Standard that my sister's kids smashed and if you want the pieces......." At this point I should be going "Well Sir, I hitched up the hoss and Henry Hoskin came along ...."

So how do I clean that horn....which is ANOTHER story too!

Jim

Jim,

Looks great, why don't you make it the machine of the week?

Regards,
John

Hey Jim,

I have heard of people having much success with a product called "Back To Black" on black horns and bedplates. I bought some to use on a bed plate once, but the bed plate was far from being "CLEANED". I would consider trying it.

Nice Machine,
Aaron

Thanks Aaron, I'll see if I can run down some Back to Black. Where did you get? Paint store? Auto supply store? When I first assembled this horn,( the parts came from disparate locations ) the paint was in much nicer condition than it is now. But after I moved away from home my mother exiled it first to the cellar and then the attic-- after I whined about the damp . ( "Get that filthy thing out of the bedroom... " Etc. etc. )

Jim

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:Thanks Aaron, I'll see if I can run down some Back to Black. Where did you get? Paint store? Auto supply store?

It's either a stove polish or an Amy Winehouse album!

JohnM wrote:

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:Thanks Aaron, I'll see if I can run down some Back to Black. Where did you get? Paint store? Auto supply store?

It's either a stove polish or an Amy Winehouse album!

Lenoirstreetguy,

There's a product called "Back to Black" by Mother's and available in the automotive wax/cleaners line. But, as I remember, this product targeted rubber and vinyl/plastic applications. No clue how it would behave on metal.

John