Walnut L Door on Ebay

[FloridaClay]

You may well be right Amberola. Wish you all the luck with it.

Wish it were within my budget, but it isn't.

Clay

[antique1973]

I am the top bidder. I will go a little more, but you have to know when is enough. I have always wanted a Walnut L door, just never had the chance at one for a working mans price. I think at the end, someone with deep pockets will come in and snatch it up. Anyone want to take a guess at the ending price? I say 5500.00.

I am guessing it will hit about $3000 or so.

If it was not so far away I would take a shot at it.

[gramophone78]

I'm surprised that no member (to date) has made mention of the mahogany motor board that has been placed into this machine. Also the machine has the re-sale/re-licence label on the inner back door. Was the motor board/motor changed when the machine was re-sold by Victor??. Somehow I can't see that.
However, to locate a correct board "walnut" today will be next to impossible. Was this a gutted machine back in the day (20's-30's) and at some point a "collector" of sorts placed a board out of a much more common (wood) machine.

[FloridaClay]

You could well be right about the motor board, Hard to tell for certain until all the dirt is cleaned off of it. Be that as it may, it would seem that it might not be all that hard to correct with some veneer. Granted, though, that would leave it not fully original and could have an impact on market value.

Clay

[gramophone78]

You could well be right about the motor board, Hard to tell for certain until all the dirt is cleaned off of it. Be that as it may, it would seem that it might not be all that hard to correct with some veneer. Granted, though, that would leave it not fully original and could have an impact on market value.

Clay

Clay, the motor boards on these are I believe "solid" in construction. Can you even buy this walnut today ?.Like any purchase it's buyer beware.

[ambrola]

I'm surprised that no member (to date) has made mention of the mahogany motor board that has been placed into this machine. Also the machine has the re-sale/re-licence label on the inner back door. Was the motor board/motor changed when the machine was re-sold by Victor??. Somehow I can't see that.
However, to locate a correct board "walnut" today will be next to impossible. Was this a gutted machine back in the day (20's-30's) and at some point a "collector" of sorts placed a board out of a much more common (wood) machine.

I saw this also, and was in the process of canceling my bid when it came up and said I had been outbid. It has had a motor change, and I told the seller. But he also don't answer emails, so watch out. Raphaels is 100% right, and the one to have. I am out of this mess, and good eye gramophone78.

[Jerry B.]

From quite a few inspections I believe cabinet parts of any walnut Victrola were constructed from other woods like mahogany. Mahogany was used but stained in a walnut color. Areas that are not immediately visible like the wooden part of the horn, the deck and motor board were made from mahogany and stained to match. Please take another look of the photo that shows the mahogany motor board. The deck area around the motor board looks like mahogany to me. I agree with other posts that suggest this motor board is from a mahogany "L" door XVI. But I would suggest that this flaw could be easily corrected with a refinish that might require a little bleach and staining in a walnut color. I believe the results would be 100% correct.

How many collectors would agree that a Vic O has a mahogany constructed cabinet? Before you say "yes", read Victor advertising. They were advertised as having a beautiful mahogany finish but Victor was careful not to say the O had a mahogany cabinet. The Vic O was constructed of a cheaper wood and stained to look like mahogany. This is exactly what Victor did with their expensive models with optional walnut finishes. They used expensive veneers in highly visible areas and mahogany in less visible areas. The net result was stunning.

Jerry Blais

[gramophone78]

From quite a few inspections I believe cabinet parts of any walnut Victrola were constructed from other woods like mahogany. Mahogany was used but stained in a walnut color. Areas that are not immediately visible like the wooden part of the horn, the deck and motor board were made from mahogany and stained to match. Please take another look of the photo that shows the mahogany motor board. The deck area around the motor board looks like mahogany to me. I agree with other posts that suggest this motor board is from a mahogany "L" door XVI. But I would suggest that this flaw could be easily corrected with a refinish that might require a little bleach and staining in a walnut color. I believe the results would be 100% correct.

How many collectors would agree that a Vic O has a mahogany constructed cabinet? Before you say "yes", read Victor advertising. They were advertised as having a beautiful mahogany finish but Victor was careful not to say the O had a mahogany cabinet. The Vic O was constructed of a cheaper wood and stained to look like mahogany. This is exactly what Victor did with their expensive models with optional walnut finishes. They used expensive veneers in highly visible areas and mahogany in less visible areas. The net result was stunning.

Jerry Blais

Lets try and stay focused on the XVI and not a Vic.O. Your saying that Victor used "mahogany" for the inside (including motor board) of their "walnut" machines???. Really??. Jerry, can you please post a pic of the inside of your circassian walnut XVI machine for us to see the mahogany board. I for one would love to see this. At the very least....Victor may have used American walnut for such parts....however I for one would doubt this.
Every "untouched" machine made of this fine wood I have seen is made of just that.....this fine wood. Clearly one can see this board in question is not even close and is a totally different colour. You can also observe the motor board is not even as clean as the rest of the machine. How could this be if the lid has been close for who knows how long...???. This machine would never have left the factory like this. No question about this. I would hate to steer any collector to think otherwise when $$$$ in involved.

[ambrola]

From quite a few inspections I believe cabinet parts of any walnut Victrola were constructed from other woods like mahogany. Mahogany was used but stained in a walnut color. Areas that are not immediately visible like the wooden part of the horn, the deck and motor board were made from mahogany and stained to match. Please take another look of the photo that shows the mahogany motor board. The deck area around the motor board looks like mahogany to me. I agree with other posts that suggest this motor board is from a mahogany "L" door XVI. But I would suggest that this flaw could be easily corrected with a refinish that might require a little bleach and staining in a walnut color. I believe the results would be 100% correct.

How many collectors would agree that a Vic O has a mahogany constructed cabinet? Before you say "yes", read Victor advertising. They were advertised as having a beautiful mahogany finish but Victor was careful not to say the O had a mahogany cabinet. The Vic O was constructed of a cheaper wood and stained to look like mahogany. This is exactly what Victor did with their expensive models with optional walnut finishes. They used expensive veneers in highly visible areas and mahogany in less visible areas. The net result was stunning.

Jerry Blais

Lets try and stay focused on the XVI and not a Vic.O. Your saying that Victor used "mahogany" for the inside (including motor board) of their "walnut" machines???. Really??. Jerry, can you please post a pic of the inside of your circassian walnut XVI machine for us to see the mahogany board. I for one would love to see this. At the very least....Victor may have used American walnut for such parts....however I for one would doubt this.
Every "untouched" machine made of this fine wood I have seen is made of just that.....this fine wood. Clearly one can see this board in question is not even close and is a totally different colour. You can also observe the motor board is not even as clean as the rest of the machine. How could this be if the lid has been close for who knows how long...???. This machine would never have left the factory like this. No question about this. I would hate to steer any collector to think otherwise when $$$$ in involved.

And I agree. I have had a couple of Golden oak L doors, and they had golden oak motor boards. Maybe Raphael could chime in?

[FloridaClay]

Found a picture of one on-line that sold at auction in 2008 (for $3,500). The motor board does indeed match, at least in color. It doesn't look like the inside has the elaborate graining of Circassian though, except for the inside of the lid. Whether they are all that way or not, I could not say.

I wonder what could have happened to the original and if the seller still has it by some chance.

Clay