The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The reciprocal trading agreement between Victor and HMV prevented the sale of Victrolas in the UK, but some found their way here later in life. What model is this?
It appears to have been refinished and the soundbox may be a replacement. The turntable mat certainly is.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victrola-Que ... 1438.l2649

Looks like a VV-215 (see http://www.victor-victrola.com/215.htm), if the left half of the split lid is fixed; otherwise it's a VV-S-215, if both halves open.

The gooseneck on the tone arm appears to be angled or bent to improve the “offset” of the soundbox. I wonder if that is a period accessory or modern adaptation?

Glenn

I doubt if this will sell for this price and collection only

Quite a few Victrolas turn up in the UK I guess they were brought here by US servicemen in the war ?

soundgen wrote:Quite a few Victrolas turn up in the UK I guess they were brought here by US servicemen in the war ?

VV-215 was produced 1923-24, too late for WWI and obsolete by WWII.

A lot of stuff from the UK was shipped here in container loads of miscellaneous "Antiques" - you suppose some American stuff made the return trip?

I was told that gramophones used on ocean liners often ended up on the "wrong" side of the Atlantic.

If an American ship was refitted in Europe or vice versa, the old fixtures and fittings would be sold either by auction at the quayside or to the crew at advantageous prices. There may be something in this theory, as many of the Victrolas I have seen for sale were located on or near the coast, including the subject of this thread. Sunderland, where this machine currently resides, was one of the UK's largest shipbuilding towns.

Is there a serial number plate on this one?