A month ago a guy who had been talking to my mechanic nephew wanted to know if he knew of anyone
who collected victrola's. So my nephew said yeah my uncle. To make a long story short the guy
calls me and said he had one for sale. I went and looked at it and to my surprise it was a 1909/10
C model L door, in really rough exterior shape, but I saw the potential and wanted to save this
machine. I offered him 100.00 for it and spent another 300.00 on it rebuilding the reproducer and
having the frame straightened (it was separated about ¼ inch on the right front and left rear
corners)like someone had dropped it when moving it, plus it had been kept in some place really
damp and the veneer had separated in a few spots but not broken. So I had a friend of mine work
on it for me and well I'm posting some picks as it looks now. I'm also posting a couple pics of
a Standard model A I purchased from Tim Fabrizio recently. I will appologize for the pics as they
are from my camera phone.
Gene
My 2 New aquisitions
- Bruce_Van_Note
- Victor I
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:08 pm
- Location: Hesperia, CA
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Your VV-XVI "L-Door" is absolutely gorgeous; the restoration work is wonderful! You have a terrific phonograph and I'm sure you are enjoying it as much as I enjoy mine.
"No matter where you go, there you are"
- Bruce
- Victor III
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- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:15 pm
- Location: Vancouver, Canada
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Spectacular job on the Victrola. I bet the nice red horn gets lots of comments from your guests as well.
Bruce
Bruce
- phonogfp
- Victor Monarch Special
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- Location: New York's Finger Lakes
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
The Victrola looks great!
George P.
George P.
-
- Victor IV
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- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:43 pm
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Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Very handsome indeed . I think the L doors sound better than most Victrolas of the Exhibition sound box era.
Jim
Jim
- ejackett
- Victor II
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- Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:31 am
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Thanks for all the great compliments guys, the L door does photograph
nice, however it does have some dents and scratches in the finish, but
hey it's 105 years old. The sound is great and the mechanics run
smooth and strong. Like I said in my initial post it screamed SAVE ME
so I couldn't resist.
Gene
nice, however it does have some dents and scratches in the finish, but
hey it's 105 years old. The sound is great and the mechanics run
smooth and strong. Like I said in my initial post it screamed SAVE ME
so I couldn't resist.
Gene
- fran604g
- Victor VI
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- Personal Text: I'm Feeling Cranky
- Location: Hemlock, NY
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Gene, your "L" Door really looks fabulous. How did your friend manage to straighten the cabinet? I assume he had to break some glue joints? I would be terrified to try to do that, but, I'm no wood worker, either.
I like the Standard A, also. Tim did a beautiful job! I've been watching for one that I can afford, it's on the "short" list (that seems to get longer every week).
Fran
I like the Standard A, also. Tim did a beautiful job! I've been watching for one that I can afford, it's on the "short" list (that seems to get longer every week).
Fran
Francis; "i" for him, "e" for her
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" - the unappreciative supervisor.
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" - the unappreciative supervisor.
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
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- Location: Belmont, North Carolina
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Great restoration... that is exactly what gives you a good feeling... salvaging the derelicts.
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- ejackett
- Victor II
- Posts: 227
- Joined: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:31 am
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
Fran, your exactly right he did have to break some glue joints and use some
super big clamps, I'm glad I wasn't there to see it! But all in all he was able
to straighten it out, but it's still about a 1/16 or less off, but a lot better
than it was. I like pieces that are original and have been enjoyed for many years,
all my victrola's are oringinal condition, pretty much as found minus the dust and
dirt and cobwebs. I've been pretty lucky to find the one's I've gotten, good prices
and decent condition. My brother tells me I'm starting a museum
I Love this hobby and these old machines, and the workmanship that went into making
them, true americana! When we were great! Your absolutely right Curt.
Gene
super big clamps, I'm glad I wasn't there to see it! But all in all he was able
to straighten it out, but it's still about a 1/16 or less off, but a lot better
than it was. I like pieces that are original and have been enjoyed for many years,
all my victrola's are oringinal condition, pretty much as found minus the dust and
dirt and cobwebs. I've been pretty lucky to find the one's I've gotten, good prices
and decent condition. My brother tells me I'm starting a museum
I Love this hobby and these old machines, and the workmanship that went into making
them, true americana! When we were great! Your absolutely right Curt.
Gene
- Bruce_Van_Note
- Victor I
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:08 pm
- Location: Hesperia, CA
Re: My 2 New aquisitions
I agree completely!Lenoirstreetguy wrote:Very handsome indeed . I think the L doors sound better than most Victrolas of the Exhibition sound box era.
Jim
"No matter where you go, there you are"