The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've read the argument from other Forum members that a machine should be left "as is" because it's only original once. I understand and respect that position but sometimes a machine needs sone new history.

The first photo shows the Victrola in the shop where it was purchased. It was priced at a value close to the value of the Exhibition. How could I pass it up?

The second photo was taken so I could post it in the Trader section with hopes that someone else would do the needed work. No takers!

The next few photos show the Victrola completely disassembled and in the process of being stripped. Sometimes paint will simply wrinkle up and it's easy to scrape off. Not this time. The old red paint liquified like it was right out of a can. I had red paint everywhere. It looked like a crime scene. One photo shows some of the chemicals I used and a box of disposable rubber gloves. I highly recommend using gloves to protect your skin. Be sure to read the durability of the gloves because some are not good with things like lacquer thinner, etc.

The final photos show the finished Victrola. I used Watco "Dark Walnut" as a stain followed the Deft. It may not be historically correct but it's a tried and true method for me. I did changed a few things on the Victrola. The turntable and felt were is bad shape and I had a better one in my parts bin. Also, I traded the Exhibition for a Victrola 2. I had a Victor II in the basement with the Victrola 2 and it seemed like a logical exchange. Finally, the Victrola was missing one of the knobs and I didn't have an exact match. The brass ones will do until I buy replacements at Union. The little Victrola looks and plays great. I think I've given it some good history. I probably have eight hours invested and an additional cost of $15 for supplies, etc. It may not be logical to take a $50 Victrola and invest that much time and effort but sometimes a collector can't help himself. It's a labor of love.

Jerry Blais

It may be only a VV-VI, but you brought it back to respectability. I'd enjoy putting that on our deck and spinning some shellac on a nice summer evening. You probably guaranteed that machine another century of life!

George P.

Very nice restoration Jerry! My VV-VI is my go to machine for disc.

NICE JOB!!! How did you get the turntable edge so clean?

That's a turntable from my parts bin and the felt is original. When I replace felt on a turntable with a 90 degree edge I use a wet stone and the edge is factory perfect. Jerry B.

That is a wonderful project! Since it has a serial number on the ID plate, do you know approximately when the Victrola was manufactured?

Looking at the motor board and tag, I'm guessing 1916 or early 1917, just before VV VI-A came out. Looks very nice.
Harvey Kravitz

"It's only original once". Yes, and the toll of years, rust, alligatored finish, and worn plating is most definitely NOT "original", either, so I find a lot of foolishness in that saying, personally.

Machines such as this challenge us to conserve them, even if that means restoring them. I'd imagine that what this machine looks like now is far more like original than what you started with, so good on ya.

Jerry it looks great!! You could have just changed it to Schwinn Lemon Peeler Yellow if you didn't like the Apple Krate Red

Very nice resurrection. It was already not original and way past bringing it back gently, so a complete overhaul was the best way to give it new life.

Andreas