Phonoland

I just picked up a great sounding (and looking) Viva-Tonal 602 this weekend (pics to come later). The only things not up to spec, IMHO, are two cosmetic repairs done: its felt pads and turntable felt.

The bumpers are just the thick, light tan felt ones you find in hardware stores. The turntable felt is a dark teal/green mix. Thankfully the grill cloth is original which is brown.

I'd like to replace the bumpers and turntable felts. Does anyone know what colors Columbia used in 1927? I know the older Grafonolas from a decade earlier used an olive green (or what over time came to that shade now). For the Viva-Tonals, did they stay with green or switch to browns (given the grill cloth is brown)? I don't know if they even cared to match.

Thanks!

Congratulations. The 602 is a great little performer, about on par with an Orthophonic Victrola Consolette.

I've come across about three in my lifetime, and all had green felt, similar to the earlier models. I've seen a few other models in the 700 and 800 series that used velvet on the turntables, but not the 600 models.

A quick google image search -- http://www.google.com/search?lr=&cr=&sa ... 80&bih=585 -- shows green felt on MOST of the turntables; a few have gold(?) felt. I'd say green is probably the one to go with, and the bumpers should match the turntable felt.

JDS

Thanks as always sir! She packs quite a punch with her door open and a loud needle in the reproducer. (I now know to use the soft ones. ) I was also pleasantly surprised by the Viva-Tonal's use of the lighter turntable vs the James Bond bullet-proof disc/weapon they had going in the older Grafonolas.

FWIW, I contacted the 602 owner who posted many of the videos / photos you find via Google to find out if that 602 was restored, but all signs seem to point to green (which it isn't easy being ). I found one tiny oil stained mini-bumper in the cabinet that was at one time green so I'll proceed with that.

Knowing Columbia, even though the Viva-Tonal was revolutionary for them in 1927 (and all the other marketing hyperboles if you read their ads of the time), I can't imagine them not re-using parts already in supply when they could - especially in that iffy inaugural run of the line. Once they caught on, at least in Britain and Europe, I guess they felt they could start to evolve into velvet etc.,.

Time for more Arts & Crafts kids! At least felt is a little more forgiving with my big thumbs than velvet