The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Yours is definitely NOT fumed oak. In person, fumed oak appears to be almost black - the closest thing I can think of is oak with an ebony stain...

Curt A wrote:Yours is definitely NOT fumed oak. In person, fumed oak appears to be almost black - the closest thing I can think of is oak with an ebony stain...

With all respect, this simply isn't true. Once AGAIN, here is a Fumed Oak Victrola XI: and here: ...And its original shipping crate with matching serial number is plainly marked "Fu.O." as seen here: George P.

phonogfp wrote:

Curt A wrote:Yours is definitely NOT fumed oak. In person, fumed oak appears to be almost black - the closest thing I can think of is oak with an ebony stain...

With all respect, this simply isn't true. Once AGAIN, here is a Fumed Oak Victrola XI
George P.

Like George, I too have posted on a previous thread "fumed oak" from a 1908 Arts & Crafts furniture catalog. As a collector of A&C for over 30 years....I can say without question the color is not "black" like ebony.
As any good collector will attest..... books are key to knowledge.... . " It is better to know how to learn than to know".....Dr. Seuss.

I have restored machines far worse than this. The problem deals with restoration costs and demand for the restored unit in the current market. In today's market, it probably is parts. It is unfortunate that in the current market, things that would have been restored 10 years ago are now being parted out or trashed. I have given away units that I would have restored in the past.

Anything can be restored depending upon the amount of money and time that one is willing to invest. Due to EPA restrictions, solvent based chemicals used in finishing have really hit the roof in the last few years so redoing a finish is a very expensive process if you are going to do it right. Oak is typically easier to do than mahogany but it is still a labor intensive process and even if this machine is almost factory mint, it is not an expensive phonograph.

I do not have a good answer on this except that it probably is worth more as parts in this market.

rhammond wrote: Due to EPA restrictions, solvent based chemicals used in finishing have really hit the roof in the last few years so redoing a finish is a very expensive process if you are going to do it right.

To what chemicals do you refer, and for what sorts of refinishing?