I've used both Go-Jo (without pumice!) and Kotton Klenser. I know it's more expensive, but I really think the Kotton Klenser works better. I have complete faith in the product. I've never seen it damage any finish I've used it on. I put it on with a bristle paint brush. Apply it generously. Let it set a few minutes. Use a gentle scrubbing action with the paint brush. Wipe clean with soft dry cloth. Reapply as needed. For tougher cleansing, I use 0000 steel wool to apply it. Rub with the grain. Step back and admire your work. The KK Lemon Oil-Beeswax product is a nice follow-up product, although I actually prefer the similar Howard's Feed-N-Wax. I don't use or recommend the KK Protective Wood Feeder. Skip that step.
http://kottonklenser.com/ http://www.howardproducts.com/feednwax.htm > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:12:10 -0400 > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Never thought it would happen to me > > Oh, indeed. Go-Jo and most other waterless hand cleaners are available with > pumice, and when you buy the stuff, you must look to get the right stuff. > There is one that does the same thing, and is probably the same > formulation. It's called Kotten Kleaner, or something like that. Good > stuff, I understand, for about 3 times the price. > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Ron L'Herault <[email protected]> > > To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > > Date: 10/22/2009 11:59:06 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: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > 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: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > 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 > > <[email protected]>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 <[email protected]> > > > > To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > > > > 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 <[email protected]> > > > > >> To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > > > > >> 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: [email protected] > > > [mailto:[email protected] > > > > >> ]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: [email protected] > > > [mailto:[email protected] > > > > >> ] > > > > > 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
