The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This looks to be an L door cabinet in Oak locally in Michigan on Facebook marketplace (not mine). Looks like it needs the mechanics and possibly a horn and not sure this is a good price for just a project cabinet, but thought I'd pass it on.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 075345263/

It would be a nice switch if you had a badly damaged mahogany "L" door but the horn would possibly be a difficult find.

Jerry B.

Jerry B. wrote:It would be a nice switch if you had a badly damaged mahogany "L" door but the horn would possibly be a difficult find.

Jerry B.

Funny thing about Oak L-door machines, they don't have Oak horns. The horns are light colored, but they appear to be Mahogany. The same goes for the surface that surrounds the motor board.

The shelf on this one appears to be missing, but finding some old oak and making a new shelf is not a huge task. If someone has a derelict L-door, this may be a good deal.

I added a picture from the ad for posterity.

I've got an oak one at home. I'll have to take a look. You could well be correct about it not being oak but it does have a golden stain. It would be very difficult to take one from a mahogany machine and make it look correct. I doubt if you'd get that red color out without stripping and a lot of bleach and even then it would be doubtful. I suppose you could paint a mahogany bell an appropriate color so your eye would not be drawn to the wooden sides. Jerry B.

Jerry B. wrote:I've got an oak one at home. I'll have to take a look. You could well be correct about it not being oak but it does have a golden stain. It would be very difficult to take one from a mahogany machine and make it look correct. I doubt if you'd get that red color out without stripping and a lot of bleach and even then it would be doubtful. I suppose you could paint a mahogany bell an appropriate color so your eye would not be drawn to the wooden slats. Jerry B.

The first image is of a VTLA, (not mine). Next is my Oak, VV-XVI, model C. The Walnut machine is not mine either, but it also has a mahogany horn. Mahogany is my favorite tone wood for a guitar, so it makes good sense for a floating horn. Later machines have slats and a more restricted horn, so the wood is less likely to be a factor when it comes to tone.

Jerry B. wrote:I've got an oak one at home. I'll have to take a look. You could well be correct about it not being oak but it does have a golden stain. It would be very difficult to take one from a mahogany machine and make it look correct. I doubt if you'd get that red color out without stripping and a lot of bleach and even then it would be doubtful. I suppose you could paint a mahogany bell an appropriate color so your eye would not be drawn to the wooden sides. Jerry B.

Veneer.