I picked up a '53 Voice of Music record player, and would like to restore the felt covering on the platter, if that is possible. It is the typical sort of stiff texture, brown stuff, used commonly in the 30's-'50's players. Any ideas what to use?

Hi Brian

There are two ways I can think of to restore felt on platters. Material stores sell pieces of felt in many different colors. Price will be around $1. Cut to size and put on top the platter.

The second way is spray the platter with sticky glue. Then use material sold in hobby stores, felt particles in a bottle. Pour felt particles over the platter and dust away the excess.

Norm

:I picked up a '53 Voice of Music record player, and would like to restore the felt covering on the platter, if that is possible. It is the typical sort of stiff texture, brown stuff, used commonly in the 30's-'50's players. Any ideas what to use?

:Hi Brian
WALLMART SELLS SHEETS OF FELT IN THE CRAFT SECTION SHEETS ARE 11" x 12" IN VARIOUS COLORS
:
: There are two ways I can think of to restore felt on platters. Material stores sell pieces of felt in many different colors. Price will be around $1. Cut to size and put on top the platter.
:
: The second way is spray the platter with sticky glue. Then use material sold in hobby stores, felt particles in a bottle. Pour felt particles over the platter and dust away the excess.
:
:Norm
:
::I picked up a '53 Voice of Music record player, and would like to restore the felt covering on the platter, if that is possible. It is the typical sort of stiff texture, brown stuff, used commonly in the 30's-'50's players. Any ideas what to use?

Phonograph platters are typically covered in velvet, not felt. Felt platters are those that date back to the 20s and prior. Www.west-techservices.com sells turntable flocking, and if Norm is referring to turntable flocking, and it is indeed sold in hobby stores, then you can get some there, too. I haven't seen any at my local hobby stores, and we have some really good ones, but perhaps some is sold in your area.

T.

Hi

Thomas has the right word.. There are craft stores that sell this flocking in my area. If comes in plastic containers with different colors.

Norm

:Phonograph platters are typically covered in velvet, not felt. Felt platters are those that date back to the 20s and prior. Www.west-techservices.com sells turntable flocking, and if Norm is referring to turntable flocking, and it is indeed sold in hobby stores, then you can get some there, too. I haven't seen any at my local hobby stores, and we have some really good ones, but perhaps some is sold in your area.
:
:T.

Amazing! Wish I could find some in my area. What's the name of the store?

T.

Hi Thomas

We have two here, Michaels and Richards.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

http://calendar.lodinews.com/livermore-ca/venues/show/721370-richards-arts-crafts

Norm

:Amazing! Wish I could find some in my area. What's the name of the store?
:
:T.

:Phonograph platters are typically covered in velvet, not felt. Felt platters are those that date back to the 20s and prior. Www.west-techservices.com sells turntable flocking, and if Norm is referring to turntable flocking, and it is indeed sold in hobby stores, then you can get some there, too. I haven't seen any at my local hobby stores, and we have some really good ones, but perhaps some is sold in your area.
:
:T.

Thomas is right. Velvet material is available. I've used it to cover platers. Need a sharp blade and a good round template to get the exact size, then contact addesive to secure.

::Phonograph platters are typically covered in velvet, not felt. Felt platters are those that date back to the 20s and prior. Www.west-techservices.com sells turntable flocking, and if Norm is referring to turntable flocking, and it is indeed sold in hobby stores, then you can get some there, too. I haven't seen any at my local hobby stores, and we have some really good ones, but perhaps some is sold in your area.
::
::T.
:
:Thomas is right. Velvet material is available. I've used it to cover platers. Need a sharp blade and a good round template to get the exact size, then contact addesive to secure.

Thanks for the info guys. I've been to every craft store around, no luck finding the flocking material. I've found the felt adhesive backed pieces. I have a few more places to try before the felt goes on. West-Tech will flock your platter, but I don't see any flocking material for sale there...

Google Victory Glass. They sell flocking material.

As Norm said, Michael's sells flocking, though I haven't seen any personally. I'm going to check them out. I'd be thrilled if they had some. I saw online some brown, black, and all the colors of the rainbow. However, the colors needed most often for phonographs are brown, gray, and maroon (1940s & 50s). I didn't see any gray or maroon. The brown will be great for me, though.

T.

Yes "flocking" is the correct term.
If I remember correctly I think that true proper flocking is done by a special static charge system that aligns each (flock-hair?) vertically so that it is actually attached to the tacky surface by one end so each hair stands up vertically and independently.

Another quick and dirty idea I thought of was to get some flocked wall paper and cut it and glue it to the platter tightly.

Well, they didn't have any at Michaels. They did have some at Greenfield News and Hobby. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to cover the whole turntable, so I have to start over. Static charging it so that it stood vertical would be great, though I'd think that the hairs would fall flat on the turntable horizontal, even if static charged. Must be a special method.

I sprayed my turntable with brown paint, and then applied the flocking. Where it did take well, I rubbed off the excess, and it looks quite alright. However, for being enamel, the paint dried WAY too fast. A lot of areas didn't take flocking, and I ran out of flocking, anyway. All in all it looks like crap, but I have hope for the next attempt. It would be best to fill a BIG dish or plate with the flocking, and then shake the turntable around in it gently. Rubbing it on doesn't work very well. You can use various adhesives, like a thin layer of white glue, etc. It can't dry too fast, and it should preferrably be waterproof.

T.

But Thomas that site you referred to does complete like-new re-flocking doesn't it? In any of many colors that they show on their site.
Why don't you have them do it?

Flocking is the application of fine particles to adhesive coated surfaces. Nowadays, this is usually done by the application of a high-voltage electric field. The majority of flocking done worldwide uses finely cut natural or synthetic fibers. A flocked finish imparts a decorative and/or functional characteristic to the surface. The variety of materials that are applied to numerous surfaces through different flocking methods create a wide range of end products. The flocking process is used on items ranging from retail consumer goods to products with high technology military applications.

:I picked up a '53 Voice of Music record player, and would like to restore the felt covering on the platter, if that is possible. It is the typical sort of stiff texture, brown stuff, used commonly in the 30's-'50's players. Any ideas what to use?

Where to buy the stuff: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/dtm/dtm1613.htm

If you need a how-to, I can provide. Quite easy to do and results are _very_ close to original when done as per instructions.

Syl

Thanks for the info Z. I'd be interested in the 'how to' instructions you were mentioning.

Woah! My container, which held the same amount, only cost about $2.50. It's amazing how much some companies charge for the stuff.

T.

:Woah! My container, which held the same amount, only cost about $2.50. It's amazing how much some companies charge for the stuff.
:
:T.

Wow, 39 cents difference. I'm shocked.

Syl

Oh. I thought that it was $25 per container. How many do you get?

T.

:Thanks for the info Z. I'd be interested in the 'how to' instructions you were mentioning.

I'll need a valid email for the how-to.

Mine is

syl
at
oldradioz
dot
com

Syl

Syl: I tried to email you at the address you gave previously for the flocking instructions. I got a reply reqesting a Paypal account.?????

:Syl: I tried to email you at the address you gave previously for the flocking instructions. I got a reply reqesting a Paypal account.?????

Brian,

You must have typed something wrong. I don't charge for sharing info...

I did get your email and already sent the info.

Hope it helps,
Syl