Victor VI price?

[Steve]

FWIW, I told the seller I was looking for a smart original, unrestored example and he replied that this one was probably too "nice". Make of that what you will!

ha. so "too nice" means not original, nor unrestored nor, presumably, smart?

EXACTLY! And straight from the horse's mouth too.

[snallast]

I agree, I recently worked on a speartip horn that was discussed at length (including the machine) here on the Forum "A speartip Victor horn in need of help" (sorry, I don´t know how to insert the direct link to that one, anyway that´s the title) and - I´ve rubbed the horn a little bit - just enough to make it possible to actually see that it´s made of wood - but keeping all the alligatoring and the patina of it´s age. I think it came out quite well - I´m thankful for all the good advice I received - otherwise I would not have dared touch it.

Anyway - back to the present machine - that has a horn that´s virtually the same? It sure does not display any of the signs of age that the one I have does... I think it´s been refinished and varnished or at best rubbed down a lot and waxed or the like. It looks too new. Well that´s my 2 cents

[Steve]

Anyway - back to the present machine - that has a horn that´s virtually the same? It sure does not display any of the signs of age that the one I have does... I think it´s been refinished and varnished or at best rubbed down a lot and waxed or the like. It looks too new. Well that´s my 2 cents

Yes, both horns are laminated ply veneered construction with spear tip decoration, as opposed to say a Music Master horn which is SOLID timber. I'm glad you have also confirmed my initial suspicions regarding the condition of the Ebay machine and the horn in particular. However, I don't think it's been varnished as this would not provide such a perfect smooth satin finish, especially if applied over a "crazed" or "alligatored" shellac finish. No amount of rubbing down and waxing would get the surface looking that perfect and with a deep rich colour too. I stand by my first suggestion that the horn has been "repolished" professionally by someone who might just have softened the original finish and "re-amalgamated" it. Whoever did the work certainly knows what they're doing and I commend their effort.

I think your horn looks great by the way. Well done. At least anyone can tell what it is they are looking at when they see it.

[snallast]

Yes I think you´re right. It´s the original schellack that´s been re-rubbed somehow? I could have done the same but am glad I didn´t. It´s true that it seems to be very well done though and maybe a question of preference in the end. I like seeing the age of things - it´s an integral part of what the gramophone is for me. History. Don´t care for facelifts on people either... somehow many end up looking too alike - depersonalized?

[CarlosV]

Don´t care for facelifts on people either... somehow many end up looking too alike - depersonalized?

Since you brought up the subject, is the picture below showing a reamalgamation or a revarnishing?

[snallast]

Yes pobrecita Cayetana! In this case (model 1925 I beleive) I think it must have been reamalgamation... I knew a friend of hers well, and with all her "alligatoring" she was at 87 beautiful!. Someone defined beauty as: when what is inside is what shows on the outside... i.e. truth?

[CarlosV]

It looks like she was a nice person, and very popular as well, maybe for being more authentic and less stiff than her blue blood relatives.