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Does this VV-50 look like fumed oak?

I see the VV-50 was available in both mahogany and oak, but I do not see that it specifically came in fumed oak.

If those of you who are more learned in this area think this is actually a fumed oak model, I might be inclined to bid on it...

What are your thoughts?

I don't know anything about the Oak - but those are great machines with a BIG sound, and easy to work on. I've never seen one with the needle tin in the lid. Grab it!

I find a I use mine a lot - out on the lawn, at parties. Everyone should have one!

Here's a Canadian ad...in so many ways...for a VV50 extolling it's virtues as an entertainer in your lumber camp: turning " dull evenings into cheerful happy ones for your men." From what I hear of lumber camps in those days it was the gallon of whiskey that lightened dull evenings, but I digress. This is taken from Canada Lumberman magazine, and I don't think I have the original so I have no idea where I got this scan.

Jim

Tinkerbell.....

Fumed Oak was one of the choices for a VV-50. Looking at the picture I believe it is possible that the one you are interested in could be fumed oak. If you search for 'Fumed Oak' on the forum there are a couple of machines pictured that look similar to the finish on the VV-50 you have pictured here. The one thing that does not quite make it for me is that I thought I had read somewhere that Victor applied fumed oak did not have top coat put on but only had a wax finish. I may be wrong about that so I hope others on the forum can clarify that point. Whether it is fumed oak or not, it is a very interestingly finished VV-50 that still would be a great addition to your blossoming collection if you can get it for a reasonable price

I think it might be- it's one of the later ones and Victor might have tried out some special finishes. The VV-50 is one of the very best pre-Orthophonic portables around and a lot of fun to have.

I can't find my sample chart but I do not think it is fumer
oak. I think it is something like English oak.

Skihawx wrote:I can't find my sample chart but I do not think it is fumer
oak. I think it is something like English oak.

The differences between Victor's oak finishes can be subtle- lets just say that it's an uncommon variation from the standard golden oak finish.

I think calling it an uncommon variation is probably a good call. There is just too many variations with these old finishes to really have a definitive answer on what finish it is. Also, I have seen a lot of these machines who have had their finishes looking very odd due to smoke and other things in the home environments of that era. It is sometimes amazing how different the finish of these machines will look after a through cleaning. The VV-50 is really a nice old portable, it should be a nice one to own.

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:From what I hear of lumber camps in those days it was the gallon of whiskey that lightened dull evenings, but I digress.

Now that is just the kind of laugh I needed today!! I find it is the good bottle of wine that lightens the dull evenings, myself.


Anyway, I digress myself... So, let me say thank you, everyone, for your replies. I really like the look of this VV-50, but still being relatively new to this arena makes me hesitant to jump right in without a little knowledge from those with more experience.

I must admit, I was disappointed about six weeks ago when I found out that the person who had the mint VV-50 in the original travel case listed on CL would not ship, (see http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... hilit=vv50); suffice it to say, I missed that opportunity.

Nat wrote:I've never seen one with the needle tin in the lid.

I thought the needle tin in the lid was pretty unique myself, although my knowledge and experience in this area is admittedly quite limited.


I think it would make a nice addition to my blossoming collection, too, Mike.

While I don't think I will be taking it out to the lumber camp with me I do believe it would be a lovely addition to afternoons or evenings on my sunporch, (with or without my bottle of wine -- or whiskey -- Lenoirstreetguy)!

estott wrote:The VV-50 is one of the very best pre-Orthophonic portables around and a lot of fun to have.

I do think it would be a very fun portable to own, and hopefully I will!

Thank you again, everyone, so much.

I just about took a step back when I saw the dealer's emblem on the machine... it's from Nishkian's phonograph shop, which was located in my hometown of Fresno, California. I see this emblem a LOT of machines locally, but to see one out there in internet land surprised me. Fresno had quite a large Armenian population during this time (and still does). Out of curiosity, what area is this machine currently located?