LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN!

[Valecnik]

Congratulations! What a beautiful and unique piece!

[fran604g]

Congratulations! What a spectacular expression of Moorish Marquetry!

[Zwebie]

Wowza! Amazing Victrola!

Bob S.

[MikeB]

Spectacular!
Here is another topic regarding one of these machines, (with pictures.):
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53006

[Nat]

You obviously have quite a cat! Do hire it out?

[john9ten]

Wow! Amazing workmanship.

I would guess that it is Middle Eastern.

The script on the lid, door tops, drawer front, and back looks Arabic. But is it Arabic, Farsi, or pre-1928 Turkish?

I have taken screenshots and sent them off to a friend who taught Arabic at a major university and asked her for her opinion and a translation if she can read the scripts. More later .... maybe.

It is the Moorish Marquetry model. The Moors were Muslims of African descent that inhabited Al-Andalus, which includes Spain, Portugal and parts of Africa in the Middle Ages. They were finally conquered by Spain in 1492 and left that region. That is why the marquetry, as you rightly state, appears Arabic.

[Phono48]

There's only one thing to say about this machine - WOW!!
Barry

[Inigo]

Marvelous! Congratulations! Tell us the story of your achievement, if you want... We'll enjoy it greatly!

[Roaring20s]

That's crying out for some really good Middle Eastern music!

A true treasure.

James.

PS: I am not 100% sure, but I think the calligraphy is similar to Mashallah. This is often said to show appreciation for something happening for a person. It’s a way for Muslims to show respect, and serves as a reminder that everything is achieved by the will of God. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can chime in.

[Lah Ca]

My friend said that the text is difficult to interpret because the letters are in a very decorative, ornate, perhaps archaic, form.

She is 100% certain that it is in Arabic and not Farsi or Turkish, both of which use/used Arabic script.

She is pretty certain that it reads: Laa ghalib illa Allah (No victorious/no victor but Allah which is a parallel to No God but Allah). She says that the expression seems to be associated with Andalusia as well as with a North African dynasty called al-Muwahhidoon (Almohad caliphate).

Andalusia and North Africa--this would all fit in with the Moorish marquetery.

But there is probably some small slightly sacrilegious joke contained herein. The machine is a paradox: it is a Victor Victrola but Laa ghalib illa Allah--there is no Victor except Allah.

It would be interesting to know the provenance of the machine. Is it actually an Arabic machine--slightly risky if yes? Or was it custom work done for someone like a wealthy Spanish Arabic Scholar/Historian with a sly sense of humour?

My friend is pretty sure she is right with her interpretation but she is waiting for responses from other Arabists. More later maybe.