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So my dad was talking to me today and we were discussing this situation he has dealt with at work where they had to cut down dozens of trees due to disease. So he offered me several cords if I wanted some wood. Well, then I randomly came across this on craigslist.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/bar/1429175392.html


Is this a ruined Victrola, or a special order finish? Either way, I emailed him and offered him the two cords for the trade as listed. That's pretty coincidental!

Ruined

Yeah, it is ruined... but that's a better job than most paint jobs.

Aww! Too bad...I tried anyway!

Well, it depends on just how long ago the paint job was done. Anyhow, a VV-X is usually a fairly dull machine so this might be an improvement.

That actually doesn't look too bad in the pictures, IMO. In person the story might be different, though. Maybe a "new needle" will improve matters? The real question is, how does it look (and sound) to you?

Looks like one of my mom's antiquing/decalomania projects from the '60's. Look closely and if you see the signature 'Helen' on it anywhere I'll buy it from you LOL!

There were some companies that "dressed-up" Victrolas as an aftermarket offering. It's hard to tell from the photos how old this paint job might be, but I have seen this shade of green on furniture from the twenties, unfortunately I've also seen it on furniture from the 70's. From a distance, this looks too good to be from the 70's though. My first impression was that it's an old paint job. If that's the case, I would keep it as is. I have a magazine rack, and used to have a drop leaf table, from the twenties with this same shade of green, and shaded exactly like this Victrola.

Send us some photos of this that are close enough to show the details.

I would not be too quick to dismiss this as rubbish. I have a european victrola (HMV) that came as with a green Chinese lacquer finish (very rare) factory option that looks similar to this (there was also blue or red Chinese finishes without the cliche little people carrying fish....). One would need a much better photo to judge whether it is a propper finish or someone practicing their country cottage painting.

If you wanted an unfinished Victrola for such a project, Victor happily supplied it. In the photos, it looks kinda nice to me.

Ps - If your Dad is cutting diseased Ash trees, I hope he's not spreading the ash-borer around.