Multiple ID plates on a victrola VV-IX ...?

[brianu]

I have what appears to be a nice, but standard VV-IX, except for all the plates... there's a standard victor plate with serial number, then there's a Berliner gramophone plate, and then a plate for a dealer in Toronto... I thought that the Canadian machines were manufactured in Canada... but this one appears to be from the factory in Camden... can anyone offer any insight? Also, I'm using my phone for this so I apologize if any of the photos are flipped around.

[RolandVV-360]

The Berliner Gram-O-Phone plate signifies that this machine was produced for the Canadian market. The R.S. Williams and Son Co. plate is just dealer advertisement.

[Jerry B.]

If it was specifically made for the Canadian market, is there any difference between a similar machine sold in the States? Thanks, Jerry

[Skihawx]

I've never seen a Victor ID plate with a leading zero in the serial number.
Something is unusual.

[tomb]

I do not see any difference from mine except the extra plates. I think it just identifies it for sale there. The serial number is a little odd as Shihawx points out. Tom B

[alang]

I think I read somewhere that at some point (around 1915???) most machines for the Canadian market were produced by Victor and only had a second tag or sticker applied. I have a 1918 VV-VI-a with similar tags. They even glued a Berliner paper sticker to the bottom of the case over part of the Victor oiling instructions. Your VV-IX looks to be from about the same time frame, so I think all the tags are completely legit and actually add some interest to the machine.

Andreas

[phonodesbois]

Our canadian VV IV, VV IX and 50 do have both Victor and Berliner plates.
Victor production for the canadian market might have occured earlier as my VV IV is from 1913 (based upon the serial number).
Jeff

[brianu]

thank you everyone for the helpful responses...

might anyone be able to shed any more light however on the serial number, the 0 at the start (I've never seen that before)?

[Silvertone]

I've never seen a Victor ID plate with a leading zero in the serial number.

I have seen several VV-IXs with leading zeros.

The Victor Data Book says that there was a stamping error on the VV-IX. This could have this resulted in a duplication of serial numbers. It states that numbers 408872 to 427009 were used on the previous type, so perhaps the leading zero was a way to differentiate.

[brianu]

I missed that in the data book. Thanks for pointing it out.