With luck two simple questions …
I was given an old Victrola …. made in 1909 … didn’t work.
I got repaired the mechanism (I am a machinist by trade) … now time for the shell.
It was not taken care of … spend time in a front room …then a basement … moved many times.
Lots of dings and dents … scratches … not terrible but well used.
I am always afraid of doing something that “kills” the value. I an not planning to sell it but still I don’t want to destroy it for the next person that gets it from me.
My dad always (and I mean always) took antiques … stripped them … dark stain … and a few coats of polly. He did this to oak tables … a roll top desk .. book cases …..
Anyway … I don’t want to restore this unit but more or less just rejuvenate it and save it.
First, I have some veneer on the doors coming loose, a fairly large section … say 6 x 4 on an 8 x 8 door ….
I saw a video on glue. I don’t have a heated pot for hide glue …. what do you recommend?
Can I just heat the wood that is there with a head gun and hope the glue under it sticks (I would be worried about killing the finish that is left)?
Can I use something like the Titebond Hide Glue that comes in a bottle …will it be compatible with the glue under the veneer now ?
I am worried since I don’t want to take the entire veneer off and thus can’t take all the glue off, wood glue would not stick.
Second … I saw several people use Howard’s Restore-a-finish and Feed-n-wax
Does anyone recommend these products?
I gather it more or less melts the finish hand lets it flow?
Any other recommendations?
I have attached a picture.
Thanks ,… Mike
Replies
Very cool. The local coffee shop I go to has one as well. I took photos of it because I liked it so much. A month or so ago, they put it up for sale. If I recall, it was under $1,000 and could have well been under $500. Many antiques don't have a lot of dollar value in them; the real value is in the memories we associate with them. This is probably the case for your (by all means look up prices for used ones on eBay). If that's the case, there isn't much you can "ruin" by bringing it back to life.
You can but "Old Brown Glue" or "Tite Bond Liquid Hide Glue" rather easily online. If you put a bottle in hot water from the tap, it will flow nicely. I would suggest you make a large bowl of popcorn and watch Thomas Johnson Antiques on YouTube. He has a lot of videos that will show you how the "pros" restore furniture. Won't take you long to feel confident to tackle this plus enjoy some of the best YouTube content around. Please keep us in the loop when you get it running. What's the first record you are going to play?
Thanks ... I agree, it is not worth a lot ... I looked it up when I got it ... $500 - $1000 depending on condition.
I just ordered the parts for the reproducer (needle end) ... that is all that is left to get it running (I rebuilt the motor, springs and such).
As I said, I was given the player ... and given 3 boxes of records with it. I have not even looked at what is in the pile.
I will take a look at those videos. Just like a DR ... my first instinct is to "do no harm".
Thanks !