Introduction and first question.

[CMcPherson]

You guys are awesome... thank you!
That 6 part video will do nicely.
I'll stop using 3 in 1 oil. I have sewing machine oil (I collect treadle sewing machines ).
I'm also seeing stuff like:
Silicone
Teflon
White lithium
Dry graphite
Are any of these suitable?

It looks like you have some good information as stated in previous posts. Were records included with the Victrola? The phonograph was built during the acoustic recording era.

No records but that's okay. A audiophile friend of mine gave me a few that he had mixed into his collection.

Welcome to the madness, Chris!

Being new to the hobby, you might enjoy the introductory articles found on the Antique Phonograph Society web site:
http://www.antiquephono.org/
Just click the "Articles" tab and enjoy!
George P.

Thank you George for the recommendation. I've looked through the free stuff and am contemplating a membership.
What do the videos consist of? Anything suitable for the beginner?

I need another obscure hobby like I need another hole in the head!

[phonogal]

I like the white lithium grease. Does a great job. The graphite is a mess IMHO.

[FloridaClay]

My VV-XVI also has the holes in the bottom of the case you describe. If I remember correctly bolts went through them to secure the machine in its wooden shipping crate.

Clay

[emerson]

WARNING--WARNING, Will McPherson. Crank-up phonographs carry an unknown substance to humans---that makes them collect more and more of them.

[gramophone-georg]

WARNING--WARNING, Will McPherson. Crank-up phonographs carry an unknown substance to humans---that makes them collect more and more of them.

Yeah, he'll find out... Records too. Like Lay's potato chips I tells ya...

[phonogfp]

Thank you George for the recommendation. I've looked through the free stuff and am contemplating a membership.
What do the videos consist of? Anything suitable for the beginner?

Absolutely. There are currently 42 videos (usually about 2 minutes long) and 1 slide show. The subjects range from really esoteric machines for the advanced collector to fundamental principles of recordings shown on tinfoil phonographs (okay - they're esoteric too), a nice interview with collector Merle Sprinzen on Little Wonder Records (she's the expert on these commonly-found little discs), and a variety of repeaters, coin-ops, Polyphone Attachments, and other great stuff. Knowing about these items will be of great benefit when you encounter one at a flea market! The slide show is a detailed, step-by-step procedure for disassembling, cleaning, adjusting, and reassembly of a BK Graphophone motor (which is quite similar to other Columbia motors). That's just what's under the "Videos" tab. Wait till you see the articles for "Intermediate," "Advanced," "Book Features," and "Technical." And these are a drop in the bucket compared to the HUGE archive of materials that is being downloaded to the web site as we speak...errr...type. And everything will be SEARCHABLE.

For the price of two meals at Chili's, you get all this plus the quarterly, full-color, 52-page journal.

I must run now... Help me out, somebody!

George P.

[phonogal]

Thank you George for the recommendation. I've looked through the free stuff and am contemplating a membership.
What do the videos consist of? Anything suitable for the beginner?

Absolutely. There are currently 42 videos (usually about 2 minutes long) and 1 slide show. The subjects range from really esoteric machines for the advanced collector to fundamental principles of recordings shown on tinfoil phonographs (okay - they're esoteric too), a nice interview with collector Merle Sprinzen on Little Wonder Records (she's the expert on these commonly-found little discs), and a variety of repeaters, coin-ops, Polyphone Attachments, and other great stuff. Knowing about these items will be of great benefit when you encounter one at a flea market! The slide show is a detailed, step-by-step procedure for disassembling, cleaning, adjusting, and reassembly of a BK Graphophone motor (which is quite similar to other Columbia motors). That's just what's under the "Videos" tab. Wait till you see the articles for "Intermediate," "Advanced," "Book Features," and "Technical." And these are a drop in the bucket compared to the HUGE archive of materials that is being downloaded to the web site as we speak...errr...type. And everything will be SEARCHABLE.

For the price of two meals at Chili's, you get all this plus the quarterly, full-color, 52-page journal.

I must run now... Help me out, somebody!

George P.

Absolutely worth every penny and then some.

[CMcPherson]

WARNING--WARNING, Will McPherson. Crank-up phonographs carry an unknown substance to humans---that makes them collect more and more of them.

I've had this sickness for a very long time.
I've always been this way ever since I was a kid. Stumbling onto some weird hobby that I never imagined would interest me just by chance and then wringing everything possible out of it.
I'm now clearing out my front room of my last hobby of collecting endangered live deep sea salt water coral. It has fallen out of favor because I exhausted it. That hobby led to my wreck and underwater cave diving hobby that I gave up because it got too dangerous and I have kids now. My gosh... I even studied gas blending for that crazy hobby. At least Victrolas won't give me O2 toxicity or decompression sickness. My 8' 400 gal. salt water tank took up a lot of space that can be filled by wood and shellac.

Thank you George for the recommendation. I've looked through the free stuff and am contemplating a membership.
What do the videos consist of? Anything suitable for the beginner?

Absolutely.
George P.

I'll be signing up then.

I found a local enabler!!
http://vamemorylane.com/
They even do repair.

[gramophone-georg]

WARNING--WARNING, Will McPherson. Crank-up phonographs carry an unknown substance to humans---that makes them collect more and more of them.

I've had this sickness for a very long time.
I've always been this way ever since I was a kid. Stumbling onto some weird hobby that I never imagined would interest me just by chance and then wringing everything possible out of it.
I'm now clearing out my front room of my last hobby of collecting endangered live deep sea salt water coral. It has fallen out of favor because I exhausted it. That hobby led to my wreck and underwater cave diving hobby that I gave up because it got too dangerous and I have kids now. My gosh... I even studied gas blending for that crazy hobby. At least Victrolas won't give me O2 toxicity or decompression sickness. My 8' 400 gal. salt water tank took up a lot of space that can be filled by wood and shellac.

Thank you George for the recommendation. I've looked through the free stuff and am contemplating a membership.
What do the videos consist of? Anything suitable for the beginner?

Absolutely.
George P.

I'll be signing up then.

I found a local enabler!!
http://vamemorylane.com/
They even do repair.

My 8' 400 gal. salt water tank took up a lot of space that can be filled by wood and shellac.

THAT'S the spirit!!

[CMcPherson]

My VV-XVI also has the holes in the bottom of the case you describe. If I remember correctly bolts went through them to secure the machine in its wooden shipping crate.

Clay

Thank you for clearing that up for me Clay!