Bedplate Question(s)

[wcukras]

Hello,

I've been struggling with my DX bedplate condition. It's inconsistent in appearance, and after multiple cleaning, shining, etc. I can't get the results I want. After looking at this wonderful presentation (Restoration Diary" that was posted some time ago,, I wanted to ask for an opinion about mine. Please see the attached  photo and any advise would be appreciated. I'm hoping to use shellac (or something similar) to get that shine back but was concerned about causing other issues.

Also, should I attempt touching up the paint scratches, etc., and if so with what type of paint?

 

Could you describe the process?

 

Thanks,

Wayne Cukras

Broadview Hts, Oh

[Jerry]

Wayne,

 

There is no easy way to make that look much better. You saw in the "Restoration Diary", how a similar, (but worse), top plate was restored. Recall that the blistered areas were chipped away, revealing rust underneath, then lots of sanding, filling in the missing finish with many coats of paint, fine sanding, new stripe decals where needed, and finally many coats of shellac. That's if you want it to look like the example in the "diary". If you just want it to be shiny, then I suppose shellac will do that. However, please at least remove the blistered/rusty spots and repaint those areas. Also, sand down the paint already applied on the right edge, to level it out. Very fine wet-or-dry sandpaper, along with using a sanding block. New decals before shellac, as well. Remove the nameplate before shellac. 

 

Just coating what you've got, as-is, would be akin to putting make-up on a pig. I don't mean that to be sarcastic, but I can't come up with a better analogy. 

 

As to what type of paint, the "diary" mentioned "asphaltum" as being the filler paint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 4 by Jerry

[wcukras]

Jerry,

Thank you for your response and solid advice, this is exactly what I was hoping for. 
 

Wayne 

[BruceW]

Hello Wayne,

 

I along with a lot of collectors who engage in restorations of phonographs support do a little as possible.  Starting with mild cleaning and slowly escalating to total restoration.  The machine's condition and your willingness to take on a project will dictate how far you go.

With your Amberola you could decide to leave it as is or as I read you think it is worth the effort to save and restore it.  Meaning fix and prevent future rusting.   If that is what you would like to do, a decision I support, I would recommend stripping off all of the original paint, sand down any rust and repaint and re-decal your Amberola.    With my example I first stripped off the paint with paint stripper and then sanded as smooth as my patients would allow.  Then I used regular hardware store black lacquer based spray paint, sanding between coats.  If I recall I applied two coats and one touch up layer of paint.  Then spray on lacquer ( gloss ) with the decal stripes added between lacquer coats.  Including hand painting the small leaves in the corners as I did not have any decals like that handy,  but they are available from phonodecal . com .  

 

Sorry the before and after are not the same machine but I wanted to show rust damaging the paint in my before photo.

 

Good luck

 

Bruce