Frankin S10 Restoration
Posted: 16 Aug 2022 7:23 am
First, I would like to say thank you to everyone on this forum for all of your contributions to this craft. I have built several non-pedal steels (lap and console) over the last few years and much of what has gone into their design has come from this forum. So here it is... Thank you all.
Now I am moving into the world of Pedals and already I feel like I have found my musical home.
I have just acquired a Franklin S10 that needs restoration. It was filthy, had 4 strings left on it, was completely gummed up and it is missing all but one knee lever. After studying what is left I totally understand the mechanics and there is nothing here that I could not make the parts for if I had some reference. I have the RKL as a reference for the shaft mounted levers. I was hoping that if someone has one of these that they could send me some detailed pictures of the parts I am missing. Given my reverence for hand-built instruments I would like to bring this back to its former glory keeping it as close to what Mr. Franklin did originally.
I also have a philosophical question that I think might start a lively discussion. When doing a restoration how far can you go (in PSG circles) to bring an instrument back before you lose the intrinsic value of what it was? In the guitar repair world, it would be okay to repair a crack and try to blend the repair into the finish as it exists but it would not be okay to refinish the instrument. I ask because the laminate is lifting, has a chunk chipped out of the front and has been screwed down in a few places. Also, the paint (it was an aluminum crinkle) is worn through and peeling. Should I endeavor to put the original laminate back down and repair the damage to the point of stopping it from getting worse and leave the paint as is? Call them battle scars. Or is it okay to refinish it with new and make it look brand new?
I would guess getting this repaired / restored would not be economically feasible, but I want the challenge. So far I have gotten what I have playable and staying in tune.
Now I am moving into the world of Pedals and already I feel like I have found my musical home.
I have just acquired a Franklin S10 that needs restoration. It was filthy, had 4 strings left on it, was completely gummed up and it is missing all but one knee lever. After studying what is left I totally understand the mechanics and there is nothing here that I could not make the parts for if I had some reference. I have the RKL as a reference for the shaft mounted levers. I was hoping that if someone has one of these that they could send me some detailed pictures of the parts I am missing. Given my reverence for hand-built instruments I would like to bring this back to its former glory keeping it as close to what Mr. Franklin did originally.
I also have a philosophical question that I think might start a lively discussion. When doing a restoration how far can you go (in PSG circles) to bring an instrument back before you lose the intrinsic value of what it was? In the guitar repair world, it would be okay to repair a crack and try to blend the repair into the finish as it exists but it would not be okay to refinish the instrument. I ask because the laminate is lifting, has a chunk chipped out of the front and has been screwed down in a few places. Also, the paint (it was an aluminum crinkle) is worn through and peeling. Should I endeavor to put the original laminate back down and repair the damage to the point of stopping it from getting worse and leave the paint as is? Call them battle scars. Or is it okay to refinish it with new and make it look brand new?
I would guess getting this repaired / restored would not be economically feasible, but I want the challenge. So far I have gotten what I have playable and staying in tune.
