UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing

Notices

Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing For help with cabinet or chassis restoration (non-electrical), please leave a message here.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 15th Jun 2020, 1:59 pm   #1
amillar
Triode
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Callington, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 16
Default HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Hi,

I've just been given an empty case for an HMV 119 (electric) gramophone. It's not worth revarnishing, and anyway I rather like the "original but been round the block a bit" look, but I would like to put a bit of wood treatment on it to tidy, preserve and shine it up a bit. Any suggestions?

Photo attached.

I'm going to store my pile of 78s in it which I have for my much loved HMV 109 table top!

Thanks,

Andy
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	hmv119.jpg
Views:	183
Size:	131.5 KB
ID:	208519  
amillar is offline  
Old 15th Jun 2020, 2:25 pm   #2
PsychMan
Octode
 
PsychMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 1,764
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

A coloured Danish oil could help hide the parts where the lacquer / stain has come off. If you want to preserve the logo I wouldn't do anything with it except spray some clear lacquer over it. You can of course spray acrylic lacquer over the whole thing after applying some of the Danish oil I mentioned - but ONLY once its properly cured, I.E several weeks later at the earliest.

I have one in much worse condiyion, if that's possible to imagine!

I don't suppose you got any of the innards with it?

Best Regards
Adam
PsychMan is offline  
Old 15th Jun 2020, 2:31 pm   #3
peter_scott
Dekatron
 
peter_scott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 3,273
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

My favourite is linseed oil.

Peter
peter_scott is offline  
Old 15th Jun 2020, 2:43 pm   #4
nicam49
Hexode
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wigston, Leicester, UK.
Posts: 348
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_scott View Post
My favourite is linseed oil.

Peter
Hi Peter, boiled or raw linseed oil, which is the better one to use?
nicam49 is offline  
Old 15th Jun 2020, 4:16 pm   #5
frankmcvey
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cottesmore, East Midlands, UK.
Posts: 858
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Boiled, every time. Raw linseed oil takes many weeks to cure properly. The usual advice is to apply the BLO generously, wait for 5 minutes for it to be absorbed (as far as is possible), then wipe off all the excess. The old advice for gunstocks was to do this once per day for a week, then once per week for a month, then once per month for a year. After that give it a yearly maintenance coat.

Having said that, tung oil, teak oil or Danish oil will do fine, and perhaps cure a little quicker due to the driers content.

Cheers,

Frank

Last edited by frankmcvey; 15th Jun 2020 at 4:24 pm.
frankmcvey is offline  
Old 15th Jun 2020, 4:41 pm   #6
ajgriff
Nonode
 
ajgriff's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,583
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

You might like to consider applying a very light colour of spirit based stain before moving to the oiling phase. The stain will only be absorbed by the bare patches and will wipe off the areas where varnish remains. Always start with a lighter coloured stain than you think is needed - too dark and the finish won't look good. Make sure the surface is really clean before you start. If you adopt this approach don't use a coloured oil.

Alan
ajgriff is offline  
Old 16th Jun 2020, 11:47 am   #7
peter_scott
Dekatron
 
peter_scott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 3,273
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by nicam49 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_scott View Post
My favourite is linseed oil.

Peter
Hi Peter, boiled or raw linseed oil, which is the better one to use?
I think boiled.

Peter
peter_scott is offline  
Old 16th Jun 2020, 8:54 pm   #8
amillar
Triode
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Callington, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 16
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Many thanks all for the excellent advice! I think I have all the above on my shelf, I might experiment on a small back corner first - I'll probably start with Danish oil (I'm using some at the moment on another project anyway). Yes, I definitely want to preserve the logo.

Cheers,

Andy
amillar is offline  
Old 16th Jun 2020, 9:58 pm   #9
amillar
Triode
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Callington, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 16
Default Re: HMV varnished gramophone case restoration advice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by PsychMan View Post
I don't suppose you got any of the innards with it?
Sadly not, I think it had just been used as a storage box for many years. Unless you count a few woodworm as innards...
amillar is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:17 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.