The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The machine is a bit red under the turntable. The picture does distort this, but its obvious in person as well. I am almost certain these holes are original as they stain and finish was clearly applied after they were drilled and this unit has never been refinished.

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In looking at the photo, it appears to me that the two holes are not symmetrical. The left hole is much closer to the rear edge. A factory installation would be more precise. Also, the needle cup does not look like a Victor part.

This is a good point about the alignment. I will take a better picture when I get off work. The machine has the spent needle holder that does indeed look like a victor. But I am not an expert as I own no Victrola's. Any other tests to see if they are original? When I bought this machine it was in untouched crappy condition All the tarnish and green film over all the nickel was consistent. The horn elbo and the tone arm all had the sale degree of patina.

This Victor V had the bullet type brake on it so it wasn't a late machine being made in the Victrola era. So I think it would be hard to have Victrola type needle cups on a machine from the factory before the Victrola was being made. Or even if it was made during the early VTLA or XVI era it would have been gold plated needle cups which was being used at the time. I don't think the needle cups are original to the Victor V, but were added later by a owner tired of looking for his needles all the time. Just my opinon
Best Regards, Larry

Here is an image of the phonograph as found.
http://www.roudane.com/images/paintings/173269198_o.jpg

To be honest, I'd have to say that was a non-Victor add-on at some point in time.

The outside horn Victors did receive some Victrola-like updates, but never the needle cups. The updates, such as automatic brake, were usually incorporated long after the Victrola received them. Also, to my knowledge, Victor never had needle cups with rounded bottoms. These look more like the ones used on Columbias or some other brand.