Learning is ultimately what it's all about. Or was it the Hokey Pokey? I get confused...
I'm a pop-up book designer (among other things), so one foot is always in the publishing world. My pop-up website is www.popyrus.com. Best, Andrew On Sep 10, 2013, at 8:05 PM, Melissa Ricci wrote: > 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 _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
