The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Remarkable restoration! I appreciate the talents that you and Covah have. I enjoy restoration threads like this from beginning to end. Unfortunately, a lot of Covah's restoration threads went missing when the old forum folded.

Hi Matt

I'm so glad you didn't take my advise way back and part it out. I know it was labor intensive but the results look fantastic. What was also impressive was all the input you received from the Talking Machine community. Great bunch of guys.


I'm glad I could help you out with the motor and misc. parts to complete you machine.

You da man for attacking that project.

Blizz

I had told myself to let this thread go, but I had to post one last picture. I have not been able to locate a rear panel for the XVIII. George V thought he had one, but it turns out that he did not. My parents were visiting for this past weekend. I ran my ideas by my Father who had done some serious wood working many years ago (not in my lifetime of 45 years). He encouraged me to go ahead and make one. It is NOT a copy of the original-I do not have the skills for that, but it is a rear panel that fits and it attaches the same way an original would, with the tongue at the top and the screws at the bottom. I laminated 2 pieces of furniture grade ply wood together, and then applied mahogany veneer, stained and sealed with shellac. I then used sandpaper and steel wool to smooth out the finish and dull it a bit, then wax. Below is a picture of the finished product, and now it can come inside the house!

You did an amazing job. Looks great.

That looks amazing! very good job of matching the stain from what I can see of the picture.
That machine is going to be a great addition to your collection with an amazing story behind it.

You'll have to store some large, good quality photographs of the 'before' in its record storage area.

I posted a video of it playing today. The video quality is not the best, and I made a little noise around 2min 20sec or so, but it shows the machine fairly well. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp3CwcRHD-w

The last picture shows the back and there are two doors on the bottom, what would those be for?

Cheers from Dallas,Texas

Jerry

Extra storage is all I can tell. There is a compartment the size of the opening and about 6 inches deep. There is mesh venting this space at the bottom, and so I wonder if batteries were stored there on electric versions..I just don't know for sure. The folks on this forum that have owned more and collected longer can probably give a better answer.

mattrx,
This has to be a keeper. You did the ultimate Lazarus job on this one, and it is a beauty now.

mattrx wrote:Extra storage is all I can tell. There is a compartment the size of the opening and about 6 inches deep. There is mesh venting this space at the bottom, and so I wonder if batteries were stored there on electric versions..I just don't know for sure. The folks on this forum that have owned more and collected longer can probably give a better answer.

For the Electrola version (VE-XVIII) that back cabinet houses the ballast resistors. They get quite warm which is what the venting is for.