What Type of Oak Finish is on This VV-XVI?

Oceangoer1 · Post by **Oceangoer1** » Fri May 20, 2016 5:58 pm

I thought I might as well ask here, and keep the conversation about the finish in the machine section.

I looked under the tonearm and it looks like golden oak. But the rest of the machine is all over the place, at least to me.

oldphonographsteve · Post by **oldphonographsteve** » Fri May 20, 2016 7:23 pm

That definitely is golden oak. The outside most likely reddened because it was probably located in a sunny area for most of its existence. Oak tends to redden and darken if it is located in an area where it gets exposed to a lot of light/UV rays or a lot of heat. My oak XVI has similarly reddened but not quite to the same extent.

-Steve

Phonoboy · Post by **Phonoboy** » Fri May 20, 2016 8:13 pm

Beautiful grain.

Oceangoer1 · Post by **Oceangoer1** » Fri May 20, 2016 8:37 pm

Phonoboy wrote:Beautiful grain.

This is also for sale in the Trader section!

Oneida · Post by **Oneida** » Sat May 21, 2016 7:47 am

Oceangoer1 wrote:I thought I might as well ask here, and keep the conversation about the finish in the machine section.

I looked under the tonearm and it looks like golden oak. But the rest of the machine is all over the place, at least to me.

Just to weigh in ... and my first post here .... Golden Oak is a color and not a type of Oak.

There are 2 basic types of Oak .... Red Oak and White Oak.

Either can be light or dark in shading, with white usually the darker of the 2, but the red'ish color falls within the Red Oak group and to me knowledge not from being in sunlight. White also typically has a longer grain than the Red Oak.

Here's a good page showing the difference .... http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/distinguishing-red-oak-from-white-oak/

That said, and looking at the images, I suspect either a mixture of oaks or that some of it isn't oak at all which is not an uncommon practice in any furniture making ....

JMO

Phonoboy · Post by **Phonoboy** » Sat May 21, 2016 8:02 am

Oneida wrote:
Oceangoer1 wrote:I thought I might as well ask here, and keep the conversation about the finish in the machine section.

I looked under the tonearm and it looks like golden oak. But the rest of the machine is all over the place, at least to me.
Just to weigh in ... and my first post here .... Golden Oak is a color and not a type of Oak.

There are 2 basic types of Oak .... Red Oak and White Oak.

Either can be light or dark in shading, with white usually the darker of the 2, but the red'ish color falls within the Red Oak group and to me knowledge not from being in sunlight. White also typically has a longer grain than the Red Oak.

Here's a good page showing the difference .... http://www.wood-database.com/wood-artic ... white-oak/

That said, and looking at the images, I suspect either a mixture of oaks or that some of it isn't oak at all which is not an uncommon practice in any furniture making ....

JMO

Great link.

martinola · Post by **martinola** » Sat May 21, 2016 12:49 pm

Oneida wrote:There are 2 basic types of Oak .... Red Oak and White Oak.

Either can be light or dark in shading, with white usually the darker of the 2, but the red'ish color falls within the Red Oak group and to me knowledge not from being in sunlight. White also typically has a longer grain than the Red Oak.

Thanks for the link. I think the original poster was asking about finish color or type rather than wood type. As for wood type; my vote is for it being white oak. The key to all of this is to judge by the inside of the lid - where it has been protected the past 100 years. I've seen white oak take on a reddish hue thanks to UV exposure and weathering. If you dare sand it down enough, you'll get to the original white oak color.

Anyway, welcome to the board and the madness of old phonographs!

Regards,
Martin

estott · Post by **estott** » Sat May 21, 2016 2:41 pm

martinola wrote:
Oneida wrote:There are 2 basic types of Oak .... Red Oak and White Oak.

Either can be light or dark in shading, with white usually the darker of the 2, but the red'ish color falls within the Red Oak group and to me knowledge not from being in sunlight. White also typically has a longer grain than the Red Oak.
Thanks for the link. I think the original poster was asking about finish color or type rather than wood type. As for wood type; my vote is for it being white oak. The key to all of this is to judge by the inside of the lid - where it has been protected the past 100 years. I've seen white oak take on a reddish hue thanks to UV exposure and weathering. If you dare sand it down enough, you'll get to the original white oak color.

Anyway, welcome to the board and the madness of old phonographs!

Regards,
Martin

Also the finish tends to go brown with sge

Oneida · Post by **Oneida** » Sat May 21, 2016 3:22 pm

martinola wrote: Thanks for the link. I think the original poster was asking about finish color or type rather than wood type.

I can see that now ... However, when I click to quote it doesn't mention the 'Finish' ... just "Re: What Type of Oak is on This VV-XVI?

martinola wrote: As for wood type; my vote is for it being white oak. The key to all of this is to judge by the inside of the lid - where it has been protected the past 100 years. I've seen white oak take on a reddish hue thanks to UV exposure and weathering. If you dare sand it down enough, you'll get to the original white oak color.

I'm not really sure it's Oak at all ... but very possible and if it is it's likely White Oak.

The reddish hue (often more of a golden) would be then likely be the lacquer/clear coat being effected by the UV or just aging.

I use to own a cabinet shop and matching up new to old stuff was always such a pain .......

ALVES · Post by **ALVES** » Sun May 22, 2016 11:08 am

It is definitely oak .
Quality cuts of oak which should tend towards the quarter cut of the log will show much of the Parenchyma cells which in oak are very decorative .They show Very well on the doors and you can see them in the cabinet sides as long wavy bits that catch the light . Some cuts of oak will show no cells at all .But quarter cut solid timber is the most stable and expensive cut .

Oak in the raw freshly cut is whitish yellow but some are pinker . It will darken with age even after a very short time . Leave a cup on a bare pice of wood six months on the window sill and when removed it will show the fresh cut colour still underneath .
Very ancient oak can take on a beautiful chocolate brown colour .
Mostly stains are used in cabinet work to make the colour desired before polishing . Oak is rarely polished to a mirror high finish due to having a very open grain unlike mahogany .Though in 20thc They often filled the grain and built up finishes .
In cheaper work and to hide poor choices of timber Coloured finishes are applied to hide the differences .