Yes indeed Zono, if you have one. If not a simple and effective improvement. Thanks, oldcranky
On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 2:12 AM, <zonophone2...@aol.com> wrote: > hi all > victor also had an attachment you could buy that did that very thing > you twisted the knob and it changed the angle of the cork > look in tim and george's book to see one > zono > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mike Stitt <smst...@gmail.com> > To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org> > Sent: Tue, Sep 10, 2013 11:15 pm > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Mystery Victor III-UPDATE! > > > Melissa, > A little tip learned years ago. Shape a piece of cork or whatever medium > you choose to fit into the the tone arms U-tube. You want it to have a 45 > degree cut. Put in front of the U-tube screw so as sound leaves the > reproducer it hits the 45 degree angle and travels directly to the horn,. > good will get better. A direct path instead of bouncing around. > Mike > Oldcranky > > > On Tue, Sep 10, 2013 at 7:05 PM, Melissa Ricci <riccib...@yahoo.com> > 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 > > > > > > -- > 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 > -- 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
