The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My Victor III is in the final stages of restoration. The Oak base & motor board had to be stripped to bare wood, stained and refinished. Motor was Overhauled. All hardware re-plated with nickel and a couple of items like crank and crank escutcheon replaced. The last component to consider is the rear horn/tonearm support. The support is not in bad shape, but it is very dull and dingy. I have cleaned it as much as water and mild soap will allow. Most of the gold decoration work is in tact, but faded or worn in places.

I can leave it as-is and live with it, go all-out and redo it with black lacquer & apply new decals, or do something in between. So I'm asking for thoughts / ideas / suggestions on any other options I should consider.

Here's a picture of it in its current, essentially original state. Thanks in advance.

Jim S.

I think it is quite presentable as is. The paint and striping look really good. You might clean it with non-pumice GoJo and polish with some wax but that's all I recommend.

Jerry Blais

Thank you Jerry. My original thought was "less is best" and I'm still of the same mind. But wasn't sure what was safe to use on it. I'll certainly give that a try.

The only thing holding me back on completing the restoration is the application of finish on the Oak. It has just been too cold here in the east to apply any finishes in my garage. I'm chomping at the bit waiting for warm weather.

Jim

It has just been too cold here in the east to apply any finishes in my garage.

I agree and can't wait for a little 60 degree weather. Jerry B.

Regarding your finishing questions, I don't think you should have any trouble laying down a shellac finish indoors. It's only thinned with alcohol and honestly doesn't stink that bad.

I refinished a Fireside case and a Columbia horn machine in the living room and no one minded.

VanEpsFan - Thanks!

I know this is not "original", but I'm spraying Lacquer as a final finish and that requires dry, warm temperatures, and I can't spray that indoors. Need to do it outdoors or in my garage.

As far as the horn support.. I had never thought about this, but the base thick black paint and "clear coat" that seems to be over top of the gold decoration has some similarities to an automotive finish. So I considered whether something like an automotive paint cleaner / protectant might work. So I tried something I use on my car's clear coat. Its called "Honda Glare Professional Polish". It is a chemical cleaner (non-abrasive) and polymer paint sealant in one. I tried it in an inconspicuous spot and found that it removed a considerable amount of surface "grunge" that soap and water couldn't remove. Rubbing the cleaner lightly over the gold decoration didn't remove any of it. So I carefully cleaned the entire support and wiped it off. Applied a second thin coat and buffed it out. I must say - quite a difference. 2 Photos - First a pic of the cleaned support. Quite a bit better than before. And I didn't damage the decoration. Second - The terry washcloth I used to apply the cleaner. Amazing the amount of surface dirt and oxidation it took off.

How does that support come apart. What's inside of it? The arm on my Vic. IV has a slight bind to it and I would like to clean up the pivots to make the arm swing smoother.

The small set-screw at the bottom of the tone arm pivot needs to be loosened first. I had to let some penetrating oil sit in it overnight before trying to loosen it. Inside the bracket the lower part of the pin must be pushed down into the support bracket. There is a spring in there which forces the pin upward. Once that pin is pushed down far enough the upper pin which the tonearm pivots around can swing out and down, releasing the tone arm. Then just slide the larger pin out of the tonearm.

What an improvement!
Dave D