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Dave Macfee writes:
Please note the grill looks stranger in the photo than it does
in person. It is a metal grill with a fake-grain process done to it
and for whatever reason came out overexposed in the photo.
I sent the mechanical workings to Wyatt's and they did
a great job cleaning them, near as my limited knowledge
in this particular area will take me.
When it was done, my customer brought in a few of the
old cylinders and we cranked it up and listened to them.
It was very interesting how they still play at all after so much time,
but play they did, while we grinned and imagined what it was like
in the days when this machine was new technology.
The gentleman at Wyatt's was one of the most pleasant people
I have ever come across to work with.
He answered all my rookie questions
with patience and good cheer.
He advised the value of the entire unit at not more than $500
so we insured for $600. All this was discussed and approved
by the customer before shipping.
Total cost to recondition the works
and replace a couple of parts
with shipping and insurance
both ways came to about $300.
Very reasonable, in my view.
So on my 1 to 4, worst to best scale,
I give Wyatt's Musical Americana a 5 star rating,
with the bonus star awarded for superior phone demeanor.
Sorry I didn't get any before shots.
There was extensive reveneering needed on the case,
which we did along with refinishing.
A new label was obtained from Wyatt also.
Dave Macfee
KS
