The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here is my latest restoration, a Sonora Baby Grand that I brought back from the brink. This one was stored for a long time in a damp basement and had veneer damage, corrosion and other problems including a broken spring. It turned out pretty good. I had to cut the felt myself since I couldn't find that color already cut to size. Also had to modify a key on my grinder from another key I bought that was similar in size & shape to a picture I saw of a Baby Grand key. The rest of was pretty straight forward tear down, restore and re-assemble. Tested it tonight, it sounds clear as a bell

Here are some before and after shots Here is stripped and sanded Here are some shots with a flash:
Here are some without flash:
Here is the motor before and after:

WOW! Yes, I'd read your experience with the rebuild of the springs. not an enviable job, but just look how this turned out eh? Your repair on the grille - well, I can't see the repair anymore.
I never took a good look at Sonora Baby Grands before. Are they all this curvy?

That is one sexy piece of music-machine-ness!

cheers!

Sonora’s sure are pretty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Sonora irl.

You should post the "before" with the no flash photo for comparison.

Well done.

Garret

Awesome job!!!!

Wow that looks really great!

How do you strip the cabinet completely like that in all the harder to reach places like the carvings? And do you spray or brush the finish on?

David

Garret wrote: Sun May 23, 2021 6:23 am You should post the "before" with the no flash photo for comparison.

Well done.

Garret

The second compare picture with lid open are both without flash

dzavracky wrote: Sun May 23, 2021 8:53 am Wow that looks really great!

How do you strip the cabinet completely like that in all the harder to reach places like the carvings? And do you spray or brush the finish on?

David

I chemical strip the carvings several times and brush with a light brass bristle brush to get finish out. The flat parts get 120 then 220 sanding. The finish is sprayed on with 400 grit sanding between coats. There is more to it including vinyl sanding sealer, color matched mohawk ngr dye, mohawk grain filler, mohawk finishers choice lacquer, mohawk buffcote lacquer for top coat.

It looks like it just came out of the showroom... nice job.

The objective with this one and the others i have done is to give them a secomd chance where they will be treated as an antique and taken care of. The first time around they were just an obsolete thing to be tossed around and improperly stored in a damp basement or hot attic. Shellac and hide glue doesnt hold up well in those conditions.