The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

We all have a different acceptance to restored or refinished machines. I have my own preferences. It's an argument that has no winner.

Jerry Blais

gramophone-georg wrote:

briankeith wrote:

audiophile102 wrote:I'm partial to machines with the original finish intact. It is quite beautiful, but I would have to let it go. It's only original once.

I agree...

So would thin or nonexistent shellac in spots, scratches, watermarks, and alligatoring be considered "original"? If so, how? Just curious.

I expressed my own preference. To each his own. My Sonora does have some alligatoring on the doors. See the doors for yourself and consider what you would do. I wouldn't dream of removing the finish. I don't think I would have purchased the Sonora in the first place had it suffered from excessive damage, but everyone has their own tolerance and abilities to make restoration repairs. Restore when possible, but refinishing is something I will avoid. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=21672

audiophile102 wrote:

I expressed my own preference. To each his own. My Sonora does have some alligatoring on the doors. See the doors for yourself and consider what you would do. I wouldn't dream of removing the finish. I don't think I would have purchased the Sonora in the first place had it suffered from excessive damage, but everyone has their own tolerance and abilities to make restoration repairs. Restore when possible, but refinishing is something I will avoid. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=21672

Understood about your own preference but considering the ravages of time to be somehow "original" has always puzzled me. It's the same thing in the classic car world... some people roll cars covered in surface rust and "patina" because "it's only original once".

Then there are the ones that will clear coat the "patina" to preserve the "originality". Those make a cuckoo clock sound in my head.

But seriously... overrestored? No. That's even worse, esp. when shiny shellac and polyurethane were never original to begin with. But if one researches in order to do it right to preserve originality, that's great. I think this Victrola falls into that category. The fact that it appears to have been refinished correctly is even more "original" to me than wear.

Django wrote:Just a couple questions. Where is the machine located? Do you know what it is finished with? You will have to consider freight rates if is is far away.

Thanks

This Victrola is about 20 minutes south from me and as I said, I know the guy selling it. I have talked to him about other machines and I actually bought one from him before. I don't know what it was finished with, but I am hoping to go check it out this Sunday, so I will be able to be a better judge of the machine after giving it a good look over! I guess I should make some room just in case! -Nick

To me, this machine was refinished right. It looks like it came from the factory. I don't know the history of the machine. If this would have been high gloss polyurethane or Formby's, stay away from it.
Harvey Kravitz

How about this one? It's original. Leave it this way? I think I'll give it some good history.

Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:How about this one? It's original. Leave it this way? I think I'll give it some good history.

Jerry Blais

It looks pretty beat up, but so do many others that have been beautifully restored by members of this forum. I place a value on a project machine much lower than one with an intact original finish. I don't have the skills to recreate the finish of a 100+ year old antique. I have seen excellent examples of refinished machines that looked original. I saw a recreated cabinet at a meeting of the Wisconsin - Illinois Musical Antique Phonograph Society that could easily pass as original, however it's owner found a genuine refinishing artist Most look to my eyes like they just came off a modern assembly line except under the lid which frequently avoids the refinisher's stripper. It's the lifting of the lid that would reveal what was lost. Your Modernola project looks quite daunting, but those machines are so rare and beautiful your restoration expenses will be well worth the cost. Best of luck Jerry.

Jerry B. wrote:How about this one? It's original. Leave it this way? I think I'll give it some good history.

Jerry Blais

That one's going to look SO GOOD once it's restored to, well... maybe not "factory new," but to what one would look like had it been in a home where it was used but lovingly cared for.

Jerry B. wrote:How about this one? It's original. Leave it this way? I think I'll give it some good history.

Jerry Blais

A diamond in the rough.

Cliff

Back on topic. That's a good deal and if you like the L door XVI machines and have room, then I wouldn't hesitate. I know that I would grab it.