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It is finally done! I decided a couple weeks back to do a restoration of my VV 2-55, and today I finished it up. I used alittle more liberty than normal in this restoration; I always hated the original, brown crinkle paint, and so replaced it with gloss black. I made new leatherette covers with sewn corners, rather than the original glued covering. Finally, I replaced all the rivets with screws, because rivets are the absolute WORST THINGS EVER when you need to take stuff apart.

I repainted everything, and re-used the original leather handle and lid pull.

Here are some pictures of it, along with a few from when I got it.

Wow! that looks nice, very nice. I have the maroon version and wouldn't mind seeing it done that way.
Mike

Yes, you did a good job! I have one of these good sounding portables too and enjoy playing it.

Thanks for the kind words! I had been kicking the idea around for months, but the rivets were really making me apprehensive. I finally decided to go for it, and it really paid off.

Side note, the Ace brand metallic gold spray paint is nearly identical to the factory paint used on these portables.

Very Nice Job! Makes me really think about considering a VV 2-55 again. How difficult was it doing the leatherette? Where did you get your leather from?

I just went to Joann for the leatherette, nothing special. Cost about $12/yd, I got 2 yards and had more than enough, even with a few mistakes. Making the covers was not difficult, maybe 5 minutes of work for each half. Real easy to sew on a machine.

The real hard part was getting it to stay pulled tight over the shell while I put the halves together. Especially the top half. On the bottom, I stretched it over the rim and just taped it down, which is fine since it's not visible. The top half, however, is another story, since the inside of the top shell is visible. I had to glue the leatherette in place and then trim it flush with the lip of the shell. It could not be folded over at all, because I had to get my finger up under the lip to position the nut in such a way where I could bolt the parts of the lid together, since I refused to use more rivets out of consideration for the 'next guy', even though they are technically correct.

It surely looks gorgeous, and I bet that sewing the leatherette with sufficient precision was not a "5 minute" task as you say... Not for me, anyway.

Why didn't you simply treat the "original" fabrikoid with black shoeshine cream, however? Was it too far gone in some areas?

Also, is the hardware (tonearm included) gold-painted instead of gold-plated on these models?

Personally, I'd also take care of the handle now!

Looks great! Nice job!
Dave D

Looks great - can I drop mine off to you so you can do your magic to it?

Marco, the original Fabrikoid was very worn and full of small holes and tears, and really looked sad. Also, everything was painted rather than plated on these models, or on mine at any rate, so I just painted it all again. Regarding the handle, I actually want to redo it as well, but I lack the skill and tools.

Sorry Tony, but I'm not taking orders, lol. I barely had time each day to work on this one!