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Not that it isn't interesting in its own way but I would guess its not nearly up to the standards of the factory work. The details are quite crude from what I can tell. Some Antique Dealers will stretch the truth to make a sale as well.

Larry

Looks like it's coming to Alabama. I have a friend down in Orlando that will be picking it up for me and I should get it on Tuesday. Needs a little work, but in the end I believe it will be worth the effort.

Wes

This may post twice as I may have not logged in correctly from my iPhone. Anyway, I am purchasing the machine and it will be picked up by a friend of mine that is in the area tomorrow and I should receive it on Tuesday. I spoke with John about the machine before I purchased it and since he saw it first hand I agree with him that the lid decal is original and was applied over the finish and not painted around. It is unique and different and as I start the cleaning process I will update you guys as to what secrets I may discover as I go.

Wes

In my studied opinion, it is either a factory job, or done by a factory-authorized shop that had access to decals. There isn't any mahogany showing through the decal. The decal has some loss probably due to incompatibility with the paint over the decades. I should also mention that I saw no data plate, or evidence that there had been a data plate -- no shadow outline or mounting holes.

I think it's a fabulous machine even if it needs some restoration. It's obvious to me that the decal was applied over the paint. All doubters should look at a decal on a mahogany machine. You'll see a lot of mahogany showing through. The slight difference in color around the edge of the decal is just the edge of an aged decal. A Victrola XVII is an unusual machine. A special finish pushes it into the rare category. Wes, even though you root for the wrong football team, you are a smart collector. Jerry Blais

Thanks Jerry, I totally agree. It appears to be a Victor authorized finish to me. The decal tells the story. As for me ending up with it, I just had an opportunity of having the means of someone at the right place at the right time to be able to get this purchased and delivered. With a machine like this with so much being unknown about it you never know what you might findout while restoring it. That reminds me of a wooden Victor horn I recently had repaired by Don Gfell. It was from a Schoolhouse. When I met him to pick it up he informed me that he had found something that he had never seen in all his years of collecting and restoring horns. It was a smooth horn with the original decal and finish. It was only when he removed the collar for the elbow that he discovered an original Hawthorn and Seble( hope I spelled that correctly) decal that had been applied to the horn. Why? We don't know and especially on a Victor product obscured for all this time. So who knows what mysteries or questions will be raised during the process of cleaning and restoring this XVII? Isn't that the fun part of collecting? I think so. Also, as far as me rooting for the wrong team....that would be my Wife. I am an Alabama fan and currently the only one in the house. She has even turned the kids against me. Wes

Wes, I'm under the impression that it may be a "Vernis Martin" finish. Like you, I too agree there is a factory applied special finish under the current one. This makes the machine very exciting to investigate IMHO and a big part of what makes this hobby so much fun. I for one can't wait to hear more about this from you as times goes on. Best of luck to you.
Wayne

NOTE: Wa-a-y off-topic, for bird watchers only!
The bird depicted on the RH horn door seems to be some kind of swallow or martin (M-m-m, as in "Vernis Martin"?), although I can't positively identify it as to exact species. The LH door may show the female. OTOH, these birds don't generally hover around flowers, but rather catch and eat small insects on the wing. As an aside, bearing in mind that many of the artists Victor employed were Europeans, I consulted the Birds of Europe volume in the Peterson series. Turns out that there are many fewer species of swallows and martins in Europe than in N. America, and none of those few seemed to match either. Any bird watchers out there in Phonograph Land care to comment?

While we're at it, take a look at this: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/927191. Talk about elaborate! In light of the current thread, note especially the photos of the lid underside (decal) and the presence of the serial plate.

Not vernis martin, definitely. Just a painted polychrome finish. I examined it personally.

OK guys, I just received the XVII just a short while ago. I felt like the Dad in the movie "Christmas Story" when his leg lamp arrived! Seeing this for the first time was TOTALLY worth the luck and all the arranging it took to get this here in the short amount of time that it took. I quickly inspected it inside and out and can definitely say that I truly feel that Victor is responsible for this special finish. It appears that no corners were cut. It is a brownish mustard yellow in color. Decal is definitaly on top of the finish and NOT painted around. I also did find what appears to be four small raised and filled holes where the ID tag was orignally on the machine before the transformation process. It will be a while until I can get started in researching this like I want to, but I will.

Wes