The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone know if the serial numbers on the Victor Exhibition Soundboxes can be correlated to the year they were made? If so can some one point me towards a list?

I have an L-door XVI from 1909, suffix C, re-stamped over B.

All evidence is that it is completely original, unmolected, with original bill of sale from John Wanamaker in Phila.

It is equipped with gold plated hardware, including Exhibition soundbox s/n 356016, with round hole in needle-chuck.

Hope that helps a bit...



Frank McM.

This question has been posed here before, by me, among others, and the general concensus is that there presently exists (if there ever did) no such listing of Exhibition serial numbers. But FWIW, my VV-XI, serial # 370333G, manufactured in 1917, has what I am reasonably certain is the original Exhibition box, serial #859294N (triangular needle hole).

My Victor VTLA L-Door from 1908 has the original gold Exhabition reproducer with the serial number 286080.

Rich Gordon

My 1912 16 has a gold plated #35696B triangular needle mount hole

The reproducer from my 1916 VV-IX is #125590N.

Deutsche Grammophon No. 15 of 1903/04: G&T Exhibition 40309, round hole

Deutsche Grammophon "De Lux" of 1908: Gramophone Co. Exhibition 310765, round hole

Both gramophones came to me in original condition.

For what it's worth, here's an inspiring view of the numbers on the reproducer from my back-mount Victor E. The condition of the reproducer is disheartening, but it was,after all,the only external horn machine found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun. I always say, if you can't have condition, go for provenance.

The long throat Exhibition that came with my Victor P-1 has serial 65842. The machine would be 1903-04.

Are there any more Exhibition reproducer serial numbers on your machines with well defined context to make then sufficiently datable?