The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found an oak VV-XVI recently online, have purchased it for $100, and am picking it up next weekend. It appears to be in relatively good condition. However, the inside of the turntable area and inside lid are painted black. The former owner told me she had it refinished about 20 years ago and that it had multiple coats of various color paint on the outside. From the photographs she has sent me, it appears that at one time the cabinet could have been black. My question is; would this have been painted black lacquer originally, and, if so, would removing the black paint have decreased it's value? I will post pictures once I take possession of it.

Most likely if the outside is oak, the inside would be oak. Another clue is the decal on the inside of the lid. If it's painted over, that's proof that the paint was added after leaving the factory. I look forward to some photos. Jerry

I wonder if it was one of the "historic finishes"... didn't they offer something like a Jacobean or English Oak that was very dark ?

De Soto Frank wrote:I wonder if it was one of the "historic finishes"... didn't they offer something like a Jacobean or English Oak that was very dark ?

Yes, along with many other finishes that were offered. However, the "EE" (old English Oak) finish was not created using black paint. Chinese lacquer is a possibility. As Jerry mentioned.......pictures showing the lid decal will be the best way to know for sure.

gramophone78 wrote:

De Soto Frank wrote:I wonder if it was one of the "historic finishes"... didn't they offer something like a Jacobean or English Oak that was very dark ?

Yes, along with many other finishes that were offered. However, the "EE" (old English Oak) finish was not created using black paint. Chinese lacquer is a possibility. As Jerry mentioned.......pictures showing the lid decal will be the best way to know for sure.

Chinese lacquer HMV ghramophones do appear in the UK , the gramophones made by HMV , BUT finished by Harrods! in Chinese lacquer and they always painted over the HMV decal . Perhaps large stores in the USA did the same thing with Victors ?

I saw that one and thought it looked like black paint applied later since I could not see a decal. It looks good overall though.

Well, I picked up the VV-XVI yesterday and it certainly was painted over - several times! The outside has been refinished, but the insides are still painted. It will be a project to redo, but I believe it will be worth the time and effort. What do you think?

toysbyroy wrote:Well, I picked up the VV-XVI yesterday and it certainly was painted over - several times! The outside has been refinished, but the insides are still painted. It will be a project to redo, but I believe it will be worth the time and effort. What do you think?

Wow!!!....time to bring my sunglasses out..... . Looks like a past owner was trying to make a pretzel out of the lid stay.... .

toysbyroy wrote:Well, I picked up the VV-XVI yesterday and it certainly was painted over - several times! The outside has been refinished, but the insides are still painted. It will be a project to redo, but I believe it will be worth the time and effort. What do you think?

Go for it! After having paint for so long, it's not like you're going to ruin its originality. Who knows, if you are careful with the stripper and extremely lucky, you may be rewarded by uncovering the original decal on the lid. In any case it's a great find. Good luck with the project!

Martin

I think for 100.00 you did very well.