The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all!

I'm still slowly working on my Victor II. Please see the photos below of the bottom panel. Does anyone know what kind of wood it is? I really need to replace it, as it smells incredibly musty, and really can't be put with the cleaned motor board and cabinet.

looks to me like pine...

Victor used Poplar wood in the bottoms of the cases.

I'm a little surprised to see the knot at the one end...

I know it's "only secondary wood" as the cabinet makers refer to it, but Poplar or pine were common... no need to use a knotty-bit ?

At any rate, it looks like four separate boards, jointed and edge-glues together to make the wide plank. Also looks like flat-sawn lumber, as opposed to quarter-sawn.

Poplar is still common, and easily worked... or, if you want to make life easy for yourself, get some furniture-grade hard-wood plywood of the appropriate thickness, stain it, and make your bottom board from that, and store the original in a safe place, to "go with the machine" when you are ready to part with it. ( staple an index card to it with the machine, model, and serial # ).

If a musty smell is the only issue, why don't you seal the wood with a few coats of shellac or varnish?

Wash it with household vinegar then place it in a box or plastic bag, liberally sprinkle it with baking soda and let it sit that way for a while. The inside of the cabinet of my Edison Home B literally stunk when I got it. I removed the mechanism cleaned up the case and set it in the sun for several days (taking it in at night). I regularly turned it to keep the sun shining into it. Then I applied the vinegar and baking soda treatment and it removed the odor very well. Even after you reassemble the machine, you can put some baking soda in a jar lid and set it in the bottom of the cabinet just to be sure.

Jim

You can also purchase an enzyme carpet deodorizer from a janitorial supply house and spray the bottom with it until the smell is gone.

I would save that board if at all possible.

Clay

I agree with the posts about saving the original bottom. I'd mix a mild solution of bleach and water, spray both sides, let it dry thoroughly, and spray both sides with satin lacquer. Jerry