VV-XIII anyone??

[Mr Grumpy]

Hi again folks,

I was wondering if anyone had a VV-XIII and could snap a picture for me of what the underside of
the lid looks like. I know it has the large Victrola logo in the center, but based on the only image
I've seen (which is on the Victor-Victrola page) there's another decal just above the tone arm (but on the lid)
Mine has a decal but I think it's been replaced and is incorrect.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this looks to be an area on my machine which has been altered
and there aren't many good images on the interwebs of this model.

[rizbone]

I have had a couple of these machines, and neither one had a second decal. I do see dealers decals added to phonographs from time to time, and this may be what you have.

[Mr Grumpy]

Yes I think it's a dealers decal - it says 'For the Heintzman Co. Toronto" or something along those lines (I'm at work now). I know that the only part of the machine that's been refinished is the underside of the lid (heaven knows why it looks to be in good condition). The re finisher looks to have put a coat of tinted clear over the entire surface which gives the 'Victrola' logo a bit of a brownish shade. The Heintzman decal looks to have been applied on top of this finish.

I'm trying to gather as much info about the machine as possible so that if I eventually do start a restoration of it that I get everything as correct as possible.

I'll post some pics when I get home.

[FloridaClay]

If it is a period dealer's decal I would leave it. Part of the history of the machine.

Also wondering if the underside of the lid might be original rather than refinished. Generally the undersides of lids, not being exposed to sun and other things that damage exterior finishes over time, often have much more gloss and depth to the finish than the exterior and what you see inside is the finish in close to original condition. The difference can be quite dramatic. And a little yellowing of the varnish over 100 years or so would be normal. And of course a dealer's decal would usually have been placed over the factory finish, so that could well be normal too. But if you're seeing things like brush marks or finish runs inside the lid that's another story.

Clay

[Mr Grumpy]

I took some pictures and on closer inspection I can see exactly what was done.
It looks like there was some damage to the hinge area that was repaired with some wood filler
and then stained with one of those Gloss+Stain type of products. You can see in the image of the
Heintzman decal that they avoided it with the brush.

The finish was definitely applied to the four sides
of the underside but I'm looking for further evidence that the main panel and victrola logo where done as well. (so far it looks like they weren't)

Here's a couple more shots of it to show the current condition and why I'm contemplating refinishing
it properly. I bought it a couple of nights ago from a local classified add for $300.
I'm thinking that was a good deal but I can't see any past sale history for this model to know for sure.

[Retrograde]

I'm thinking that was a good deal but I can't see any past sale history for this model to know for sure.

There was one for sale at the 2012 Union show, sorry I don't recall the price (I hate when that happens), but I know that it did sell. Perhaps someone else will chime in if they remember the price.

[Torjazzer]

Yours is a very interesting machine, considering the model's short production run and very low numbers. It's one of the rarest Victor produced. Congratuations on the nice score.

[FloridaClay]

At $300, definitely a steal. Only 661 were made.

Clay

[rizbone]

Neat. I had assumed it was a typo for a VV-VIII when I answered your question as I was not aware they made a XIII.

[Mr Grumpy]

Yours is a very interesting machine, considering the model's short production run and very low numbers. It's one of the rarest Victor produced. Congratuations on the nice score.

Thanks,
I think the fact the seller didn't advertise the model number caused it to go unnoticed. It was advertised in
the Toronto Kijiji and I thought I was too late when I made the call, thankfully I wasn't.
Most sellers on kijiji will advertise as a Victrola even if it's a Sonora or Brunswick, but this ad specifically
said Victor Camden New Jersey, then he wrote 'from Heintzman Co. Ltd' which was the dealer sticker. I was intrigued by the specific 'Camden New Jersey' so compared the photo with every machine on the Victor-Victrola website and the closest match was the XIII. When I called to confirm the model number I broke out in a cold sweat and didn't stop sweating about it until the next evening when it was in the back of my car. I think
the addition of the Heintzman information in the add is what threw everyone off.

I gave him the exact asking price even though my wife wanted me to haggle for a better price (she evidently has
no morals) but I still have doubts in my mind about what it's potential value is because it looks so plain and
unassuming.