Victor Talking Machine Company Factory Item Find

[Lucius1958]

Photng it perfect flea market and antique shop weather. I visited one of my local shops and I first saw about 5 Edison 2 minute wax boxes with lids and I picked each of them up and could feel they were each empty. So I was beginning to feel disappointment when I saw on the floor next to me a victor talking machine company fire alarm box with about 10 original peeling factory coats of paint on it. The shop was busy so I blocked the item from view and patiently waited until the owner was available. At first he said " darn I meant to put that behind the counter " but he gave me a price and I gladly took it home with me. He knew i collected phonographs but never made the connection with this fire related item. The amazing thing is that it is box #17 and the location list starts with the number 12. Thanks go to Joan and Robin Rolf who sent me a copy of the factory list of fire box locations. This was originally in building 24 and was made in 1908. I hope everyone else had a great weekend and yes there are still treasures to be found. Steve[/quote] [attachment=0]Photo on 12-9-15 at 1.47 AM.jpg

Not phono-related, but an example of random finds in antique shops:
some years ago, I was in an antiques center in Clinton, CT, when I spied an unusual, but vaguely familiar, piece of carving behind the front counter. I asked to see the item, and the proprietor produced a nice old parang ilang (i.e., headhunter's sword) from Borneo. (My brother lives in Sarawak, so I was familiar with the hilt carving).
Just goes to show what you can find when you're looking for something else...

Bill

[fmblizz]

Nice find Steve...

Here is a pic of my Victor Gamewell Alarm box which I restored. On the top is an original hose nozzle from the Victor building in Camden, NJ.

Blizz

[Stephen_Madara]

Nice find Steve...

Here is a pic of my Victor Gamewell Alarm box which I restored. On the top is an original hose nozzle from the Victor building in Camden, NJ.

Blizz

I like the way you restored your alarm box. I looked up the post from when you tried to get it home through airport security. I am sure with how things are today that you wouldn't have gotten it home on a plane. I have a copy of the Alarm Box Numbers and your box was in Building 17b 6th Floor on the South West side. Such a great piece of VTM Co. history....Thank you for reposting your picture. Steve

[Victrola-Monkey]

These alarm boxes are sweet. Below is a picture of a fellow collector's alarm box (that lives in central FL).