The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ummmm. I know people post ruined ugly phonographs on here ad nauseum at times, but since I've never done it before, I figured I should at least have a shot at it. Besides, this is probably one of the worst ones I've come across so far. What would prompt someone to do this?!?!? Behold:

http://fresno.craigslist.org/atq/2803436725.html

Bad, but not the worst I've seen. This is just a coat of paint. I've seen upright Victrolas cut in half.

Shane wrote:Ummmm. I know people post ruined ugly phonographs on here ad nauseum at times, but since I've never done it before, I figured I should at least have a shot at it. Besides, this is probably one of the worst ones I've come across so far. What would prompt someone to do this?!?!? Behold:

http://fresno.craigslist.org/atq/2803436725.html

Hey, isn't shabby chic a popular look? (Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

Just so folks will know what this is about when the link goes away, here are a couple of the pictures.

Clay

P.S. Great to see you back on the board Tinkerbell!

FloridaClay wrote:Just so folks will know what this is about when the link goes away, here are a couple of the pictures.

Clay

P.S. Great to see you back on the board Tinkerbell!

Thank you, Clay. It's good to be back.

I think it's restorable. If that's standard quality enamel paint, it will probably come off without doing too much damage to the original finish.

About 15 years ago, a junktique shop near where I lived at the time had a VV-XVI that had been gilded with an top coat of gold enamel paint. The shop's owner was going to strip it using Jasco, and I advised him to try to scrub off the paint, first, with a Scott's scrubber sponge and some "Simple Green." (I had used it previously to remove some brown enamel paint from my Credenza.) Damned if it didn't work.

It took him about a week to clean off the Victrola. The original shellac/varnish finish, though slightly crazed in places, was in very good condition, and all it needed after the paint was removed was a good coat of paste-wax and some buffing.

A few weeks later, the Victrola had been sold. The shop's owner bragged that he originally paid $200 for it. It sold for $1,700.

DS

Hey, whaddaya got against red? Wasn't Victor's color called "RED mahogany?

On second look, maybe "red" isn't exactly the right word to describe this--this "THING."

Many years ago, I bought an early VV-IX that was painted black, including the interior, and horn. I didn't know any better, so I used citrastrip to remove the paint. I refinished it and it came out pretty good. I got a replacement decal to finish it off. I still have that machine. It was hard work, but worth it.
Harvey Kravitz

Oh hi 1980s

The problem with "shabby chic" is that there is always so much emphasis on shabby and so little on chic.

Jim