Re: [Phono-L] Mystery Victor III-UPDATE!
A hearty congratulations Melissa, and thanks for the update. A truly inspiring progress report. Great to see the mandolin and roses under the existing gold paint, and the machine sounds wonderful. How satisfying it must be to have it alive again with its new mainsprings. Looks like new reproducer gaskets and flange as well, underscoring a triumphant recording. Machines like this, that are so rare and have survived more than a century through questionable practices and poor conditions, have real stories to tell. Thanks for sharing this one. Andrew Baron Santa Fe On Sep 8, 2013, at 5:52 PM, Melissa Ricci wrote: > Hello Everyone, > > Here is an update on our Mystery Victor III. First, we would > like to thank everybody who emailed us with advice and help! You are all > wonderful! > > We were emailed off list about what we now know we really > have. It turns out that back in the day, Victor made special custom made > cabinet styles for the ultra wealthy. When you are that wealthy, you could get > pretty much anything you wanted including a gold Victor with hand painted > figures on the sides and all gold plated hardware! The style is called > Vernis-Martin and was apparently pretty popular with those who could afford > it. > The different columns, cabinet style and color were all a special order, which > now makes perfect sense. The patent plate was originally on the inside so that > it wouldn’t cover the flowers. We were wondering why there were no extra > pinholes anywhere on the outside of the cabinet. Now we know. > > We assumed correctly that the machine had been re-painted > during its lifetime and unfortunately, the person who “restored” it painted > fresh gold paint right over the original finish and the hand painted > decorations! Once we cleaned the cabinet up, you could clearly see a mandolin, > sheet music and roses with leaves under the topcoat of paint. You can also see > the original bright gold leaf under the ugly new paint. We are in the process > of finding an expert in restoring these types of finishes and getting a formal > appraisal. > > It is a good thing we were contacted about this when we > were. We were all set to strip the cabinet and refinish it last weekend! What > a > disaster that would have been. Below is a link to see the machine running for > the first time. The machine had two broken springs that we just replaced along > with a good motor cleaning. I tried to get a good shot of the mandolin on the > left side of the cabinet. I hope you can see it through the paint on Youtube. > Please note that the original crank is missing from this machine so we > borrowed one from our other Victor III. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQobeO-HfLw&feature=youtu.be > > We are thrilled to own such a rare machine and it is going > to stay in our collection for a while before we ever consider selling it. We > certainly want to make it look as nice as we possibly can while still keeping > it as original as possible. > > We will send a post when we find an expert to remove that > top layer of paint and try to restore the images underneath. What we thought > was a frankenphone turned out to be something special. You never know what > you’re going to come across at an auction! > > Happy Hunting. J > > Melissa and Nick > ___ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
[Phono-L] Mystery Victor III-UPDATE!
Hello Everyone, Here is an update on our Mystery Victor III. First, we would like to thank everybody who emailed us with advice and help! You are all wonderful! We were emailed off list about what we now know we really have. It turns out that back in the day, Victor made special custom made cabinet styles for the ultra wealthy. When you are that wealthy, you could get pretty much anything you wanted including a gold Victor with hand painted figures on the sides and all gold plated hardware! The style is called Vernis-Martin and was apparently pretty popular with those who could afford it. The different columns, cabinet style and color were all a special order, which now makes perfect sense. The patent plate was originally on the inside so that it wouldn’t cover the flowers. We were wondering why there were no extra pinholes anywhere on the outside of the cabinet. Now we know. We assumed correctly that the machine had been re-painted during its lifetime and unfortunately, the person who “restored” it painted fresh gold paint right over the original finish and the hand painted decorations! Once we cleaned the cabinet up, you could clearly see a mandolin, sheet music and roses with leaves under the topcoat of paint. You can also see the original bright gold leaf under the ugly new paint. We are in the process of finding an expert in restoring these types of finishes and getting a formal appraisal. It is a good thing we were contacted about this when we were. We were all set to strip the cabinet and refinish it last weekend! What a disaster that would have been. Below is a link to see the machine running for the first time. The machine had two broken springs that we just replaced along with a good motor cleaning. I tried to get a good shot of the mandolin on the left side of the cabinet. I hope you can see it through the paint on Youtube. Please note that the original crank is missing from this machine so we borrowed one from our other Victor III. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQobeO-HfLw&feature=youtu.be We are thrilled to own such a rare machine and it is going to stay in our collection for a while before we ever consider selling it. We certainly want to make it look as nice as we possibly can while still keeping it as original as possible. We will send a post when we find an expert to remove that top layer of paint and try to restore the images underneath. What we thought was a frankenphone turned out to be something special. You never know what you’re going to come across at an auction! Happy Hunting. J Melissa and Nick ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] needing a b y nickel beauty ring for 12 3/8 turntable
hi thank you i will contact them rob In a message dated 9/5/2013 6:21:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, drgr...@msn.com writes: I contacted the nice people at Merritt's Clock Shop in Douglassville, PA. They wrote: The closest one we have is 13 1/8”OD and approx. 12 1/16” ID. It is our item # P60S and the price is $29.00. From my previous reserach, the original trim ring measures 12.5" ID and 13.5" OD. http://www.merritts.com/clock_parts/public/product.aspx?ProductID=82168&Sear chText=p60s > From: zonophone2...@aol.com > Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 20:06:18 -0400 > To: phono-l@oldcrank.org > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] needing a b y nickel beauty ring for 12 3/8 turntable > > the clock bezel was metioned to me by dwayne at musical americana > m > > > In a message dated 9/4/2013 5:41:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > smst...@gmail.com writes: > > Fake it with a clock bezel. I have found the longer I'm in this hobby the > less I'm incline to do much to these old machines. Maybe a drop of oil and > clean out the wasp nest. Perhaps I'm lazy. I can see if its a resale some > plating may be in order. Sorry this happened to you Zono. > Mike > Oldcranky. > > > On Wed, Sep 4, 2013 at 1:57 PM, Richwrote: > > > Or make one from scratch. > > > > > > On 09/04/2013 03:12 PM, Ron L'Herault wrote: > > > >> You might be able to get a musical instrument repair man to straighten > it > >> out for you. > >> > >> Ron L > >> > >> -Original Message- > >> From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org > [mailto:phono-l-bounces@**oldcrank.org] > >> On > >> Behalf Of zonophone2...@aol.com > >> Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2013 3:27 PM > >> To: phono-l@oldcrank.org > >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] needing a b y nickel beauty ring for 12 3/8 > >> turntable > >> > >> He was polishing it with a wheel > >> idiot he was > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -Original Message- > >> From: John Robles > >> To: Antique Phonograph List > >> Sent: Wed, Sep 4, 2013 2:25 pm > >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] needing a b y nickel beauty ring for 12 3/8 > >> turntable > >> > >> > >> If I may ask, how did he destroy it? > >> John > >> > >> On Sep 4, 2013, at 10:37 AM, zonophone2...@aol.com wrote: > >> > >>HI > >>> He cant pay for it if i cant find one > >>> oh well > >>> no idea what its worth at this point but not a happy camper zono > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -Original Message- > >>> From: John Robles > >>> To: Antique Phonograph List > >>> Sent: Wed, Sep 4, 2013 12:13 pm > >>> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] needing a b y nickel beauty ring for 12 3/8 > >>> turntable > >>> > >>> > >>> I hope he paid for it! > >>> John > >>> > >>> On Sep 4, 2013, at 8:20 AM, zonophone2...@aol.com wrote: > >>> > >>> > hello all > just a shout out > i am having my by replated and the plater destroyed the by beauty > ring the one i need is the larger one for the 12 3/8 turntable i know > there is a smaller one for the 11 5/ 8 but i need the larger please > contact me off list if you have one available thanks zono > > > > __**_ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org > > >>> __**_ > >>> Phono-L mailing list > >>> http://phono-l.org > >>> > >>> > >>> __**_ > >>> Phono-L mailing list > >>> http://phono-l.org > >>> > >> __**_ > >> Phono-L mailing list > >> http://phono-l.org > >> > >> > >> __**_ > >> Phono-L mailing list > >> http://phono-l.org > >> > >> __**_ > >> Phono-L mailing list > >> http://phono-l.org > >> > >> > >>__**_ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.org > > > > > > -- > Apply dog logic to life, eat well, be loved, > Get petted, sleep alot, dream of a leash free world. > ___ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org > > ___ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
