Victor Victrola the Eighteenth

The Victor Victrola XVIII was introduced in 1915 at the heady price of $300. The cabinet of the Victrola XVIII featured swell front and sides, with ornamental Louis XV style molding and carved corner columns. The model was only offered for about 18 months and superseded by the slightly less expensive Victrola XVII.

For an extra $200, the purchaser could order the Victrola XVI, XVII or XVIII with the special finish shown here. This finish was called "Vernis-Martin", and was a simulation of the similar finish popular during the reign of Louis XV. The cabinet started as a standard mahogany cabinet which was sanded to a porcelain like finish. On top of that, old-world artists applied two layers of gold leaf and oil paintings depicting tranquil county settings (usually featuring a lady playing the harp in a garden). A top coat of varnish protected the finish and toned down the brilliance.

The Vernis-Martin finish was delicate, and few instruments survived in good condition. Most today suffer the chipping and flaking displayed by the instrument illustrated here.