Post by schweg on Jan 12, 2010 17:36:34 GMT -6
OK, if you are a phono-perfectionist who will only own a machine with original showroom shine with polished screws and like new felt on the turntable... DO NOT read any further.
However, if you like to restore that decrepit, broken down machine that looks like it was run over by "Gravedigger"- then read on.
I recently came across an auction a fair distance away. It had an enticing close-up picture of a phonograph, but only one picture.
I could see the decal, Edisonic, and the reproducer along with some of the inside parts. But it was going to be a healthy drive, so I wrote the auctioneer and asked some pertinent questions.
1) Does this have any legs? 2) Is the grill present?
Funny, but there was no answer or additional pictures. I of course was suspicious, but in the meantime found some items on Craigslist not too far from the auction so decided to go ahead and head there for a long weekend's fun.
Arrived on-site at about 9:30 and found the poor phonograph. Obviously it had been out in the garage for a long time. Legless, grill-less but the insides were all there and didn't look too bad- plus the reproducer had a good diamond on it.
Normally, auctions start off by selling the stuff no-one really wants, to allow all the late risers to get there, right??? Of course not. When it was just about dark, at nearly 5 pm, we FINALLY moved over to the garage and I bought the phonojunkpile for a whopping $30. OK, so a good time was had by all, now let's hit the road.
I thought about taking out the parts and putting the cabinet out by the curb. One of my phono-advisors said, don't mess with it, you just end up with a severely restored machine. But as my father often says, sometimes about me, "Obviously he ain't wrapped too tight". I decided to strip part of the paint off and see what was under it.
After what seemed like a 5-gallon bucket of stripper and enough steel wool to insulate my attic, this is that I had.
While moving the cabinet around, I saw something behind the record rack
No, not a pile of hundred dollar bills, but evidence that this poor guy hadn't been played for many years.
I got somewhat enthused after seeing the nice grain to the mahogany but soon found out that the ends of the cabinet had no veneer at all. I forged ahead
However, if you like to restore that decrepit, broken down machine that looks like it was run over by "Gravedigger"- then read on.
I recently came across an auction a fair distance away. It had an enticing close-up picture of a phonograph, but only one picture.
I could see the decal, Edisonic, and the reproducer along with some of the inside parts. But it was going to be a healthy drive, so I wrote the auctioneer and asked some pertinent questions.
1) Does this have any legs? 2) Is the grill present?
Funny, but there was no answer or additional pictures. I of course was suspicious, but in the meantime found some items on Craigslist not too far from the auction so decided to go ahead and head there for a long weekend's fun.
Arrived on-site at about 9:30 and found the poor phonograph. Obviously it had been out in the garage for a long time. Legless, grill-less but the insides were all there and didn't look too bad- plus the reproducer had a good diamond on it.
Normally, auctions start off by selling the stuff no-one really wants, to allow all the late risers to get there, right??? Of course not. When it was just about dark, at nearly 5 pm, we FINALLY moved over to the garage and I bought the phonojunkpile for a whopping $30. OK, so a good time was had by all, now let's hit the road.
I thought about taking out the parts and putting the cabinet out by the curb. One of my phono-advisors said, don't mess with it, you just end up with a severely restored machine. But as my father often says, sometimes about me, "Obviously he ain't wrapped too tight". I decided to strip part of the paint off and see what was under it.
After what seemed like a 5-gallon bucket of stripper and enough steel wool to insulate my attic, this is that I had.
While moving the cabinet around, I saw something behind the record rack
No, not a pile of hundred dollar bills, but evidence that this poor guy hadn't been played for many years.
I got somewhat enthused after seeing the nice grain to the mahogany but soon found out that the ends of the cabinet had no veneer at all. I forged ahead