Clothing
Jewelry +
Home +
Pottery 
Art +
Paper +
Music +
Toys +
Sports +
Ads +
Eras +
PREV
NEXT
Posted 14 months, 27 days ago
REED
(12 items)
I have always dabbled in antiques but not seriously. After watching a few episodes of American Pickers I got hooked and I learned I could bargain with some dealers.
If you seam to look like your going to walk away some dealers will strike a bargain rather than miss a sale. Sell an item for less or risk not selling it at all and have it rot in the garage and loose value.
I found this old Victrola at a shop. They seller wanted $125.00 for it. I told him what I would have to do to bring it back to life. We shook hands at less than half price. I had to remove all that nasty green paint and rebuild the lid because it had dry rot. Some of the veneer was peeling away. Total price for a make over was about $50.00 and I did it all myself. The inside was in decent condition except for the felt on the turn table, so I replaced it. The door knobs are reproduction and I polished up the nickel plated parts. It plays really well. I think it will be good for another 100 years.
I plan to do more hunting for those antiques in need of resurrection. Usually I will just clean an Item but but when one is in dire need of work I will try to give it new life.
Give me feed back and tell me what you think.
that looks superb
The wood is beautiful!
Since I collect and refinish antique radios I know what kind of work you put into this. Sometimes when there is paint on an object like this it really helps preserve the wood,but what a job to remove it... You did very well on this one
Dan Walker
Thanks for the comments...this was my first restoration..my wife thought I was wasting my money on a piece of junk...now she thinks other wise
Thanks for looking Bogie262
Unfortunately I didn't keep a log book ....I was enjoying it so much...I figured I spent maybe between 1/2 - 1 1/2 hours at a shot....and not everyday....because of waiting for the paint removar to do it's thing and readhearing some of the veneer.. the toughest part was the lid which might have taken two days...I give it a rough total of about a week or so if I were to tally it up...I'm not very organized when I get inspired. My wife told me I should for future projects
"I was enjoying it so much" ... don't think about the time as cost, but entertainment. As such, a great job, and a great use of time.
Time not spent on a head shrinkers couch ... priceless
AR8Jason... your absolutely correct. When you enjoy doing something time flies and you loose track of it. Time is meaningless.
Thank you