Is this Victrola worth the price?

[OrthoSean]

Nice machine, the XIV is a model I've always liked. I see it was sold by the Foster Piano Company, they were located in Troy, NY. I always get excited when I see a machine with a history local to my area. Good luck!

Sean

[Henry]

My mahogany XI was and is in much better condition than this XIV, for despite mine's alligatored finish, its decal and tag are flawless, and the turntable felt cleaned up very nicely. I sent out the motor and sound box for rebuilding, and gave the cabinet a going-over with Howard's Feed-n-Wax. Now it looks and sounds great. With a little TLC and a good CLA, this XIV may improve appreciably, but there's not much that you could do with that decal and tag. Still, given the drawbacks, it might be a good deal provided it's mechanically sound, and there's really only one way to determine that---in person.

BTW, I moved mine 330 miles in a '64 VW Beetle (the most unsafe piece of automotive rubbish ever to waddle down an American highway, but that's another story) by removing the front passenger seat and laying the Vic down on its back. Getting it in and out was the biggest challenge!

[oldphonographsteve]

My mahogany XI was and is in much better condition than this XIV, for despite mine's alligatored finish, its decal and tag are flawless, and the turntable felt cleaned up very nicely. I sent out the motor and sound box for rebuilding, and gave the cabinet a going-over with Howard's Feed-n-Wax. Now it looks and sounds great. With a little TLC and a good CLA, this XIV may improve appreciably, but there's not much that you could do with that decal and tag. Still, given the drawbacks, it might be a good deal provided it's mechanically sound, and there's really only one way to determine that---in person.

BTW, I moved mine 330 miles in a '64 VW Beetle (the most unsafe piece of automotive rubbish ever to waddle down an American highway, but that's another story) by removing the front passenger seat and laying the Vic down on its back. Getting it in and out was the biggest challenge!

As I said, it is very hard to tell what condition this machine is in since it is caked in gunk on the outside. I too have an XI that was in a condition similar to that of this XIV. It was hard work with restore a finish and some cleaning with steel wool, and that machine ended up looking okay. I plan on replacing the turntable felt and felt pads and I also plan on removing the rust from the crank and doing a VERY extensive cleaning of the outside of the cabinet. As for the decal, I might do a little touch up with mahogany Restore-a-finish to cover up the white areas inside of the scratch to make it less noticeable.

Steve

My VV-XI:

[De Soto Frank]

My mahogany XI was and is in much better condition than this XIV, for despite mine's alligatored finish, its decal and tag are flawless, and the turntable felt cleaned up very nicely. I sent out the motor and sound box for rebuilding, and gave the cabinet a going-over with Howard's Feed-n-Wax. Now it looks and sounds great. With a little TLC and a good CLA, this XIV may improve appreciably, but there's not much that you could do with that decal and tag. Still, given the drawbacks, it might be a good deal provided it's mechanically sound, and there's really only one way to determine that---in person.

BTW, I moved mine 330 miles in a '64 VW Beetle (the most unsafe piece of automotive rubbish ever to waddle down an American highway, but that's another story) by removing the front passenger seat and laying the Vic down on its back. Getting it in and out was the biggest challenge!

Henry,

I too have a VW / talking machine story...

A few years ago, I decided to give my Edison S-19 Diamond Disc machine to a friend who was moving away. I had to get the machine to them in Lancaster from my home in Scranton. The only vehicle I had available was my wife's 2000 Neue Beetle.

Somehow I managed to squeeze the poor Edison into the rear of the beetle...

Poor Edison, when I brought it home in college days, it got to ride on the worsted-wool broadcloth back seat of my '48 Chrysler New Yorker.

[FloridaClay]

Granted there was almost no room to spare, but I brought home an Edison C19--51 1/16 x 21 x 22 ½"--in the back seat of a Hyundai Sonata.

Clay

[Henry]

That's a very nice-looking XI, Steve! If I had that, I wouldn't want a XIV, but I'm glad I don't have to make the decision!