The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well I finally did it. I fixed the case! All I had to cut the pieces was a scroll saw and some sand paper , so it didn’t come out perfect, but it’s pretty close. I used some oak that is actually from a tree that was on my property. The previous owner cut down the trees and logged them, but he never used them! So I found a nice piece with some “tiger stripes” to patch the frame.

I know it’s not perfect, but how’d I do?


I am really posting this to ask this question: how do I stain the new oak to match the original oak? I haven stained either yet, and was planning on using the vandyke brown. That’ll give a good Edison home model D color right? So again, how do I stain the cabinet so it’s all the same color?

David

Edit: here are some “before pics”

A truly wonderful job, David! You've outdone yourself, especially considering the tools on hand. And reconstructing the parts with logs cut into spare pieces is much more interesting than simply sourcing a scrapped frame from a donor machine.

Now to get to the machinist when the lockdown lets up and have those parts made, rebuild a bit here and there, and add a few spares and a horn. You'll have a fine phonograph. Looks a lot more natural with that missing end of the lid fixed up!

It is great seeing the progress. Keep up the good effort.

Quite simply, I'm impressed. Keep up the good work. Jerry B.

Thanks guys!

Any thoughts on staining the wood?

Very nice work. Jerry Blais posted on a wood stain that he uses. Hopefully he will post it for you.

Great job, David... Now you know what to do in the future when you find an "un-restorable" machine for a cheap price...

Thanks again guys

I’ll post some pictures when I stain the cabinet, hopefully this weekend!

David

Stained and one light coat of shellac.

The patches on the frame didn’t stain the same color exact color as the rest is the case. Whats the best way to darken those spots.

I cut the shellac 50:50 with denatured alcohol.



ALSO: does that silver piece come out? I’d sure be nice if it did

Polish out these coats and keep applying them until it builds up a little and you'll have a sharp-looking restoration. Great job!

Now to find a cygnet horn, fix the mechanism, add a couple reproducers and all that--