Thank you, Andrew! Steve really is second to none. All of our reproducers sound like the one in the video. Loud, clear and beautiful!
We very much appreciate your opinion on the authenticity of the machine. We feel like we have learned so much in the past two weeks! It has been so much fun. As I said, we are going to continue to find out as much as we can about its history. We will be sure to keep updating the group as we learn more. There will definitely be at least one follow up video when it is completed. Incidentally, are you a writer or a teacher? The wording in your emails is just wonderful! :) Thanks so much again! Melissa ________________________________ From: Andrew Baron <a...@popyrus.com> To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 1:40 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Mystery Victor III-UPDATE! That would explain the great sound. I'm also a recipient of Steve's expertise and labor, and count myself very fortunate to be able to say that. Regarding the choice of a Victor III for the Vernis-Martin finish, it wouldn't be the first time that a less than top-of-the-line Victor or Victrola was given this treatment. No doubt in my mind about what you have. The images of the artistic graphics lurking beneath the gold paint are at once haunting, inspiring and compelling. Thanks again for sharing your find and taking the time to produce the video and make it available. Andrew Baron Santa Fe On Sep 9, 2013, at 5:34 PM, Melissa Ricci wrote: > Thank you so much, Andrew! What a nice email. > > The reason the sound is so good is because Steve Medved rebuilt that > reproducer for us! Unfortunately, the machine did not come with its > reproducer, so we put one of our extra ones on it for testing. Steve does > such a great job on our reproducers! > > Thanks again, > > Melissa > > > ________________________________ > From: Andrew Baron <a...@popyrus.com> > To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> > Sent: Sunday, September 8, 2013 11:35 PM > Subject: 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 mailing list > http://phono-l.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
