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Thanks George----this really clears up my misunderstanding about what true Fumed Oak looks like.

gramophone78 wrote:George, I think that is wonderful to show what "real" fumed oak looks like. I had thought to post a piece of Stickley as an example. It's amazing how people seem to get confused with "old english", "weathered" and even "waxed" oak with "fumed".
It truly has a look all it's own and is next to impossible to repair.....

Very true. When I first started out I went to a shop where the guy professionally restored phonos and he showed me one that was very dark and said "that one is fumed oak" hmph good thing my LTFD book is on its way.

Fumed Oak is a finish created by exposing the raw oak surface to ammonia fumes. Raw fumed oak is light in color, just like the Victrola that George posted. This is the finish the Victor called "Fumed Oak". The raw fumed oak can be stained to a darker color to give the effect seen in the Weathered Oak, Old English Oak and others. So in essence, they are all fumed oak, but only one is Fumed Oak.