The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

this one dates to the very early teens, and you've got to love it because, well, how many of these do you ever really see in oak? like all of the L-door XVI's, this one has the gold-plated hardware (except of course for the turntable, which is nickel-plated but nevertheless correct for this machine) and a three spring motor... this is one of the later L-door models, though, as it incorporates a friction brake as opposed to the earlier (and what I've always thought to be the more interesting) barrel or bullet brake...

Nice machine...I particularly like the fact that it is oak Its also interesting to see on these machines the gold plated metal bit. Here in the UK it was very unusual to have glod plate...it all seems to be nickel here! That is also an interesting speed control. Ive not seen one like that before - are they common on US machines? The other thing I was wondering about was that you guys in the US have so much info on your machines - do you happen to know how much this machine would have cost when new?

thanks for posting Brian

RJ

richardh wrote:Nice machine...I particularly like the fact that it is oak Its also interesting to see on these machines the gold plated metal bit. Here in the UK it was very unusual to have glod plate...it all seems to be nickel here! That is also an interesting speed control. Ive not seen one like that before - are they common on US machines? The other thing I was wondering about was that you guys in the US have so much info on your machines - do you happen to know how much this machine would have cost when new?

thanks for posting Brian

RJ

the dial-type speed control seems common enough on some of the earlier machines... not necessarily higher end ones either - I've seen them on VV-X's, VV-XI's, etc. you can check that victor data book for more specific information - it has a pretty detailed couple of pages on the different types of speed controls and their years of use/production.

regarding information, unlike a lot of other brands, I think the victor talking machine company was just so large, and existed in one form or another (eventually as RCA) for so long, that records were just maintained and available for researchers... and I'm sure that contributed to the availability of more than a few authoritative books of the company and its offerings - like the victor data book mentioned above, look for the dog (baumbach)... I'm sure you've seen these. also, the web site is good for basics... www.victor-victrola.com.

I'd have to double-check, but I'm pretty sure the XVI's sold for a couple hundred dollars until close to 1920, when they increased to $250 or so for the basic models (with basic finishes).

Beautiful one you have, Brian. Isn't this fumed oak?

Adam

Ive always wondered what "fumed oak" was. Do you basically mean that it was smoked? but with what. ive seen this finish spoken about in books but they dont explain exactly how it was achieved. Its very frustrating!

RJ

richardh wrote:Ive always wondered what "fumed oak" was. Do you basically mean that it was smoked? but with what. ive seen this finish spoken about in books but they dont explain exactly how it was achieved. Its very frustrating!

RJ

I believe fumed oak takes on that darker, murkier tone through exposure to ammonia fumes as its finish is drying (ideally in a sealed environment of course)...

this finish I'm quite sure is just the more standard oak, it's too light in color to be anything else.

Fumed Oak is made by exposing the raw oak to Amonia- strictly speaking it should only be waxed afterwards but it's frequently varnished.

http://www.codesmiths.com/shed/workshop ... oakfuming/

I'm sorry... but I think these L-doors look nicer in Mahogany.

Estott,

thanks very much for that link as it explains everything. A nice simple and permanent process. Gives a nice finish too.

RJ

phonophan79 wrote:I'm sorry... but I think these L-doors look nicer in Mahogany.

I actually prefer mahogany in general...and this coming from someone who owns an oak VTLA.