Be careful with fantastick and 409 as they will mar glass! John Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message----- From: "Ron L'Herault" <lhera...@bu.edu> Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:55:34 To: 'Antique Phonograph List'<phono-l@oldcrank.org> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me It does leave a little lanolin on the surface I think. I usually do a quick spray and wipe with Fantastic (which also does not seem to hurt the shellac as far as I can tell. I tested it on a shiny part of a 78 and didn't see any cloudiness. Ron L -----Original Message----- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Glenn Longwell Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:04 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me So if you plan to reflow the shellac after using one of these cleaners would you still use anything else after the cleaner to prepare the surface? Glenn ________________________________ From: Ron L'Herault <lhera...@bu.edu> To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:58:04 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me It is the waterless hand cleaner WITHOUT pumice. I use a product by L&D, I think it is that is sold in the hardware or laundry sections of the supermarket as both a hand cleaner and a material to remove oil/grease stains (which it does well, by the way). The brand is not as important as not having pumice. It does not remove/affect the shellac but it does cut through old hand oils, grease, wax build up. Ron L -----Original Message----- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Tom Jordan Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:18 AM To: 'Antique Phonograph List' Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me I Googled Go-Jo and found a company that makes a lot of products including a hand sanitizer. Can anyone tell me which Go-Jo product you are referring to and where it can be purchased? Does it removed the finish or just clean it? Thank you. Tom -----Original Message----- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Charlotte Mager Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:27 AM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me There is a fellow keeping a data base of Victors. You can ad yours by going to http://www.victor-victrola.com Charlotte aka Waves http://www.wavesllc.com On Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:16 PM, Douglas Houston <cdh...@earthlink.net>wrote: > Of course, I'm not there to see it, but my first guess would be a buildup > of grime from all those years. The dining room set here was bought by my > mother in 1925. Our house in Detroit had been heated with coal, as were > many others in those days. On the chairs, on the top crossbar, the top > surface was black, and I assumed that it was the finish. For the first time > ever, I went over the dining set with Go-Jo, and the black "finish" on the > top bar got gooey, and wiping it away, a nice walnut finish was exposed. > > At the time I bought my VV-XVIII, it needed a good going over to remove > grime, but wasn't as bad as some cabinets I've seen. I went further and > flowed the original shellac finish with alcohol. Except for some areas, the > finish is as new. > > I wonder if anyone is keeping a log of serial numbers on these phonographs. > I have the impression that all of the jobs came down the line, and were > consecutively numbered, with no special notation for such special > treatments as electric motor, circassian walnut, or other woods. One > interesting little detail: one of our phono collectors in this area has a > XVIII Electric drive. The cabinet has a cute decoratice cover over the > crank hole. Evidently, all cabinets were drilled for the crank. > > My XVIII has mahogany finish, and spring motor; a cheapie. The serial > number is 1277. The name plate on the motor board is the copper one. A few > years ago, one was on eBay, with a serial number around 1309, and it had an > aluminum name plate. So, it appears that, somewhere between mine and the > one for auction, Victor changed name plates. > > At present, I'm getting my Victor Electrola 12-25 put together, checking > everything carefully before I put power to the amplifier. I did the Go-Jo > treatment to the cabinet. The finish on it is a mirror. I've never seen a > cabinet that old, in that perfect shape. I'm anxious to have it going. I > also have a 12-15 Electrola, and it's dynamite. > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Andrew Baron <a...@popyrus.com> > > To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> > > Date: 10/21/2009 10:04:42 AM > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me > > > > Thanks, Douglas. Needless to say, the novelty of seeing this visitor > > in my music room hasn't begun to lose its luster, and the XVIII will > > soon regain its. > > > > I thought of Go-Jo as well, at least as a first step. The black > > residue is dense here and there, but it must also be darkening the > > finish even where it doesn't appear to be built up to opaqueness. > > > > Andy > > > > > > On Oct 20, 2009, at 4:46 PM, Douglas Houston wrote: > > > > > I've had my VV-XVIII for about 25 years. It took a moment to > > > realize just > > > what I was looking at, but $120.00 was a reasonable price, > > > regardless of > > > condition. Everything was there, except the storage albums. One > > > spring was > > > broken at the outer end, and was quicly repaired. A going over with > > > Go-Jo > > > made it clean as new. I know just how you feel, Andy! > > > > > > > > >> [Original Message] > > >> From: Mobility Scooters <mobilityscoot...@xtra.co.nz> > > >> To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> > > >> Date: 10/21/2009 1:26:44 AM > > >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me > > >> > > >> Andy > > >> Great story! > > >> Well done that is just fantastic and to think of how many people > > >> must of > > >> seen it before you did in the afternoon. > > >> I would say it was waiting for you. > > >> There will be no stopping you going shopping with your wife for the > > >> rest > > > of > > >> your life. ha ha > > >> All the very best > > >> Tony > > >> > > >> > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org > [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org > > >> ]On > > >> Behalf Of Ken and Brenda Brekke > > >> Sent: Tuesday, 20 October 2009 12:57 p.m. > > >> To: 'Antique Phonograph List' > > >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me > > >> > > >> Congrats!!!! Any chance of posting pictures??? > > >> Ken B. > > >> > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org > [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org > > >> ] > > > On > > >> Behalf Of Andrew Baron > > >> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:46 PM > > >> To: Antique Phonograph List > > >> Subject: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me > > >> > > >> From time to time, I've derived vicarious pleasure from reading of > > >> some > > > of > > >> the phono-L members' coincidental discovery and acquisition of a > > >> particularly sought-after or scarce phonograph. > > >> > > >> In general, most of the membership are in areas that are either more > > >> populated, or nearer to denser metropolitan areas than here in > > >> Santa Fe, > > > NM. > > >> Roll back the calendar a few decades, and my region is pretty > > >> sparsely > > >> populated, with more ranching than any kind of manufacturing or > > >> other work > > >> that would draw a larger population. > > >> > > >> Fewer people = fewer manufactured goods, including phonographs. > > >> Add to > > > this > > >> the budget for a machine that most New Mexicans had (or prioritized > > >> for > > >> music) a century or so ago, and you have relatively few phonographs > > >> to > > > begin > > >> with, and most of those in the low-to-middle cost range. Edison > > > Standards, > > >> Victrola IV's, X's and XI's, and low- end Columbias are inevitably > > >> the > > >> models that turn up, and usually in none too good a condition if > > >> not out > > > of > > >> a collection. Naturally some desirable machines were brought here > > >> later > > > on, > > >> but by and large this hasn't amounted to anything significant, and > > >> there > > >> isn't much of a collecting community here. > > >> > > >> So opportunities to build a collection are rather limited. That being > > > said, > > >> I started collecting in 1974, when I was 12, and my Victor 8-30X, > > >> Edison > > >> maroon Gem, Edison early A-250 and a Zonophone Grand > > >> Opera were all acquired here in Santa Fe, current population 72,000. > > >> Not exactly a small town, but outside of Albuquerque, we are > > > geographically > > >> isolated from the big population centers. The Zonophone was > > >> brought here > > >> from New England in the '70s, when its past owner moved here. > > >> > > >> To the subject at hand: > > >> Two days ago, a big local consignment shop was having their annual > > >> Fall > > >> sale; everything 30% off. This event draws what seems like half of > > >> Santa > > >> Fe, and while my wife and I usually attend it, we generally wait > > >> until > > > late > > >> in the day to avoid the pressing crowds. Anyway, most of what the > > >> shop > > >> sells is vintage furniture, rugs, artwork, etc., some of it quite > > >> nice, > > > but > > >> rarely anything of particular interest to a phonograph collector, > > >> so no > > >> penalty for arriving when convenient. > > >> > > >> We had been browsing around for about a quarter of an hour when the > > >> proprietor let me know that there were "a couple of Victrolas" in > > >> the next > > >> room. We continued looking around in the part of the store where we > > >> currently were, and after about ten minutes more, I finally said > > >> that I'd > > >> like to take a look and see what the phonographs were. We headed > > >> casually > > >> across the distance, through the crowds of people and things toward > > >> the > > > next > > >> room. No sooner had I uttered the words "These machines are going > > >> to be > > >> examples of the most common models, and probably overpriced", than > > >> I could > > >> see the unmistakable silhouette of Victor XVII or XVIII, just > > >> sticking out > > >> beyond the wall separating the rooms. > > >> > > >> Quickening my pace (they were still 20 feet away), I prepared my > > >> mind to > > > see > > >> a Victor XVII, the alternative possibility being somewhat beyond my > > >> powers > > >> of imagination. Still, a Victor XVII would be a great find > > >> although I > > >> already own one (courtesy of a very kind tip from a thoughtful > > >> phono-L > > >> member, $200, and a 125 mile round-trip to Albuquerque). > > >> > > >> Coming up alongside the curvy machine, I noticed first that the top > > >> curl > > > of > > >> the rear corner post was mostly missing -- a clean break from > > >> bashing the > > >> machine into a wall or truck bed, no doubt. I also noticed the fine, > > >> expressive trim on the cabinet side and the chevron- shaped veneer > > >> pattern > > >> and practically leapt the last couple of feet so I could see the > > >> front of > > >> the machine, which left no doubt. > > >> > > >> There's something unbelievable about finding a top-end machine in New > > >> Mexico, and even though I have the XVII, and was already well aware > > >> of the > > >> differences, I had to see the VV-XVIII on the ID plate with my own > > >> eyes. > > >> The 3-digit serial number was also a strange thing to behold on a New > > > Mexico > > >> Victrola. This was a dirty, dusty machine, with some of its edges > > >> and > > > trim > > >> scraped up from careless handling, but at a glance, in generally > > >> good and > > >> very solid shape except for a few scrapes and that broken-off upper > > >> rear > > >> corner piece. Definitely not something out of someone's phonograph > > >> collection, and just as you like to find them > > >> -- clearly untouched for decades. > > >> > > >> A quick appraisal of what it had to offer revealed: > > >> Original gold V key; > > >> Gold needle cup, all original casters, all correct knobs, front and > > >> back; > > >> Large, gold crank escutcheon detached and screws missing, but still > > > sitting > > >> on the crank about a half-inch out from the side of the cabinet; Near > > >> perfect felt on the platter; Almost certainly the original gold > > >> Exhibition > > >> soundbox, Ser. #87347B, never rebuilt; Very, very dirty under the > > >> lid and > > > in > > >> general (what is this greasy, black stuff?); Most of the record > > >> storage > > > area > > >> filled with (non-Victor) matched albums full of classical records, > > >> and > > >> otherwise stuffed to the gills with sheet music; Missing the lower > > >> key > > >> escutcheon and motor lift knob (and that maddeningly absent corner > > >> curl). > > >> > > >> Price, $650, minus 30%. > > >> > > >> Sold! > > >> > > >> It's home now, and I'm having fun cleaning it up and getting more > > > intimately > > >> familiar with its exquisite details, and learning why this model is > > >> so > > >> prized. It's going to be quite nice, ultimately, with a respectable > > >> original finish, after a many hours of carefully applied elbow > > >> grease and > > >> the appropriate preparations. The fancy work and doors on the back > > >> with > > >> their gold-plated hardware, concealing a nice compartment came as a > > > complete > > >> surprise. You never see this view in the books. The motor is > > >> relatively > > >> clean (very little of the usual greasy build-up, just a yellowed > > >> film of > > > old > > >> hard residue). A couple drops of oil in all the pertinent places, > > >> and a > > >> light coat of fresh > > >> grease on the governor worm, and it runs very quietly and evenly. > > >> Even the speed indicator works. The main springs thud something > > >> awful > > > when > > >> winding down though, so I'll treat the motor to a proper tear- down > > >> and > > >> rebuild when I attend to those noisy springs. > > >> > > >> Comparing the total production of the spring-motor XVIII to the > > >> number of > > >> Victrolas produced puts it at something like 0.0004 of the total > > >> 1906 - 1929 production, and .0009 of the 1906-1920 production total > > >> (Roman > > >> numeral model-number era). This equates to less than one-tenth of > > >> one > > >> percent of the total production of the early Victrola era, and less > > >> than > > >> half of that when considering the total Victrola era, if I did my > > >> math > > >> right. > > >> > > >> Finally (for those who've had the patience to read this far), the > > >> gold- > > >> plated motor lift knob was found in the needle cup, and the broken- > > >> off > > >> upper-rear corner was found otherwise undamaged, in a recess of the > > > cabinet. > > >> It proved a seamless fit to the fracture surface. Anyone got a key > > >> escutcheon? > > >> > > >> I hope you've enjoyed this story, still fresh from the event and > > > accurately > > >> conveyed, and I wish similarly exciting phonograph discoveries for > > >> those > > > of > > >> you who have not yet had the pleasure. > > >> > > >> Kindest regards, > > >> Andy Baron > > >>_______________________________________________ > > >> Phono-L mailing list > > >> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > >> > > >>_______________________________________________ > > >> Phono-L mailing list > > >> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > >> > > >>_______________________________________________ > > >> Phono-L mailing list > > >> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > >_______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > >_______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > -- NEW ADDRESS Showplace Antique Center 40 W. 25 St. # 216 & 107 NY NY 10010 t. 212-273-9616 NEW HOURS WED -SUN 11- 5 MON & TUES BY APPOINTMENT http://www.wavesllc.com _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
