The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would like to share a project I recently finished up. Here is a machine I got from VanEpsFan1914 that I decided to repaint and refinish myself. Since it is one of my favorites, I decided to wait a bit until I knew I could get it right, so I decided to tackle other projects before this one.

For the case, I used Timber mates Black water based grain filler. The product works fine, but I think next time I will try using sanding sealer or a very thin cut of shellac on the wood before scraping the filler on, because the water base of the wood filler seeped into the wood staining it black, requiring a fair bit of sanding to fix. For the stain I used Mohawk Van-Dyke brown penetrating stain. This stain is the perfect color and will have no problem penetrating into the wood. The difficult thing about this stain is applying it perfectly even and avoiding dark overlaps. To get it more even I apply the stain in straight lines and overlapping the last pass until the whole cabinet is stained. After letting it dry for a bit, I wipe the stained cabinet down with a paper towel and denatured alcohol. Doing this picks up some stain, but leaves the color more even.

I like the process of wiping shellac layers on with a pad, but the problem is that the penetrating stain gets wiped off with the denatured alcohol used to dissolve the shellac , So I like to use Zinsser spray shellac. After spraying a few coats, I then start applying the shellac by hand. A bit of sanding with a high grit of sandpaper before doing so helps to get rid of the orange peel texture caused by the spray can. After getting a relatively smooth Finish I apply the decal, wait a full day, spray over it, then smooth the finish out on the front again. After the shellac is fully cured, I french polish the cabinet using oil and denatured alcohol in the shellac pad.


For the bedplate, I first use etching primer that I wet sand making sure to fill any pitting before painting. I then apply multiple coats of Rust-oleum High performance black enamel. I wet sand with 1500 grit sandpaper then polish with McGuire's scratch X (not X2). The decals and shellac are the same process on the bedplate as on the case.

Now I did not do everything myself, Charles (VanEpsFan1914) got all of the repro part necessary, and also located the proper blue flower horn after finding the the standard. The model N reproducer was sent to Wyatt for proper maintenance. Overall, this is the best result from a restoration so far. I would like to know if anyone has suggestions for future restorations, or what you guys do differently.

Thanks
Martin

Another amazing job Martin. I’m always impressed with your restorations. I’m sure I’ll follow some of these steps on my herzog cabinet.... I’d sure love it if I could make it look like that!! Can’t wait to hear it runnin.



David

Wow, that is stunning! Seriously good work.

You worked some magic on the bedplate!
I've never dared myself to try.

James.

Excellent Job...Tom

Oh now THAT turned out great, Martin.

I sold that machine because I was going to move somewhere, thinking it would go well. It didn't--boy howdy what a failure. I'm not selling any more irreplaceable phonographs.

Anyway it came from an antique shop in Camden, SC. I tripped on it. I bent down to look at a Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio & there was the Edison. Radios are temporary: the glory of Edison is forever. So it came home.

The horn came from Mike Patella. I had to drive 400 miles one way to go pick it up, in my 1996 Corolla--and this was in the "yard find" condition, before I started repairing the car too. It was like standing up in a top-loading washer but I got the horn & can say that Mike Patella is one of those straight-up, honest, decent people you'd want to meet in phonographs. And it's one of the best Standard E horns I've ever seen before or since.

I got the NOS bearing cap from croakinfrog (Mr. Gaisser.)

Other shiny parts from Ron Sitko.

I don't remember who I had to buy the reproducer top from, but I know my brother & I ended up having to smash the old reproducer with a hammer so it would give up enough spare parts to make another Model N Reproducer. Hate it that happened to a dome-top Model N but the pictures make it look so much nicer than it actually was.


Spent probably $850 on it and sold it to Martin for like $700 and the only reason I am not permanently pissed off about this like I am with a bunch of other things in my life at that time, is it ended up looking like this (an awesome antique re-restored by a skillful craftsman) instead of parted out on eBay.

Martin, this is an absolute victory for phonograph collecting; you did what Jonsheff does with Victrolas, and just did it on an Edison.


Incidentally this makes me want to, in a few months or a year, jump in the market for another basket case Edison.

Wonderful restoration and story.

Jerry B.

Thank you guys! I'm really happy to have it, and it will be staying with me until the distant future.

Martin

Very nice job, well done. For the next one i would suggest mohawk wood dye instead of stain, doesn't dissolve with top coats and doesn't give that painted look when stain goes on to heavy. An absolute must for walnut. Also, the search for the parts was a real victory.

Jonshef

That’s neat Martin. I like your restoration better than mine. I’m still convinced mine has a weak spring.