Tools and supplies
Instructions by Anna-Carin Betzén
The Amberola line - phonographs without external horn - was introduced by Edison in 1909. A number of rather similarly looking models (mainly differing in the design of the grill) were made before cylinder record production ceased in 1929. The Amberola 30 was introduced in 1915, and played only blue cylinder records.
Tools and supplies
6 mm (or 1/4") square basswood strip
1.5 mm (or 1/16") thick basswood
Approx. 0.5 mm (or 1/64") thin wood (e.g. paperwood)
#32 wire (or 0.2 mm diameter) in a silver color
.04" plastic rod, or 3/64" dowel (= 1 mm thick)
Blue and white paint for cylinders
Brown or black paint for crank handle (contrasting to stain)
Flat paint for fabric behind grill (e.g. beige or black)
Stain
Your choice of clear finish (I used 2 coats of Danish Oil)
Wire cutter
Chopper
Tacky glue
Lid will be glued together from three pieces, for a look of mitered molding. If you don't have paperwood or similar, take a piece of thin wood at least 6 mm (1/4") wide and sand down to about 0.5 mm (1/64"). Cut bottom and top pieces from the thin wood - one 6 mm (1/4") square and one 4 mm (5/32") square. Cut centre piece 5 mm (7/32") square from 1.5 mm (1/16") thick wood, and sand all four top edges round.
Stain all pieces.
If you did cut a base for the box, glue it in place, centered under the box. Glue thick lid piece centered onto thin 6 mm (1/4") square piece, the side with rounded edges should be up! Glue smallest piece centered on top of lid. Glue lid to box.
Apply clear finish to phonograph and let it dry. Paint five or more vertical strips on front of box, using flat paint. Let dry.
Poke a hole with a pin in the right side of the box, close to the lid and centered back/front. Bend wire at a right angle, about 2.5 mm (3/32") from one end. Make another bend 2.5 mm (3/32") away. Glue end into hole. Trim wire 1.5 mm (1/16") from 2nd bend. Apply a blob of black or brown paint to handle and let it dry.
For cylinders, cut some 2.5 mm (3/32") pieces from rod or dowel. Paint blue with white top and white text, and scatter them around your phonograph.
© Copyright Anna-Carin Betzén 2002, 2004. My Amberola instructions were first published in the Little Enough News group on Yahoo, in November 2002