XVIII Questions-Can it be saved?

[tomwil]

Do you have all the escutcheons? Check out craigslist Castle Rock, WA and look for the top of the line hump top. I'd give him his $50 and ask for the knobs and escutcheons.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/atq/3663603522.html

[mattrx]

Thanks guys! I have the key escutcheons and the knobs for my XVIII. I do not have a correct crank escutcheon, but I have one that will work for now. What I need is the speed indicator bezel (George V has one I'll probably order for $50) and a needle cup holder that is rounded on the back that fits the right inside wall of my machine. I could use a gold needle cup as mine is nickel, but it will do for now. I now have the motor, crank, turntable, lid support, tone arm and bracket.

Downsouth sent me both the cast iron and wooden portions of the horn last week. I am having a local cabinet maker alter the horn slightly to make it fit-it is from a XVI I think and just a little too deep. With ¾ inch off the front of the horn, it should fit almost perfectly. It is currently a little wide, deep and tall for the machine, so the adjustment should work well. I will post pics.

By the way, did you notice the last two responses were from "Tom and Jerry"? You gotta find humor where you can......

I do appreciate you guys looking out for me. Hopefully I can wrap this project up soon. I am off next wee from work and plan on finishing the right side of the machine then.

[mattrx]

Well, I did not get enough done this week. I took my son and 3 teenage boys camping for a few days instead. Once I recovered, I started again this afternoon.

I got the horn back tonight and test fitted it. It looks pretty good to me, after I put a first coat of stain on it. I can now play a record or two and it plays nicely. I have the speed control bezel coming from George V and I will be close. I applied a gel stripper in a small spot on the side tonight to see if it will remove the lines of old finish that someone left when trying to strip the right side. If it works, I'll strip the rest tomorrow night, and begin to re stain and shellac that side.

Getting close!

[Jerry B.]

Considering where this Victrola started, I think this thread should have been named "Is there anyone crazy enough to attempt restoration of this XVIII?" My hat is off to mattrx. Jerry

[alang]

I can only second what Jerry wrote. Thanks a lot for taking us on this journey and hats off to your skills. I also congratulate your for being a great dad and putting spending time with your sons over spending time on your restoration.
Andreas

[mattrx]

Guys, a little more help if you please. George Vollema says he has the needle cup block for a mahogany XVII and asks if it will fit the XVIII. I do not know the answer. Do any of you?

Also, what is the size for the screws for holding down the tone arm bracket. The motor board hold downs are ¼ x 20, but the tone arm bracket screws are smaller than that, but larger than a #10 size. George will have the screws if I can give him an accurate description of the size.

And, thanks for the kind words Andreas.

[ColoradoPhonograf]

Matt,
I took a screw out of my machine. It is a #12-24 machine screw 1 ½" long of which ⅞" is threaded.
I would think George would have those, if not they should be readily be available online but not gold plated.
Nice restoration you have performed on this machine.
Coloradophonograf

[downsouth]

Matt, I believe that the wooden holder from a XVII will work. The curve may not be exact and you might have to do a little sanding for a perfect match. I thought we had discussed this in a previous email. Maybe not. Anyway I believe that a XVII is where mine came from also.

Wes

[mattrx]

Can anyone post a pic of the back panel of their XVIII? I am going to see if a local cabinet maker can make something pretty close. Also, I could use a pic of the bolts that are used to hold the back panel on at the top. The back panel of mine was missing, as were the bolts. Bolts with a pattern of ¼ x 20 from Home Depot fit the metal brackets on the back, but the don't fit anywhere else on the machine. I was wondering if they were pan head bolts similar to the ones for holding down the motor board.

[mattrx]

Here is where the project stands this morning. I finished stripping the right side earlier this week. I put the first coat of stain on last night and a couple of subsequent coats early this morning (Thanks, Martinola, for the stain!). I then put a spit coat of shellac on to seal it and will start the grain filler this evening. I don't think it is perfect, but I am pleased with the results so far. I have gotten a lot of support from the members of this forum, and I would like to say thanks, once again.