[Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me
Don Durand
durand7920 at cox.net
Thu Oct 22 09:13:38 PDT 2009
Go-Jo with pumice works very well and removes the dirt and grime without
disturbing the patina. You can find Go-Jo at most hardware and auto stores.
P.S., It is very inexpensive.
Good luck,
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Jordan" <tomj33 at msn.com>
To: "'Antique Phonograph List'" <phono-l at oldcrank.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:17 AM
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-bounces at oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-bounces at 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
> <cdh041 at 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 <andy at popyrus.com>
>> > To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l at 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 <mobilityscooters at xtra.co.nz>
>> > >> To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l at 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-bounces at oldcrank.org
>> [mailto:phono-l-bounces at 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-bounces at oldcrank.org
>> [mailto:phono-l-bounces at 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
>> > >>
>> > >> _______________________________________________
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>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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