The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Got a great deal on this machine today. The gold plating on the interior hardware blew
me away - very minimal oxidation. The rear leg was broken off but fortunately the seller
had the missing piece. If the tilt looks odd its because I have it propped up until the JB weld
dries. Only significant problem is the left door on the bottom. It must have got wet somehow
and some veneer was destroyed. I blended it in best I could with walnut Howards but I would like
to do better. Any ideas? All I can think of is wood putty then try to match it best I can.

Nice machine. This was the only type of Walnut available after / during WW-I. The
war seriously impacted the supply Circassian Walnut.

Nice find... I've never tackled veneer.. My guess would be to find a smallpeice of matching walnet veneer .. glue in, sand lightly blend in with shellac or whatever was used previously? Beautiful Victrola though

My god . . .NOT wood putty! If you've never matched and repaired veneer, it may be worth it in the long run to take it to a qualified wood restorer in your area. This isn't a good piece to learn on! Also, JB Weld is an odd choice for gluing wood together. I would have recommended TiteBond wood glue and clamps. You did clamp the repair didn't you? If you didn't, the joint will fail no matter what you used.

Wonderful machine! Your veneer repair needs the touch of an artist whether it is done by matching veneers or filled and colored by an expert with colors and a touch of paint. Either method needs to be done by an expert so the end result is seamless. If I had an upright with a broken leg, I would be tempted to get the advice of an expert. The repaired leg needs to be as strong as the others and perhaps stronger. I would think a dowel or rod connecting the two pieces would be a better repair than even the very best glue. Happy collecting, Jerry

JohnM wrote:My god . . .NOT wood putty! If you've never matched and repaired veneer, it may be worth it in the long run to take it to a qualified wood restorer in your area. This isn't a good piece to learn on! Also, JB Weld is an odd choice for gluing wood together. I would have recommended TiteBond wood glue and clamps. You did clamp the repair didn't you? If you didn't, the joint will fail no matter what you used.

Ditto! Titebond w/clamp(s) for sure, and nobody but a professional (one who knows what he's doing---not always the case!) should touch that veneer repair. This is a gorgeous machine!!!

Very nice. I love the walnut, but the machine itself seems a bit basic, does it not? I own a 17 and it is much more ornate than the 16 is. I've seen some earlier 16's that seem more "upscale" than that one. Maybe it's just me.


On the gold plating, I had very good luck (as in, all my gold plating looks brand new) using #0000 steel wool and very lightly polishing the gold plating. You'll be surprised how well it works.

I do love pretty wood! That's a nice one. I agree with others who recommend a professional to do the veneer repair. You'll be much happier in the long run.

I sent you a PM.

George P.

Thanks for the advice and kind words guys! I think its a good idea to have a pro do the
veneer repair. The rest of the machine is in very good shape so its worth the cost to
get it done right. I clamped the leg after using the JB weld so I am pretty sure its
not going anywhere. The machine came with a complete set of albums as well.
I will post some more pics when I get back from some errands.

SignatureSeriesOwner wrote:Very nice. I love the walnut, but the machine itself seems a bit basic, does it not? I own a 17 and it is much more ornate than the 16 is. I've seen some earlier 16's that seem more "upscale" than that one. Maybe it's just me.


On the gold plating, I had very good luck (as in, all my gold plating looks brand new) using #0000 steel wool and very lightly polishing the gold plating. You'll be surprised how well it works.

Thanks, I still like the cabinet style although I agree a 17 or 18 in walnut would be even more
beautiful.