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I picked up this fireside model A about 2 months ago. Fron the pictures that were posted, I that perhaps it was extremely dirty but could look good with a deep clean. When I got there and saw the machine, I realize that somebody had slathered the case in a tarish-green "finish" and added a decal.

The finish was extremely hard to remove, I covered it countless times with a strong paint remover, and it still required a lot of mechanical force. This time I decided to try and use grain filler. I used a water based wood filler diluted with more water until I could somewhat easily pour and, then I scraped it around the cabinet, let it dry, then sand. I used the van dyke brown stain, and finished it with shellac.

I added a gregg cline decal to the cabinet and used painters tape to help align it better. After building up enough shellac, I dry sanded it smooth, then "polished" by oil sanding up to 1500 grit. Then I used McGuires scratch x2 autobody polish, and finally used Howard's feed-n-wax.

Here are some pictures of before and after. It's not over yet though, I still need to repaint the bedplate

Martin

Looks really nice. You get a blue ribbon!

Jerry B.

Nice work! Sometimes it is very hard to even out the staining on Oak. Looks like you nailed it. Cheers, Russie

looks great Martin!

This one came out smooth--thanks for the detailed how-to description as well as the nice restoration. Is this one going to be for that rusty old cygnet horn you were fixing to restore? If that horn turns out as nice as this one you will have another real showpiece for the collection.

Firesides are cute. I like them. One day I am going to try to get an Edison Home but in the meantime I am content with keeping it small.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:This one came out smooth--thanks for the detailed how-to description as well as the nice restoration. Is this one going to be for that rusty old cygnet horn you were fixing to restore? If that horn turns out as nice as this one you will have another real showpiece for the collection.

Firesides are cute. I like them. One day I am going to try to get an Edison Home but in the meantime I am content with keeping it small.

Thank you! Yes, this will go with that rusty cygnet horn that I got a while back. I'm waiting to get the materials I need to wood grain it, but the base coat is already on. Of course I will update on the rest un the future.

Another change I'm thinking of doing is possibly trading model K for a diamond C reproducer, as well as the carriage. My cylinder collection mostly consists of blue amberols, and I would really appreciate the upgrade in fidelity.

Martin

Mormon S wrote: Another change I'm thinking of doing is possibly trading model K for a diamond C reproducer, as well as the carriage. My cylinder collection mostly consists of blue amberols, and I would really appreciate the upgrade in fidelity.

Martin

If it were a late Fireside you would have it on 4m mode only. You don't want a Diamond C reproducer; you want the Diamond B, because that one empties the sound out through the top and not through the back.

If I could fix my K reproducer I would. I just get cold feet about mailing stuff off for whatever reason, and that holds me up on everything from important paperwork to phono parts to ordering supplies. But for 4m records I am having good results still using an Amberola 30. I had one of Larry H's Truetones in it but now I have one of Herman's Wondertones. If I had another large-diaphragm machine I'd drop in the Truetone to have one of each.

Could you put on a horizontal large carriage and use one of the O Reproducers or whatever model the big turnover ones are?

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:

Mormon S wrote: Another change I'm thinking of doing is possibly trading model K for a diamond C reproducer, as well as the carriage. My cylinder collection mostly consists of blue amberols, and I would really appreciate the upgrade in fidelity.

Martin

If it were a late Fireside you would have it on 4m mode only. You don't want a Diamond C reproducer; you want the Diamond B, because that one empties the sound out through the top and not through the back.

If I could fix my K reproducer I would. I just get cold feet about mailing stuff off for whatever reason, and that holds me up on everything from important paperwork to phono parts to ordering supplies. But for 4m records I am having good results still using an Amberola 30. I had one of Larry H's Truetones in it but now I have one of Herman's Wondertones. If I had another large-diaphragm machine I'd drop in the Truetone to have one of each.

Could you put on a horizontal large carriage and use one of the O Reproducers or whatever model the big turnover ones are?

Sorry, meant the model B

A model O would be ideal, but it's definitely cost prohibitive and I would rather have one on a nicer machine, like a late home or a triumph. For this machine I would probably do fine with the diamond B, and if I want to take advantage of the 2 minute setting I could use a model C reproducer and a reducing ring adaptor.

Martin

I'm not a fan of restored machines, but this is really, really nice. I like it! I'm not in the market for a Fireside, but if I were...

Garret

That is extremely nice! Must be how it looked the day it was made. Excellent job!