Diamond Disc Phonograph
(Object ID: 29.2003.54)
Project Hours: 104 total
Date: 1918
Dimensions: Height: 44 in Width: 19.5 in Length: 20.25 in
Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer (Coating), Paint (Coating), Textile
Object Description:
This cabinet may have been sold as "white wood"--an unfinished cabinet that you finished yourself. Mother of pearl detailing. Sheraton style without inlay.
Condition:
Object is structurally intact overall, with nearly all components present apart from the needle. The base for the turntable has become detached and must be realigned. One screw on the front of the base is missing. Half of the felt on the turntable has lifted due to deterioration of its original adhesive. The interior of the object is painted green ; visible abrasions to the paint are present throughout. One wood decorative beam is missing in the interior and must be replaced. Three brackets which support the phonograph are also missing; reproductions must be created.
Exterior painted in an oriental style with strong Japanese influence. Black lacquer coats all exterior, but many locations are actively chipping throughout. The fabric screen covering the amplifier is loose and possesses two small tears. Legs of phonograph are intact; a decorative portion of one leg has become detached.
Treatment:
Cleaning:
Any chipping paint/lacquer was treated with Paraloid B-72 in toluene with 15% resin using a syringe to re-adhere chips to surface.
All surfaces were then cleaned with surfonic (0.5% in distilled water) using a nylon bristle brush.
For regions with black lacquer, the chipped locations were in-painted with Acrylic Liquitex in Ivory Black and then had a clear gloss applied to the surface to best match the original texture.
The small decorative wood element was reattached to the back leg of the phonograph using hide glue.
Structural Repairs:
All machinery was removed from the interior and individually vacuumed.
Each component was cleaned using mineral spirits and acetone to remove large amounts of grease.
The turntable was vacuumed and metal portions were treated with mineral spirits.
Original adhesive that was no longer effective was removed using a mixture of acetone gel and acetone using a scalpel and cotton swabs.
The felt was reattached to the metal with BEVA 371 in petroleum ether then heat set with a tacking iron.
Any abrasions on the interior of the frame were in-painted to match the original green color.
The missing decorative beam was constructed with mahogany using a fully intact 1917 Disc Phonograph as reference.
Textile Screen Treatment:
The fabric screen was vacuumed to remove dust.
A small piece of silk crepeline that best matched the tint of the screen was fitted to reinforce the tear (1.5" in length) in the fabric from the back.
The patch was cut using a heated spatula to sear the edges and prevent fraying.
The crepeline was sewn to the back of the screen using a couching stitch and single strands of silk crepeline as thread.
Replacement of Lost Brackets:
It was also noted that all three brackets that initially had held up the phonograph mechanism were also missing.
Steel was cut and shaped to the correct proportions for each bracket, then spray painted black.
All missing screws were replaced.
