The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Remember this L door, it was the subject of a passionate debate by the regulars on this forum last fall.
I thought you might be interested in how it came out and what it look's like today
Although I don't do a lot of messages here I enjoy dropping in and reading what everyone has to say.

Best Regards, Larry

Larry, I'II be the first to say the motor board is without question......."Walnut".... . It just goes to show how "poorly" taken pics by a seller with little knowledge on machines can create "doubt" in the minds of potential lookers/buyers.
This also explains why certain sellers mentioned on our forum get great results on Ebay.
Your pics (and cleaning) speak volumes to me.
Congrats on a great machine.

Larry, that is one very beautiful machine! I hope one day to own an L-door, but a Circassian version would be a dream come true.

Fran

Gorgeous!

Clay

Larry, It's just beautiful. I said at the time of all the discussion about the motor board, that I would love to have it and I still would. You are very fortunate indeed to have such a beautiful machine.

Larry, You HAVE to tell us, is that the same motor board or a replacement? Jerry

Looks absolutely stunning! Great Job

Question about the veneer on the front doors...

It looks like the bottoms of the record storage doors have a different veneer than the top portion of the doors.
I've never seen this in Mahogany or Oak cabinets, was it something Victor did with the Walnut versions?
Or are my eyes deceiving me and the grain changes from almost a burled-birds eye to the long straight grain at that point?

Thanks!

Beautiful!

The doors are cut from a single piece of veneer; there's just a burl at that point. You can see a similar effect on the side. A very artistic job of book-matching!

George P.

The strong grain patterns are what makes this rare wood so beautiful and desirable--and even back in the day so expensive.

Clay

Gramophone 78 & Jerry B, the motor board is the same board pictured in the auction and is the correct original motor board. Even with the drastic color difference I was convinced it was the original board. In one of the auction photo's there was a good reflective picture of the board and deck showing the board was not a opened grain wood like oak or mahogany. I was more concerned with the finish on the case. The front looked fine just very dirty, but the sides looked blotchy which I didn't know if it was just dirt or finish damage. Turns out it was just 100 years of dirt and wax build up needing to be cleaned off.

Mr. Grumpy, as George said it's single sheets of book matched veneer that the grain changes shape at the bottom. The same book match was used on both sides and front.

Everyone else thank you for the kind words, it's nice being able to show off the end results.

Best Regards, Larry