Is this Victor machine worth going after?

[VanEpsFan1914]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR-TALKING ... SwZqZaQYJW

Not sure--some parts are wrong, I know, but there look like there's a few good ones in there. Was this machine original?

(Sorry, don't know how to do pics...)

[oldphonographsteve]

Hmmm... maybe not, the data plate is wrong. The tonearm is incorrect as well...

Stephen

[Django]

Sorry to say, but it might be worth the $300.00 as a collection of parts, but I think it is a Frankenphone. The name plate is not from an outside horn machine, (VV-220), and I don't believe that the cabinet has ever been inside the Victor factory. The assorted parts may still be worth the money, but not as a machine.

[TinfoilPhono]

Reproduction cabinet. Cobbled up from assorted parts.

[OrthoFan]

I agree! A mix and match of parts in what looks to be a newly built case--not quarter sawed oak in any event, and not a Victor case that I can identify.

The horn looks authentic, the name plate is from a VV-220 -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/220.htm

The sound box is not authentic to the period -- should be an Exhibition sound box. Looking carefully at the tonearm, it looks like it may have been taken from a Victrola (enclosed horn) model, and turned upside-down.

Most of the Victor models are listed on this page -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm

OrthoFan

[colmike1]

The original pics were so blurry you couldn't see any details. I asked him to post new photos and came to the same conclusion.

[gramophone-georg]

That's a tabletop Victrola made into an outside horn model. For the price, if the internals are victor and it sorta works, it might be worth picking up and tweaking for a poor man's conversation piece. The position of the back bracket may need to be changed to get the arm lifted a bit, then delending on which arm you have the "U" may be able to be flipped around.

Way back before the Interweb thingy I built one for myself with repro o/s horn parts and it was a lot of fun... looked close enough to the real thing to fool everyone and it played great. I finally sold it about 15 years ago stating exactly what it was with a video of it playing and it actually ended at $700!

A phonograph collector bought it for his young eleven year old- ish son who was just getting into the scene and really, really, REALLY wanted an outside horn machine but Dad didn't feel he was ready for that quite yet and Dad was pleased that he got this machine in line price- wise with what better Victrolas were going for.

The kid REALLY loved the machine from what I understand. I enjoyed it as well.

If you can get more info on the guts and a pic of how the back bracket is mounted it might be a really fun workhorse.

[VanEpsFan1914]

George--that's a cool story!

I'm going to pass. Thought it might have been a good case, horn & motor--so a start on a restoration--but all the reproduction stuff makes me think the money'd be better spent patching up some of my others.

Looked nice anyway--they did a good job making it look like a Victor case & horn.

[Jerry B.]

The elbow looks to be aluminum.
The crank is not a horn machine crank.
The reproducer is incorrect.
The tone arm is from a Victrola.
The crank enters in an odd spot so I suspect an incorrect motor.
The cabinet looks homemade.
The ID tag is not correct.
The brake is from a Victrola.
If it's not a Victor motor the turntable is questionable.
The speed control is not Victor.

some possible good parts:

The elbow clip & screw may be reproduction or original.
The back bracket may be reproduction or original.
The horn may be a reproduction or original.

Personally, I would be very cautious. There is at least one other phonograph in the photos so the seller should have a good idea on what's correct or not. I'd ask. If the seller replies that he doesn't know I'd run away.

Jerry Blais


Jerry Blais

[brianu]

The dust looks totally legit.