The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well... at least felt is easy to change! That machine of VanEps' was a pampered original example, though, so I would tend to go with that as the most definitive possible.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:

Yes, I'm glad I was not alive in the 1970s for a number of reasons, but stereo wars would have to be one of them. Sounds like you had certainly won the arms race though. (I have a six-volt car horn and a twelve-volt battery. Does that count?)

Well, the main reason to be glad is youth. The 60s and 70s were really fun times and I am glad I lived through them, but I do admit that I miss the days when my hair wasn't all primer, my back didn't hurt, drugs were an experience rather than a necessity, and the only "song rotation" was that of the turntable.

"My" seller on wool felt has these green colors for sale, and at home I have "Holly" and "Bottle Green". "Peppermint" is possibly closer to VanEpsFans Victor iii turntable felt, but the this color is out of stock at the sellers shop. Possibly also the Peppermint color is too light? It is of course always a challenge to find the exact color...

Peppermint green seems far too light. I realize now that I put the picture up of mine sitting in bright bluish sunlight and did not adjust the white balance on the camera. The felt on mine is closer to a bottle green rather like the backdrop for the Talking Machine Forum itself.

Hopefully here are some nicer photos. In the picture with the two phonographs a middle green would be the forest green felt sold for replacements on Victrola uprights.

And as for the pampered life this Victor III led it literally spent about a hundred years in a box stewing in its own juices. I leave to your imagination the absolute smell of that box. If there was ever a temple of gramophones that would be the incense.

gramophone-georg wrote:
Well, the main reason to be glad is youth. The 60s and 70s were really fun times and I am glad I lived through them, but I do admit that I miss the days when my hair wasn't all primer, my back didn't hurt, drugs were an experience rather than a necessity, and the only "song rotation" was that of the turntable.

Honestly that would be kind of neat. I guess in a way it would be more relaxed. Sometimes I look at the variety of ideas in my own generation and wonder what legacy we will leave other than discarded plastic. Thanks for sharing some of the stories and preserving some of what was left.

VanEpsVan, thank you for uploading new photos of your beautiful Victor iii. It was of big help when choosing a wool felt for my machine.
I have now changed the felt on my machine, and also cleaned and waxed the cabinet, so now they are a perfect couple

Really nice!

Beautiful machine and congratulations on your fine acquisition!

Another thank you to Oliver, JerryVan, and everyone else who contributed, sent greetings or in general took part in the thread