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I said I wasn't going to do this anymore. Then this came up for sale not far from me and I couldn't resist. A circassian walnut L-door XVI. And I only paid $60 for it. OK before anyone starts commenting "deal of the year", I did say it's a project. The machine looks great and most of the wood is present, but the inside is gutted. The old owner made it into a beverage bar. I understand the appeal by some to do this, but to do it to a circassian walnut machine? It boggles the mind. The person obviously had no idea what they had.

If you look at the pictures, you'll understand. I've already removed the added interior parts of this "bar" as to stop insulting it. And I will try my best to bring it back to its former glory. So I will need some parts. A few I have lying around but I've decided to go after the really difficult pieces first. If I can't find those, no sense in buying the others. And if I can't make it happen then it will return to a beverage bar. The machine has it's original finish and that will clean up nice. I need to find a good (great) woodworker for the top part. To somehow rebuild the top board and make the color match. I used to know such a guy but he has since retired.

So my first piece I am looking to buy is a motor board. This is a "B" model machine and the board measures 10 ¼" - 10 ⅜" square. Circassian would be great from another scrap machine, but I think I have a better chance with walnut or maybe even oak could be stained to match close.

If someone (anyone) can help it is much appreciated. If I can get a couple big missing parts (and the top board repaired) this will be an amazing machine again.

Thanks in advance for all help and advice.

Mike

Oh it's hard to look at it all cut up inside like that. I wish you all the luck on this project, that outside is breathtaking

My hope of that bar thing was done 50 or 60 plus years ago and not in any year past 1975.

Nice find! I should start saying I'm not doing this anymore, maybe the victrola gods will shine upon me as well!

Did you see the L door near Ottawa? Looks like it was poorly refinished and the motorboard doesn't look right, but it's all there!

Even if you can't find all the parts you need, please don't turn it back into a bar. There are many others who would be glad to take over the project should you decide to give up. Congratulations on rescuing an important victrola.

Like the VTLA, the “B” motor board sits on top and has a portion that drops into the opening. I made a replica motor board for my Pooley VTLA. They are not too difficult to produce and Walnut is still available. Victor may have used a light colored mahogany motor board on the Oak and Walnut L-Door machines, (maybe someone knows for certain).

Victor used light colored Mahogany horns in their Oak L-Door machines. They may have used them on the Walnut machines as well.

Best of luck. With patience and luck you will have a magnificent machine.

Django wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2023 10:18 am Like the VTLA, the “B” motor board sits on top and has a portion that drops into the opening. I made a replica motor board for my Pooley VTLA. They are not too difficult to produce and Walnut is still available. Victor may have used a light colored mahogany motor board on the Oak and Walnut L-Door machines, (maybe someone knows for certain).

Victor used light colored Mahogany horns in their Oak L-Door machines. They may have used them on the Walnut machines as well.

Best of luck. With patience and luck you will have a magnificent machine.

Thanks for the info. I did notice last night that there are 4 screw holes in the corners where the motor board would sit. I just unloaded and haven't even cleaned it yet. This will definitely make it easier to put back together.

So I guess now I'm looking for about a 16" square motor board. I'll take any type of wood at this point to try and match it up. It looks like the board will be off center in the machine but may have the turn table centered under the dome?

Does anyone have a "B" model they can take some pics of and post?

Mike

It's going to be a trick to remove & replace the cut-up framing around the motor board opening, without basically disassembling the whole cabinet.

Mike, don't use oak, it will just look wrong.
Look for Satin Walnut out in the wild, it's pretty common.

A Google search yielded this:

https://www.google.com/search?q=satin+w ... e&ie=UTF-8

I would suggest leaving the motor board in place, square it up by hand and add to it.
You can make up a jig to guide a chisel to keep the mating surfaces true with a 1-½ inch wood chisel.

A bit of skill is needed here to do it by hand, but better then trying to remove the whole thing or even cutting it out.

OR
Fill it roughly in and veneer the whole inside top.
You should be able to get some iron-on satin walnut veneer.

https://www.veneersupplies.com/

Here's Circassian Walnut veneer if you really want to go all- out:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... r&_sacat=0