VE 7-26X

[oltractor]

I have a line on a VE 7-26X Electrola radio/phonograph, its been sitting and needs inside work, the cabinet is good, anybody have any knowledge of these? Are they difficult? value? thanks

[Nat]

Cool machine! No good experience here with older electronics, but have a look at http://www.victor-victrola.com/7-26.htm if you haven't already. And good luck!

[EarlH]

I have one and it's a pretty decent machine. The one with the electro-dynamic speaker is much better sounding than the one with the 100 speaker with the horn thing on it. They have a Radiola 18 in them and I guess are not every hard to restore. At least that's what the guy that went through mine said. The radio guys say that the Radiola 18 is pretty much bullet proof and many of them are still playing just fine without having hardly anything done to them. That said, look at the power transformer and make sure the tar isn't out of it. They are not hard to find parts for (the Radiola 18) and if you want to upgrade to the other speaker, those do turn up fairly regularly as well for around $75-$100.

There should be a little hood over the lamp for the dial, that will be hard to find and set you back about $90 if it's not there. They usually are there on the machines like you are looking at, but almost always missing on the Radiola 18's. The hood on the phonograph however, is different. I can post some pictures of mine if you want. The back panel is sheet metal and acts at the aerial for local stations.

[oltractor]

pics would be great, heres the pictures i was given

[EarlH]

I'll take some pictures later. The albums are actually pretty hard to find. They aren't in the best of shape, but you can improve them a lot with some glue and patience. I've never understood why that stupid switch between the radio and phonograph is upside down. It's that way on the Radiola 67 also, with the "Up" position for the radio, when the radio is below. Oh well.
That's the earlier one with the smaller cone speaker. If you get the magnet re-magnetized on those I guess it will improve the sound on them. Or stick rare earth magnets on it too as fix. But getting the surround re-leathered will also help with the sound as the old stuff is usually pretty stiff. There are no rare or terribly expensive tubes in those either which is nice. Nothing like having to spend $150 or more on a 50 tube.
I don't know what they are worth. There is a guy in Pennsylvania that sells this stuff on ebay, and his stuff always goes high because he has a good reputation. The one I saw last year sold for around $575 un-restored. I gave $90 for mine on a rummage sale down in Kansas City. The finish looks pretty good on the cabinet so that's a big plus. I think they are a nice looking phonograph. And kind of interesting because they are pretty early for an all electric thing.

[oltractor]

thanks for all your help, the albums are whats on top? how many did this originally have?

[EarlH]

This guy just posted a video on one of these but it sounds like he needs to get the pickup rebuilt on it. When that rubber gets rock hard, you won't get much sound out of them. Other than that, he does a pretty good job of showing the thing off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loDNMMQROhA

[EarlH]

Here's some pictures of this one I have. I don't have the back on it right now as you can see. I want to re-do the leather around the speaker first and then it should be done. That has to be very soft or it hurts the bass response on your speaker. It's not too bad of a machine and I've just gotten side tracked with a pump organ that should have been put on the burn pile, so I haven't finished it up so I can put it back together. As far as what it's actually worth? I don't honestly know but if you were standing here with $350 I'd be helping you load it up. Does that help? I have no idea how attached other would be to one like this, but that's pretty much where I'm at on it.

[oltractor]

Thanks Earl! Beautiful machine i think i will try and make a deal on the one that found me

[Henry]

It is indeed a beauty! But the radio tuner looks like it is set at an inconvenient height, requiring one to bend down to operate the controls. Do you find it uncomfortable in that respect?