A100 question again.

[gramophoneshane]

I asked about this some time ago, but looking at this picture, thought I'd ask again!
When I got my A100 over 25 years ago and stripped it, I found traces of gold leaf or paint on the 4 rosettes on the grille. Nobody seemed to think they ever came out painted gold, but when I saw this pic on ebay, it sort of looks gold'ish' to me (or has the finish warn or fallen off the plaster?)
Another thing I've been meaning to ask, was if these ever came out in different finishes. Every original finish on this model I've seen pictures of, looks like the one below, having a shellac finish with light crocodiling, but when I got mine, it was a very dark thick finish, which had crocodiled all over- inside and out. So much so, that you can still see the lines in the veneer on the lid and shelf, and in spots inside the case. It more or less has made the wood itself crocodile. Its a mahogany case. I also saw a C-19(?) in mahogany once that had the same dark finish and crocodiling. Im pretty certain it too was shellac, but it too was a really dark and deep finish. Both were finished the same on the inside, but thinned out as it went below the bedplate, as most of them do. Its possible someone could have been refinished at some time many years before I saw/got it, but I really don't think so. I'm pretty experienced when it comes to original finishes, through collecting antique furniture- of course, I don't claim to be an expert, so I could be wrong.
Any idea's??

[maroongem]

Shane,

I have never owned an A-100, but I would imagine the rosettes had a gilt wash or very thin plating on them.
Shellac was used up until 1921 or so then gave way to lacquer and varnish finishes. I think the darkness results from climate conditions. I've see original finishes that looked almost like day one and others that were stored in hot attics or barns that caused the finish to alligator and darken.
I know people also added later coats of shellac, etc when the finishes dulled over time and I imagine this would cause darkening as well.

Bill

[gramophoneshane]

Finally! Someone who thinks they may have been gold. When I was doing mine up, I asked on the other board, and was told they definately were not gold, but matched the cabinet.
I finished the cabinet without the gold, but then some weeks later thought "bugger it". It looks so much better now. I even posted a pic or link that showed one that looked sort of gold, but was told it was just light reflecting on them. I always wondered why , if they were supposed to match the cabinet, they wouldn't have just steam pressed wooden medalions like on singer sewing machines, rather than use the cream plaster substance they did. It would have been harder to match them to the wood colour.
Another strange thing about this model (or mine anyway) are the legs. Before they were turned, they must have glued wood to the main body of timber, and then turned them. The top (under the main cabinet) and bottom (directly under the shelf) knobby bits of the legs, all have decorative effect to them, where the grain doesn't follow through as it would with a single piece of wood. It gives the knobs a highlighted effect on all 4 sides of the turnings if you know what I mean. I took a photo, but it doesn't show up. I'll try again in the daylight.