Featured Phonograph No.134 - Victor Victrola VV-XII

[Mr Grumpy]

Make: Victor
Model: Victrola VV-XII
Serial #: 4526 A
Year(s) Made: 1909 - 1910
Original Cost: $125
Case/Cabinet Size: 15 ⅜"H x 18 ½"W x 22 ½"D
Turntable/Mandrel: 12" cast iron
Reproducer/Sound-Box: #12 Exhibition
Motor: Triple spring
Horn Dimensions: 15"x3" at the opening
Reproduction Parts: Turntable spindle cap is not original to this machine.
Current Value: Opinions may vary due to the oak finish but the usual Mahogany
finish can range from $900 - $1200??
Interesting Facts:
Victor's first covered top, fully concealed horn tabletop model. Didn't sell well originally and discontinued
after about a year and a half. Many believe it's because of the small horn and resulting weak sound, but it
sounds fairly good to me especially when compared to other machines of that era. If the original owners were anything like me, they probably disliked it because it weighs about the same as an Indonesian Rhinoceros.

I found this advertised locally from an antique dealer about three or four years ago and was able to buy it at a very good price. However, it looked as though it had taken a tumble many years ago and the back part of the cabinet was disconnected from the rest, several pieces of wood were splintered, and some veneer lifting.
For the most part, the finish was still in good condition, so for the past three years I've been working (on and off) on trying to restore this machine without refinishing it. It was very difficult to match the original finish in some of the areas that did need to be re-touched but I think the end result was worth it for a machine this scarce. The pictures make it appear far more 'orange' than it actually is and if I had to wager a guess I'd say it's most similar to the weathered oak machines I've seen online. It isn't perfect, but it's perfect to me.

There's got to be many other XII's out there and I was surprised that there wasn't a 'feature' about this model already, so please, share some pictures or videos of yours too!!

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJTyPKdKGxY[/youtubehd]

[OrthoSean]

Boy that sure is nice! And Oak to boot!

Thanks for sharing this.

Sean

[Steve Levi]

A beautiful Victrola! My compliments to your work and perseverance. Love that frieze around the top and the small doors of course.I think the oak just sets it off and is a big plus! Thanks for sharing a very unique and scarce machine. Steve L

[gemering]

Exactly what Sean wrote!


Gene

[Django]

That's a great looking machine. The Oak really sets it off.

[alang]

A beautiful machine! Thanks for sharing it as Featured Phonograph. Would you mind posting a few pictures of the motor and maybe also the repaired part of the case?

Thanks
Andreas

[Phono-Phan]

Stunning!! Do you have any "as found" pictures?

[Mr Grumpy]

Stunning!! Do you have any "as found" pictures?

Of course not! I always tell myself I'm going to take before photos of my machines but get too excited about the rebuilds that I forget.

Andreas, I'll try to snap a few more pics on the weekend.

[Dave D]

Wow, that is a nice looking machine. The sound quality is poor. I can't understand a single word of the song. LOL
Dave

[rvwenger]

This evening I just purchased a VV-XII. Serial # 8781A