The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I hope you all won't mind me jumping in again . . . we have decided to close the shop temporarily and go out on the road for a couple of months and do a few fairs, so I won't have access to the machines for a while. Here is another odd-ball, one-of-a-kind, and with celebrity provenance to boot!

Make: Victor
Model: VV-X
Serial # unknown
Year(s) Made: 1920?
Original Cost: unknown
Case/Cabinet Size: 49"T x 21"W x 23"D
Turntable/Mandrel: 12"
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Victrola No. 2
Motor: 2-spring
Horn Dimensions: internal
Reproduction Parts: none
Current Value: ? -- priceless to me
Interesting Facts: A Victrola X custom-cased in a cholla or saguaro cactus-veneer cabinet. Purchased from the estate of phonograph 'accumulator' Bud Whitten of Altadena, California in the mid-1980's. Bud purchased this machine at the estate auction of Tom Mix when Mix's getaway cabin in Sierra Madre, California and its contents were auctioned off in the early 1940's. Further research has revealed that the machine was probably custom built for Mix by Herb Wood, who had a shop on Hwy. 89A outside Florence, Arizona (near where Mix lived) where Wood built and sold cactus furniture and novelties. An article in the January 1946 'The Desert' magazine details Wood and his techniques which match the construction of this Victrola exactly. I keep my collection of cactus thorn needles and sharpeners displayed with this machine.

Favorite Characteristics: I am a 'desert rat' and love the fact that this machine combines two of my interests. When 'civilians' visit my collection, this is one they always remember. It is so weird and fugly . . . looks like it was at Hiroshima.

John,

What does the Victrola feel like when you run your hand over it? Was the cactus veneer added when the machine was new in 1920? This is certainly an interesting and fascinating machine!


Rocky

Well, it is smooth to the touch, but undulating surface. I think the veneer was added later, probably in the 1930's just from the general look of it. Underneath is an oak VV-X.

Sorry the photos are so grainy -- I enlarged the iPhone images a bit and they went grainy.

John

Very interesting machine John. I have seen lots of catus furniture and lamps over the years and they were all bullt from entire skeleton. This is the first I have seen a veneer. While it has that "shabby chic" look to it, the provenance makes it a fascinating item.

And, it goes without saying, it is always good to "Mix" it up bit!

John, I will confirm that its 'Wood-be' from the Cholla Cactus.

As an artist creation it is interesting, weird, and fugly.

Keep searching for a photo of Tom and/or the artist with it.

I happened to be in Bisbee, AZ this weekend and saw this everyday object treated in a similar fashion.




James
Tucson, AZ

Isn't that Wyatt Markus' car??? LOL!

John M

What is this?!?! They covered beautiful oak with...alien skin?
Well, fugly says it all.
This must without a doubt be one of it's kind.

It must attract dirt & dust like a puddle of mud attracts a three year old..

Thanks for showing this, I can understand why it stays in your visitors minds.
I won't forget it for sure

And if the machine remained in its original state you'd probably say "Another oak VV-X: seen that a million times"

Machines like this and the Wicker case ones seem to be polarizing- people love them or hate them. I think this one is pretty cool and would fit in well with a room in western-style decor. I hope you've got some Vernon Dalhart records in there.

I usually keep a Gennett sound effects record on it with coyote howls!

John M

Oh no, not with oak, oak is always precious

I do not hate this machine, I like it!
It just takes a while get used to..

It's a shame that Cactus wasn't around when 78s were the recording-media of choice