The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's an example of the woodgraining that Gregg Cline offers. I think it completes my mahogany Home. What do you think? Jerry Blais

Beautiful machine! Would this type of finish be something that was available on horns originally. Whether or not, it looks nice in the photo!

Nice-looking setup! Does he do oak finishes? I've seen factory examples of faux oak grain.
Bob

Yes, metal Cygnets could be purchased, at additional cost, with a mahogany or oak finish. A couple of years ago a local collector bought a collection that had been put together back in the sixties. For some reason, the original collector felt the need to repaint every horn in his collection. I bought two #10 Cygnets with nice metal but with horrible home paint jobs. The metal was so nice, I can only imagine the original paint was fine. I stripped all the paint from the horns and gave them to Gregg for wood graining, one in mahogany and one in oak. I picked them up at Union this year and am very pleased with his job. Jerry Blais

Looks great Jerry, nice upgrade!

Jerry B. wrote:Yes, metal Cygnets could be purchased, at additional cost, with a mahogany or oak finish. A couple of years ago a local collector bought a collection that had been put together back in the sixties. For some reason, the original collector felt the need to repaint every horn in his collection. I bought two #10 Cygnets with nice metal but with horrible home paint jobs. The metal was so nice, I can only imagine the original paint was fine. I stripped all the paint from the horns and gave them to Gregg for wood graining, one in mahogany and one in oak. I picked them up at Union this year and am very pleased with his job. Jerry Blais

It was the '60's


The only era that had worse taste than the '60's was the '70's (at this point I'd insert a barfing emoticon, if one was available).

I have to say though, that I've a book on interior design from the '30's, and in the question and answer section, his solution for updating every piece of woodwork is to hack it up and paint it white ("Q: I have a mantlepiece from the 1880's with the usual mirrors, spindles, and gimcrack shelves. How can I make it more suitable for today? A: You can find a clever carpenter to saw off everything above the mantle shelf, and then paint what's left white. Q: I have a Herter Bros. library table from the 1860's. I just purchased it at the Vanderbildt's yard sale, and my husband can't believe I wasted $2.00 on it, but I think it's salvageable. It has inlays of bronze, tortoise shell, mother of pearl, and ivory. The inlays represent the two hemispheres of the globe, along with allegorical figures of the arts, sciences, and the seasons. How can I update this? A: Ahh the 1860's. Makes you wonder what on earth our grandparents were thinking, doesn't it? I suggest you get a carpenter to saw off all unnecessary ornament, you may then cover the inlays with a clean looking coat of white paint.).

Yes, the original collection was accumulated in the 1960's. Every metal horn was repainted. One Cygnet was orange and the other was bronze and both were brush painted. Gregg did the second Cygnet in an oak finish.

Yes, Gregg does both oak and mahogany and he also repairs paper horns.

Jerry Blais

....."and he also repairs paper horns". The one he did for me looks really nice.

I also see that Gregg does a great job woodgraining. That horn looks fantastic Jerry. Now we need a picture of the oak one too!

Steve

Here's a photo of the oak horn. It's just waiting for a machine. Jerry