Added a nice XVI to the collection yesterday

[alang]

The lock does retract a bit, and the "teeth" on each side will retract, but I can't get the key to turn the rest of the way, allowing the housing to drop down flush with the top that screws into the wood.

I had a similar problem with the lock on my L-door, couldn't get it to open. Until I tried to turn the key in the opposite direction. Duh. Worked like a charm. I guess I just never thought that a lock would unlock with a right turn...

Andreas

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

I wound up getting impatient, turning the key until the lock stuck, then repeatedly tapped it with a hammer. Works like a champ now.

Here she is, all cleaned up.



Now, to figure out where to put it

[mattrx]

Went on ahead and cleaned up the gold plating and wood with some steel wool and GoJo, and here is the final result, not bad for 102.

Out of curiosity, is there anyone who does gold plating? I will likely keep this original as it sits, but I may think about plating the tab brake, and crank/knobs, as they aren't quite up to par. Plus, A couple other machines that would look flawless (my XVII, for example) with replated external hardware.




The dealer tag is the "Aeolian Company", out of Cincinnati, OH. No dealer photo of these folks yet, on victor-victrola.com.

fran, matt, would either of you mind snapping a photo of the side of yours? Mine is missing a crank escutcheon, and I need to know what kind I need to purchase to replace it. Thanks!

Walt Sommers at Gettysburg Antique Phonographgs gold plated a reproducer and some knobs for me a few years ago. He does not do it often and says he "cherry pics" his plating jobs. He did a great job for me. Nashville Plating Service http://www.nashvilleplatingservice.com/ was recommended to me by a forum member a while back. I have not used them yet, but when I have all the parts on my VTLA replated, I will use them. They supposedly can replicate the soft look of Victor gold plating.

Good Luck,
Matt

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

Out of curiosity, did these models come with the Victor record albums, or were they something the dealers sold at added cost? Mine once had them, judging by the marks on the doors, but they are now long gone.

[Jerry B.]

The gold plating looks very nice and appropriate to me. I'd be careful using steel wool on any gold plating. The plating is really thin. Next time try ammonia and a soft rag while wearing rubber gloves. Jerry

[FloridaClay]

The gold plating looks very nice and appropriate to me. I'd be careful using steel wool on any gold plating. The plating is really thin. Next time try ammonia and a soft rag while wearing rubber gloves. Jerry

Just a second to that. Ammonia works like a charm.

Clay

[mattrx]

A "third" to the ammonia suggestion. As to your question about albums. They came with a full set of 10 inch (top shelf) and 12 inch (bottom shelf) albums. The albums held 16 records each and had gold lettering and emblem. They can be found from time to time on eBay and some members here have some for sale. Orthosean had some for sale a month or two ago if he has not already sold them.

Matt

[OrthoSean]

Thanks for the reference, Matt! I still have them, in fact, I never got around to posting them in the YT section here. The albums for this type of XVI are actually 17 pages, the 16 page ones were used only on the very last L-door machines. Nice XVI, by the way!

Sean

[FloridaClay]

Now, to figure out where to put it

I know exactly what you mean. Have a newly acquired Triumph project I'm working on and I am now up to stacking. It's going to live on top of a Columbia 710 Viva-Tonal (the machine I probably play the least often).

And your XVI looks fantastic!

Clay

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

Thanks for the tip on the ammonia, the photos are after using steel wool. I've used steel wool on my other gold machines with great results, you just have to use some GOJO and go lightly.

Looks like I'm going to have to be on the lookout for a set of books then.