The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello, This is my first post so if I made any mistakes please forgive me. My name is Collin, I'm 36 and I live in Effingham, IL and yesterday I went and picked up a very, very nice original Victrola VV-XVIII.

I am fairly new to old phonographs but have been around them for awhile like the ones you see and estate sales and I have a equally nice example of a VE-XVI that I've owned for a few years and a Edison cylinder player that I've owned for about 5 years.

I know that XVIII's are fairly desirable pieces and I have Look for the Dog and The Talking Mahine books but I had a few questions about my XVIII.

My first question is the top of the lid has some spots where the veneer is bubbling up?? and I dont know if I should leave it or have it profesionally redone? I was looking at the victor-victrola web page and was wondering if that was a good place to start? It would be lots easier to ship a lid rather than the whole unit.

My second question is the cabinet smells like cigarette smoke and I was wondering if there was anything that I could use to safely remove that smell?

Last question is there are thousands and thousands of pages on the internet about phonographs and most are for sale ads or youtube videos of them playing but I was wanting to know if there are any do's and dont's of these machines? or any websites on how to operate them? I'd like to get it running and play some records but I didnt want to jump right in and tear something up that couldnt be repaired.

Thank you for your time and letting me be part of your great forum.

You are correct, the XVIII is a very desirable Victrola. The cabinet appears to have been refinished from your photos. I would suggest that you ask your local antique shops if there is a local business that does good quality furniture repair. If so, I would remove the lid and have it repaired.
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If your machine has not been used for a long period of time, I'd oil each end of the governor, the governor pads controlling the speed and wind it up. Most of us use a good quality oil and avoid WD-40 and 3 in1 oil. If the motor "thumps" while it unwinds you may want to repack the springs in new grease. Also, avoid premature record wear by using a new needle with each record. If the reproducer rattles or sounds blasty, it should be rebuilt. It's an easy job that can be done with about $15 in materials or you can have it done. Jerry

Since I am no expert on Victrola's let alone wood working, can you let me know why you think it looks to be refinished? I think I would have thought twice before making the plunge to buy it if I would have known that it was refinished. I guess Id call myself a purist and much prefer original than something that has been altered with.

I too would have to agree with Jerry. It has been refinished and a little light. For me the give away is the close up of the lid. You can see open grain and zero crazing anywhere. This you would not see on a piece this old. Perhaps the veneer is lifting from whatever stripping agent was used??.
You may want to look in our "tips & tech" section. There are many thread to help with some of your questions. Although, Jerry has covered it well.
BTW, you must be a "fast times" fan.....Spicoli.... .

I could certainly be wrong. Mahogany generally has a piano finish in which light bounces off the finish like light off a flat piece of glass. Could you post photos of the inside of the lid and the inside of the doors? Is the color about the same as the outside? Many refinishers do not refinish the inside of the doors or the area under the lid and they try to work around the original decal. These are clues. Your photos show a lot a dramatic grain in the veneer. Usually a finish darkens with age and it gets more difficult to see the grain in the veneer. The photo of the damage in the top does not have the appearance of light off a flat piece of glass. An XVIII is a very desirable machine refinished or not. I'd be proud to own it. Jerry Blais

Magnificent machine! Welcome to the forum!

Nat wrote:Magnificent machine! Welcome to the forum!

Jeff, I agree with Nat. A stunning machine I also would be proud to own. Once the lid is repaired you will really have something.

Clay

Beautiful Victrola, will bring you many years of joy!

Thank you for all the positive comments and advice!!

Considering the machine has been refinished does it hurt the historical significance? I'm not concerned about the value because I know what I paid for it and I love it regardless. I realize this isnt a 18th century chair but you know how you always hear to never refinish antique furniture? Is that the case for these old phonographs in general?

I will post some pictures of the insides later this evening

Refinished machines are seen as different items in different peoples eyes, some people see them as utter rubbish and some don't mind, personally I don't mind as long as it's been done properly and depending how long ago its been done and also how well it's been done compared to how bad it was
Your machine looks absolutely amazing to me!, it looks like it's been done well and you shouldn't really worry about it apart from the lid damage