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Steve,

The same measurement that you took on yours is exactly ½ inch on mine.

Hope that helps.

Shawn

You've been tremendously helpful Shawn. Again, thank you. BTW mine does have a 5/16" female crank.

According to the Victor-Victrola website your machine dates from early 1912 and would not have had the stamped steel grille. Hope this helps. (attachment courtesy of the Victor-Victrola website)

gramophone78 wrote:According to the Victor-Victrola website your machine dates from early 1912 and would not have had the stamped steel grille. Hope this helps.

Victrola Information.JPG

(attachment courtesy of the Victor-Victrola website)

That's the problem. According to the data, it should have the slats. It's also supported by "The Victor Data Book" as well, however it seems possible that it originally had the metal grille. At this point, I'm hoping to get a look at an original Type A. Thank you for posting it.

ChesterCheetah18 wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:According to the Victor-Victrola website your machine dates from early 1912 and would not have had the stamped steel grille. Hope this helps.

Victrola Information.JPG

(attachment courtesy of the Victor-Victrola website)

That's the problem. According to the data, it should have the slats. It's also supported by "The Victor Data Book" as well, however it seems possible that it originally had the metal grille. At this point, I'm hoping to get a look at an original Type A. Thank you for posting it.

Isn't that what Shawn so carefully photographed and posted for you already?

JerryVan wrote:

ChesterCheetah18 wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:According to the Victor-Victrola website your machine dates from early 1912 and would not have had the stamped steel grille. Hope this helps.

Victrola Information.JPG

(attachment courtesy of the Victor-Victrola website)

That's the problem. According to the data, it should have the slats. It's also supported by "The Victor Data Book" as well, however it seems possible that it originally had the metal grille. At this point, I'm hoping to get a look at an original Type A. Thank you for posting it.

Isn't that what Shawn so carefully photographed and posted for you already?

I think ChesterCheetah18 (Steve) was just restating the conundrum of the written records versus the reality that is his Victrola. It's common for a factory to use up old stock and this seems to be such an example. Just continue with your restoration and don't be confused by it. It's a factory oddball machine.

James.

Based on Shawn's detail description and pics....there is no doubt in my mind your machine is not a steel grille version. The big give away is the way your horn is constructed.
As Shawn wrote, the bottom of the steel grille version has no back support (or anything) to stop it from being pushed in. Your case clearly shows the bottom horn panel right up front and would therefore stop the steel grille from such movement.

Keep in mind, the data complied took many, many years of research. Since your serial number (21,9XX) is almost 9000 units over the 12,000 discontinuation number.....that is quite a gap for an anomaly even if the 12,000 was a guesstimate....in my opinion

Just my two cents.

gramophone78 wrote:According to the Victor-Victrola website your machine dates from early 1912 and would not have had the stamped steel grille. Hope this helps.

Victrola Information.JPG

(attachment courtesy of the Victor-Victrola website)

I guess my eyesight is shot... I read that same chart and apparently added an additional digit to the serial number to get a 1916 date...
I'm going to check the serial number and details on my metal grill VV-IV...

If you look at Shawn's picture below you will see a slot cut in the inside walls of the case to allow the metal grill to slide into.
The board going across the top of the metal grill also has a slot cut into it so it fits over the metal grill. These slots are what holds the metal grill in place. The bottom of the metal grill is not supported.

Since the Victrola IV case in question here does not have the slots cut on the inside walls, then originally it could not have had a metal grill. Originally it would have had the wood slat grill.

Larry Crandell

Phonolair wrote:If you look at Shawn's picture below you will see a slot cut in the inside walls of the case to allow the metal grill to slide into.
The board going across the top of the metal grill also has a slot cut into it so it fits over the metal grill. These slots are what holds the metal grill in place. The bottom of the metal grill is not supported.

Since the Victrola IV case in question here does not have the slots cut on the inside walls, then originally it could not have had a metal grill. Originally it would have had the wood slat grill.

Larry Crandell

PXL_20201013_013300716.jpg

I'm sorry Larry but I don't see any slots cut into the sidewalls of the cabinet. What I do see looking at Shawn's photos is a cabinet constructed the same as mine. I would also point out that Shawn in his first post stated the bottom of the grille pushed in easily. That would seem to make what you suggest implausible.

Steve