Bruce Clark wrote in Digest 97.11.04:

> Need suggestions for finding mahogany stain.  I am restoring a dark
> mahogany stand for a music box, and need to locate some dark mahogany
> wood stain to match the original.  Any suggestions?

To get the original color of the deep rich mahogany found on Victrolas,
pianos, etc., you must sand and prep the wood.  Use black paste wood filler
to show off the grain.  Then you must first use red analine dye on the
wood.  It is difficult to use this and get an even color.  Use the alcohol
soluble kind if you are going back with shellac as original.  You may then
assess the color and begin building up the orange shellac, or you may wish
to first use a walnut oil stain. (clear with few solids).  When there is
enough orange shellac to darken to the right shade, then switch to clear
shellac to add more coats.  Next, French polish the whole thing.  Do not buy
anything bottled and called French polish.  Just use shellac, alcohol, the
correct rag and a drop of linseed oil for polishing.   When you finish and
have a beautiful shiny gem of an antique, use KIWI paste wax for regular
waxing in future.

D.L. Bullock Piano World  St. Louis