Two-door Credenza question...

[De Soto Frank]

Yesterday, I brought home a decent "barn-find" two-door Credenza as a resto project.

Unfortunately, at some points in i9ts life, it donated some parts to other machines, the serial plate among them.


Did Victor stamp or mark the machine serial number anywhere else on the machine ? I had one of the back panels off this afternoon, and noticed a four-digit number stamped into the inside of the wooden panel (each digit individually hand-stamped), in the 3000 block.

I'm hoping this might be the machine's serial number...


The other missing bits are the taper-tube and soundbox, otherwise, it's in pretty decent condition, aside from a torn grille cloth


Thanks !

Frank

[marcapra]

Have you checked the Victor Data Book for info? Lets see some pics of this. I love seeing old Credenzas even if they are the barn find kind before restoration.

[De Soto Frank]

Hi Mark,

I don't have a copy of the "Victor Data Book", just "Look for the Dog".

I have also consulted Paul Edie's Victor-Victrola website...


I will take plenty of pictures before starting work on it...

It's a shame the grille-cloth is damaged, if it weren't, the machine would clean-up well as-is.


But, the price was right.


Frank

[FloridaClay]

Unfortunate about the cloth and the missing reproducer, which might have been a brass housing one. The cloth was still being made up until a few years ago when the company making it went under and the looms were destroyed, I'm told. Maybe some others here have found a decent approximation or have some stashed away they'd be willing to sell. Be that as it may, it is always good to see one of these fine old machines in good hands and on the way to recovery.

Assuming you have a spring wound, per the VDB (a great resource, by the way) the serial numbers of the two-doors began at 501 and ran up to approximately 12,000.

Clay

[De Soto Frank]

Thanks Clay...

I had one-half of the back-panel off the other night, and noted a four-digit number hand-stamped into the wood... I'm hoping this might be the serial #...

Frank

[OrthoSean]

Unfortunate about the cloth and the missing reproducer, which might have been a brass housing one. Clay

All two door Credenzas had the brass reproducer and the tonearm without the overhang support.

Sean

[FloridaClay]

Thanks Clay...

I had one-half of the back-panel off the other night, and noted a four-digit number hand-stamped into the wood... I'm hoping this might be the serial #...

Frank

I'm not sure whether it is the serial number or some sort of cabinet part number. Maybe somebody else here knows.

Clay

[De Soto Frank]

Unfortunate about the cloth and the missing reproducer, which might have been a brass housing one. Clay

All two door Credenzas had the brass reproducer and the tonearm without the overhang support.

Sean

Thanks Sean !

I think this rescue will be wearing a pot-metal box, unless I run across a brass one at ridiculously reasonable price...

I do have a correct arm on the way.


Frank

[OrthoSean]

I don't think the brass reproducers sound any different than a well-serviced / rebuilt pot metal one, honestly. Go with a pot metal one, you never know, brass ones have been known to show up cheap at odd times, I've never gone after any more since I'm happy with what I have. I have one brass one that came with my Credenza and several pot metal ones. Out of all the ones I have, the absolute best sounding one is a late ortho replacement with the "RCA Victor" back on it. I've never been exactly sure when these are from, I've assumed early 1930s, though. I have three or four of them and they all sound fantastic. The nicest sounding one among these is the one that was "new in the box" inside the accessory drawer of my 8-35 when I picked it up, ironically, I've never had anyone work on it since it sounds zmazing just as it is.

Sean

[Edisone]

Out of all the ones I have, the absolute best sounding one is a late ortho replacement with the "RCA Victor" back on it. I've never been exactly sure when these are from, I've assumed early 1930s, though.

Sean

Probably intended for the 2-65 portable, the last acoustic actually manufactured by RCA Victor, although some parts were farmed-out to Stevens Manufacturing. I imagine they were also sold as replacements - prolly cheaper than making repairs. I also prefer mine to the brass Ortho - treble notes are distinctly clearer and less prone to distortion; I attribute that to the lack of a spider assembly.