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The Victor-Victrola Page
Wood Veneers and Finishes
Victors and Victrolas were available in a wide variety of different woods and finishes. The earliest Victors were available only in oak. When the Victrola was introduced in 1906, wood veneers in light or dark shades of red mahogany became available, and mahogany became available on some of the external horn machines as well. As more and more models were introduced, and the Victrola became more integrated into homes around the country, many different veneers and finishes were made available to suit a variety of tastes. Some were plain and inexpensive, others were quite elaborate and costly. Some of the custom "Period" models, with burled woods and elaborate inlaid sections sold for more than $900.00, which was quite a sum of money at the time. Obviously, collectors today seek-out those special Victrolas with rare and exotic woods and finishes that were made in small quantities for wealthy buyers. These machines can sell for over $10,000 in good condition, and are always in-demand.
While not every hobbyist can afford the rare-finish phonographs, the Victor Talking Machine Company did outstanding cabinet work on virtually all the phonographs it produced, and even some of the more common veneers can be quite beautiful. It is impossible to show every type of wood that came on Victrolas, but here are some of the standard finishes that were available over the years. This will also help the new collector determine what kind of wood finish he or she may have on a Victrola. It is very important to note that, due to the natural variations in veneers, wood grains, and the dye stains used at the time, there is quite a variation of color, texture and finish for each particular classification. There can also be considerable "overlap" between types of finishes, and even experts can be fooled at times.
Most Victor products were not produced out of solid wood. Excepting for small side panels used on some external horn machines, the cabinets are made of a composite-wood core, covered with veneer. This was done to keep costs reasonable, as well as to reduce the tendency for panels to warp (common on large solid wood panels).
When Victor introduced the Orthophonic phonographs in 1925, the old stain, shellac and varnished finishes were replaced with a blended stain and lacquer combination. While this combination produced an elegant look, it did not quite match the "craftsman-like" appearance of the earlier machines. Some degree of cost-cutting also took place via the use of slightly thinner veneers and the use of stained maple wood trim on some models. In addition, the hand-carved details were often replaced by the use of machined legs and trim parts.
Hobbyists should note that Victor always used high-quality finishing techniques on its phonographs. I've never seen a factory finish that had runs, sags, or major finish blemishes , and most (excepting oak and a few of the coarser grained woods) have mirror-like surfaces. Collectors who are buying a machine that is claimed to be "excellent original" should be wary of refinished Victrolas that have been made to "look new". See the page on "Restoration" for details.
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Mahogany Options Typically Red, Red-Brown, or Brown Stained Wood
Oak Options Typically Golden, Yellow, or Brown Wood
Walnut Options Typically Brown, Highly Figured wood grain
Other Finish Options Painted Finish or Special-order woods