The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,

I was given a rather rough 1915 Victrola VV-IX. It's....yeah. Anyway, all the veneer appears to be in very good shape, however, the finish on it all is badly alligatored on the top layer or two of shellac. I've heard a good way to remove it is to use lemon oil and sandpaper to remove the top few coats to reveal the nice layers underneath. I don't want to strip it unless it's absolutely necessary, but if I have to, I will. Once the cabinet looks good, I'll likely replace the platter, find a pin to stick in the spindle (old one broke off somehow) then polish everything best I can, find a crank, and leave it as-is. It's not a valuable model by any means, so it's not really worth a full blown restoration. What methods have worked for you guys?






The top looks a bit better because I put some Old English and some 0000 steel wool on it.

I love it---the rolling desk chair model IX. Great stuff! All seriousness aside, I'd be interested in what advice the gang has to offer in regard to the finish, as my XI has similar issues. I haven't done anything with it beyond a cloth rub with lemon oil and it's fairly presentable as is, and not as alligatored as yours, but I'll be following his thread with interest.

I've actually got a aftermarket "matched" cabinet/storage rack for it. Supposed to make it look like a floor model. Haven't seen it yet, but I was told it was refinished. If that's the case, I may have to refinish it, just to make it match...

I was told by another collector that he uses denatured alcohol to dissolve the alligatoring.
I have never tried it however so its probably best for the wood experts to chime in.

Ah, reamalgamation. (sp)I may give it a shot tomorrow just to see, but if it goes badly.....then a refinish is my last hope, LOL.

SSO,

Check out this thread http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ?f=7&t=146. My Columbia was lightly alligatored. I have also done a similar process on an VV-XIV. The process I used with mineral spirits is the same as with lemon oil. The fluid provides a lubricant that prevents the sand paper from becoming clogged.

I have been happy with the results, however, it won't remove all the alligatoring. It will be reduced, but not totally removed. The positive note is you will improve the finish while maintaining the original finish.

I have experimented with re-amalgamation and what it boils down to is you dissolve the entire finish and attempt to level it. Shellac is best built up in coats, which you can not do with re-amalgamation.

My advice is if you want to maintain the original finish and are not looking for that completely refinished look, then give the sanding with fluid method a try.

My VV-IX looked pretty much the same when I got it. A cleaning with GooP, some Howard's Restore a Finish, some 0000 steel wool and lots of elbow grease made most of the alligatoring disappear. It comes close to the reamalgamation, just not as aggressive (and dangerous) I think.
Here are some before and after pictures. Still no mirror finish, but quite presentable I think...
P.S.: Don't look at the cabinet, that really needs to be refinished.
Andreas

Wow. That looks fantastic. Both of them. I've tried the steel wool approach to no real success, so I guess the wet-sanding with 600 grit sandpaper is next.

Actually, after the good cleaning I always put a thick coating of Kotton Kleanser Protective Wood Feeder (or Howard's Feed & Wax) on each machine and let it sit for 8-12 hours. The wood absorbs most of it and the rest I wipe off with a soft cloth. The difference is like day and night for old dried out wood and finishes.
Andreas

I hate to be the idiot, but what is allegatoring?