The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So I bought this cabinet along with an Edison Banner (black and Gold) Home with the 2/4 minute shift lever attachment this past week. Its made of solid oak....heavy. It measures 36 in. tall, 25 in. wide and and 22 in deep. It also has wood casters. bottom drawer has no pegs. The rest look like drawers were lined with paper and crude pegs nailed in place afterward. To me it feels homemade but someone went to a LOT of effort to make this thing. It has nice drawer fronts, but then the drawer bottoms are crude panels and scraps. It just doesn't make sense. So what do you folks think? Was loaded with 130 cylinders. About half 2 min black wax and half 4 min blue amberol.

Tim

converted chest of drawers

I'm going to go with completely home made. Probably done by an original Edison owner who found he could no longer buy this type of old fashioned cabinet readily to house his growing record collection so decided to make his own on a budget by using at least some recycled materials.
From what I can see of the inside of the carcase and that one drawer bottom it certainly appears that way.

It's kind of hard to tell for sure without seeing all the interior and drawers whether is was homemade or just repaired and converted.

I'm thinking likely professionally made. The drawers are too well done, with Z corners, and the back panels and sides with insert take precision machines to make. Those kind of machines were not readily available to home craftsmen at that time.

The drawers look like they are quite level when pulled out. Perhaps they are on some kind of wood or metal runners that keep them from sagging. If so, that also would point to a professional build. IMO it was a quality manufactured chest that was converted to a record storage cabinet.

The Armours Oats piece on the bottom of the drawer is likely a later home repair or modification.

What is interesting to me is that it's hand grained. In other words, it has a faux finish. Mostly likely, it's not solid oak, but it has an oak grain pattern applied to it. Do NOT try to refinish it!

Jerry

It's oak. Someone already took it down to raw wood. I will be taking this piece and try to improve on the basic bones. A good project while serving time in covid prison.

Tim

Apology to Jerry Van. It is indeed faux finish. My Bad. Changes my approach. Now looking to use Amber Shellac and then several coats of clear shellac to preserve the look. Thanks Jerry.

Tim

SSBN 657 wrote:Apology to Jerry Van. It is indeed faux finish. My Bad. Changes my approach. Now looking to use Amber Shellac and then several coats of clear shellac to preserve the look. Thanks Jerry.

Tim

Tim,

No problem! Thanks for the update!

Tim, nice Aladdin collection.

Jim

Jim
Tip of the iceberg.