Featured Phonograph № 9

[Valecnik]

Congratulations on a very nice machine. I too like the black petaled horns but have the both for my victor IIi. Also one of my favorites even though not the most expensive!

Appears to be the earlier style with bigger base molding and slotted crank yes?

This is the type M which first appeared in 1906, it was the 3rd style of Victor III according to the Victor Data book. I would say that it had the larger base molding, but the crank is not slotted, rather it is ¼" female. According to the Data book, even the 2nd style from 1903 had a female crank, and I am not sure about the first style, as the type of crank is not described.

Here's a link on my website. You can see this one has the heavier bottom moulding like yours but earlier type "push button latch" on front and slotted crank which you can't see.

http://bojo.cz/phonograph/victortalk/pa ... III05.html

Here's a picture of the same machine with a victor IV petaled horn.

http://bojo.cz/phonograph/victortalk/vi ... dited.html

I assume then that this must be the first style. Amazingly this one came with a mahogany spearpoint which I replaced with this victor IV petaled horn. I've since replaced the victor IV horn with a smaller Vic III horn so it's just like yours. I believe originally it might have come with a brass belled horn though. In real life it's amazingly shiney, almost like a piano finish, although it has not been refinished.

Here is the latest style model with small oak horn. Note the difference in the bottom moulding.

http://bojo.cz/phonograph/victortalk/vi ... dited.html

So I think here we have three different variations of the victor III pictured.

[WDC]

A very nice Victor parade in this thread!

[solophoneman]

wow, what a great lineup of early Victor External horn rear mount machines. However I am surprised that the slotted crank III is rounded like the later Type M ¼" female crank and not a flat style crank such as the one shown in the photo of the earlier type III's from 1903 in the Victor Data Book. Also those earlier types show the crank toward the front of the cabinet, and yours is toward the rear like the later Type M, such as mine. Could you supply the Serial number of your Victor III with the round slotted, forward positioned crank ?? This could be a really rare edition that has not yet been officially documented.

[Valecnik]

Hi, The SN is 5939.

It definitely has the slotted crank. Since you are interested I'll also post a pic of the motor below.

http://bojo.cz/phonograph/victortalk/pa ... III06.html

[Valecnik]

You might like to see the tag too on the bottom.

http://bojo.cz/phonograph/victortalk/pa ... III07.html

[solophoneman]

Great photos and information. It appears to be an early Transitional Type M, since the serial number and crank postion and slotted crank, and cabinet types do not match up to the two earlier III's prior to the Type M. yet look at the sticker information with the earliest date of the first III (1902), this one is a real oddity. Can anyone help solve this mystery, I am stumped.