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I have never seen or heard of this before but I think I have just found a picture of what looks like Vernis Martin or a Flat top victrola XX. The photograph shows the line up of the Victrola XVI and evolution of it through the years. They got some of the dates off but what struck me as odd is that there appears to be a picture of a "Vernis Martin" style flat top victrola in the upper right hand corner of the picture. Has anybody ever seen one of these in person? As far I know, the Victrola XX and had no flat lidded version of it made.

-Steve

The link to the website I found it on: http://www.davidsarnoff.org/vtm/fg22_pg62.html

That isn't Vernis Martin- it's just wood grain distorted by poor photography. If I'm not mistaken that prototype machine was discovered some years back. Victor sold it & a family used it for many years.

Steve,
You are close - that is all carved wood and wood grain rather than plaster, gesso, gilding and paint that you would see on a Venis Martin Victrola cabinet.
That model was never put into production and represent's Victor's first design beyond the Pooley Cabinet.

If you get a more recently issued copy of LFD, there is a full write about this machine, the designer and full color pics of this prototype. It is made of mahogany.

Wow, thanks for letting me know what this machine is! I can see now how that is wood grain and not vernis martin gilding. The picture is so pixelated it was hard to tell!

gramophone78 wrote:If you get a more recently issued copy of LFD, there is a full write about this machine, the designer and full color pics of this prototype. It is made of mahogany.

Please... no acronyms - What is LFD? I'm familiar with LSD and LED...

Curt A wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:If you get a more recently issued copy of LFD, there is a full write about this machine, the designer and full color pics of this prototype. It is made of mahogany.

Please... no acronyms - What is LFD? I'm familiar with LSD and LED...

"Look For the Dog"

http://www.mulhollandpress.com/styled-5 ... index.html

If you remember "LS/MFT" you're revealing your age!

Lucky Strike/Means Fine Tobacco! Yep, I'm oooold!

Good thing you didn't smoke 'em, too!

We're not old, we're mature (well, I am, sometimes).