Nice Victolumbia machine for sale on eBAY

[Valecnik]

Here's a very nice special order machine, apparently the result of a very short lived consortium between Victor and Columbia.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0395790146

At least the seller is honest and points out it's a marriage once he was made aware of it.

[gramophoneshane]

Not very often a seller is that honest sadly.
It's a great little machine though. Wouldn't be hard to put right & well worth the effort. The ebonized finish is really nice IMO.

[brianu]

is that finish actually what it's described to be? did victor do that for its external horn table models? I thought they were only available in oak or, at times, mahogany.

[Viva-Tonal]

Otherwise thought of as a non-standard Standard!

Makes you wonder what happened to the original Victor parts that aren't with this machine, that led someone to transplant the Columbia/Standard componentry onto it? And am I seeing things, or does the arc of travel of the arm come up short of the spindle? If so, there will be a tendency for the arm to skate outward, etc.

[Valecnik]

I think this particular model is the Victolumbia Type D-BI.

It does come up short I'm sure. I wonder if it could really work. I'd be interested to hear somebody comment on the finish too. I've never heard of any such ebony finish but could be wrong...

[Zeppy]

I think this particular model is the Victolumbia Type D-BI.

It does come up short I'm sure. I wonder if it could really work. I'd be interested to hear somebody comment on the finish too. I've never heard of any such ebony finish but could be wrong...

I'm fairly certain that the "ebony finish" isn't original. Look at the last two picture of the motor. You can see the original finish on the edges and underside. You'll also note someone did a little bit or carpentry on the back to make the back bracket fit.

However, didn't stop me from bidding...

[gramophoneshane]

Yes, you're right about the finish not being original. That will teach me for not looking at all the pix!
An ebonized finish would be smooth too, without all that grain showing through.
I wasn't aware Victor didn't have an ebonized machine. I thought they would because HMV did.

[OrthoFan]

An ebonized finish would be smooth too, without all that grain showing through. I wasn't aware Victor didn't have an ebonized machine. I thought they would because HMV did.

Not as part of their standard offerings, however, special finishes could be custom ordered:



-- http://www.victor-victrola.com/painted.htm

Also -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/Wood%20F ... ectory.htm

[schweg]

Ah, if it only had a Pathé reproducer, and a Standard turntable with the large spindle, it'd be perfect!!

[JohnM]

Actually, one can see the grain in an ebonized finish. An ebonized finish is different from a French Polish on an ebony piano, for example.

An ebonized finish is simply a black stain. This was popular particularly on walnut furniture in the last three decades of the 1800's and lingered into the early 20th C. I think this finish may be original on the Victor D. Never say never in this hobby . . . surely you all are familiar with Lynn Bilton's mahogany Monarch?!

John M.