The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks for all the helpful info gentlemen. I must admit the American walnut is a close match and
hard to distinguish from Circassian. I may be visiting the seller shortly to have a closer look
as his collection. My hope is it is American walnut so perhaps I have a chance at buying it.

antique1973 wrote:Thanks for all the helpful info gentlemen. I must admit the American walnut is a close match and
hard to distinguish from Circassian. I may be visiting the seller shortly to have a closer look
as his collection. My hope is it is American walnut so perhaps I have a chance at buying it.

I agree that the difference is very hard to distinguish. My early A300 pictured here http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... hilit=a300 is definitely Circassian but I don't know how you'd ditinguish itthe wood from that of the the American Walnut VE-130 pictured here.

Some American waltnut machines are not terribly attracive, the grain is very smooth, uninteresting, but the grain on those pictured here rivals the Circassian imho.

Perhaps part of the value difference comes not from the increased beauty but from simply the ability to confirm it's Circassian, coming from mother Russia pre ww1.

shouldn't the label (with all the patent information) inside the record storage area of the cabinet indicate the finish definitively? I used to have a VV-XVI that I was convinced was circassian, at least until the day I really got into cleaning it and snapping some photos and saw that label, which indicated american walnut (which itself I believe differs from the more standard walnut finish that victor offered - no?).

Valecnik wrote: Perhaps part of the value difference comes not from the increased beauty but from simply the ability to confirm it's Circassian, coming from mother Russia pre ww1.

Here's the label - or what remains of it - on the outside rear panel of mine...

George P.

For what it's worth, here's a shot from the front...

This was the first phonograph I ever bought, and cost me twenty bucks. Beginner's luck, I guess.

George P.

I looked at the e-bay listing, and noticed that the last photo is an appraisal letter from Paul Edie and Robert Baumbach... does that clarify anything ?

george... that's exactly the label and information I was talking about, thanks for posting the photo.

regarding the ebay listing, I emailed the seller to ask about that label, he mentioned the edie/baumbach appraisal letter, etc., confirming it was circassian, and also wrote that the label inside the cabinet didn't say anything. I asked for a photo of it, hopefully he'll send one. I mean, I thought it was pretty standard for that that label with the patent information to also indicate what finish the particular machine was given... it's certainly indicated on all my other victor machines.

brianu wrote:george... that's exactly the label and information I was talking about, thanks for posting the photo.

regarding the ebay listing, I emailed the seller to ask about that label, he mentioned the edie/baumbach appraisal letter, etc., confirming it was circassian, and also wrote that the label inside the cabinet didn't say anything. I asked for a photo of it, hopefully he'll send one. I mean, I thought it was pretty standard for that that label with the patent information to also indicate what finish the particular machine was given... it's certainly indicated on all my other victor machines.

I am curious too why the label has no designation. In the appraisal its important to note that Paul says its very hard to distinguish American from Circassian. I am not sure how he could be certain it was "sold as circassian" based on some photos sent via email.

brianu wrote:george... that's exactly the label and information I was talking about, thanks for posting the photo.

regarding the ebay listing, I emailed the seller to ask about that label, he mentioned the edie/baumbach appraisal letter, etc., confirming it was circassian...

You're welcome, Brian.

With all respect to Mr. Edie and Mr. Baumbach, I would argue against that cabinet being Circassian. It boasts unusually beautiful walnut veneers, but it lacks the amount of contrasting colors characteristic of Circassian.

Regardless of what it really is, as long as there's a question (and I'll bet I'm not the only one), I'd stray to conservative estimates of value.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

brianu wrote:george... that's exactly the label and information I was talking about, thanks for posting the photo.

regarding the ebay listing, I emailed the seller to ask about that label, he mentioned the edie/baumbach appraisal letter, etc., confirming it was circassian...

You're welcome, Brian.

With all respect to Mr. Edie and Mr. Baumbach, I would argue against that cabinet being Circassian. It boasts unusually beautiful walnut veneers, but it lacks the amount of contrasting colors characteristic of Circassian.

Regardless of what it really is, as long as there's a question (and I'll bet I'm not the only one), I'd stray to conservative estimates of value.

George P.

For safety's sake, I would have to assume its American walnut as well. Thanks Brian and George for the pictures of your truly breathtaking machines!