Trying to identify my Phonograph's Model

[earthprime]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to identify the exact model of the Phonograph in the below picture. This unit has been with our family since about 1920 - its a Silvertone and I think it might be the 1920 model. The only reference I can find is a depiction of the unit in the following 1920's Sears advertisement. Can anyone help me identify which model of Silvertone I have?

http://silvertoneworld.net/century/imag ... spread.jpg

[VanEpsFan1914]

Silvertone Model VI, right in the Sears advertisement--you made that one easy; I'm not at all a Silvertone expert.

But welcome aboard to the Talking Machine Forum, and that is a very nicely preserved phonograph. Silvertones don't always show up in nice condition so it is good to see one looking that good after a hundred years!

Have you ever had it restored or does it always look that good--and what have you done on it mechanically? Is this one that plays often, or a display piece? Family heirloom or fortunate find?

[earthprime]

Silvertone Model VI, right in the Sears advertisement--you made that one easy; I'm not at all a Silvertone expert.

But welcome aboard to the Talking Machine Forum, and that is a very nicely preserved phonograph. Silvertones don't always show up in nice condition so it is good to see one looking that good after a hundred years!

Have you ever had it restored or does it always look that good--and what have you done on it mechanically? Is this one that plays often, or a display piece? Family heirloom or fortunate find?

This unit hasn't been restored, it was owned by a Great Uncle who kept it in perfect condition. Its a bit dusty at the moment, but with a professional cleaning it should appear almost like-new. Mechanically I'm too scared to try it out, but the mechanics are all in-place with no rust. I expect the unit it perfectly intact - we also have a small record collection (circa 1910) but I don't think that era is collectable.

[Jerry B.]

Welcome to the Forum. I can't help with the model. But I wanted to say how fortunate you are to own a family piece. I hope it will always he treasured by someone in your family. Any talking machine is a mechanical device and it's best if it is used at least occasionally. If it has not been used much put a few drops of light weight oil at each end of the governor shaft, the governor shaft itself and the little pads that rub against the (usually) brass wheel to control the speed. Also a drop of oil on the brake pad will stop. any squeaking. If you are inclined, use the search feature of our Forum. There are many threads that deal with basic maintenance. If there are any openings in the spring barrels, squirt a little oil in there as well. Give the crank about ten turns and release the brake. If all seems well, let it run down. Increase the number of turns with the crank and let it wind down. I think of this as waking the motor out of a deep sleep. The motor may thump and make some noise. That is caused by dry grease that makes the spring hang up on itself.

Enjoy your machine and remember to use new needles and replace a needle after two sides of a record. You can check a needle by turning it between your thumb and forefinger. It you see a flat spot the needle is used and should not be used again. New needles are cheap and readily available.

Jerry B.

[Jerry B.]

It doesn't need a professional cleaning. Buy some GoJo hand cleaner (non-pumice only) and, with a clean rag, clean one surface at a time. Some use 0000 steel wool if really dirty. I follow that with Howard's Feed & Wax. You'll be amazed with the results. Plus you'll have some of yourself invested in your family treasure.

Jerry

[VanEpsFan1914]

This unit hasn't been restored, it was owned by a Great Uncle who kept it in perfect condition. Its a bit dusty at the moment, but with a professional cleaning it should appear almost like-new. Mechanically I'm too scared to try it out, but the mechanics are all in-place with no rust. I expect the unit it perfectly intact - we also have a small record collection (circa 1910) but I don't think that era is collectable.

Jerry B. is one of the great collectors & what he said about waking it up, is a good idea to try it out and at least see if it can make some music.

Records from the 1910 era? Well, those are great! I'd rather have five 1910s records than twenty 1940s ones. And they'd be correct for this machine. 1910s music is one of my favorite eras--so joyful generally and the sound quality is usually pretty good on the period records. Who are some of the singers & bands on your records?

Speaking of sound quality, if you plan to keep your records in good condition you'd probably like to have the reproducer rebuilt. I don't know how handy you are with a screwdriver but it's not so hard to mend a phonograph reproducer. The white rubber tubes that hold the diaphragm (clear piece of mica, looks like glass, that's the face of the reproducer or pickup) usually get harder with time & may make your phonograph sound kind of funny.

As far as the needles go, I usually change them after each side, not after two sides. By no means am I experienced at this; I just was following along with an old 1910s Victrola owner's manual. I also play the "silent" groove at the end of each record and then start the music, just to make sure each record has basically a custom needle. Well, it's the least I can do because I play old phonographs just about every day and tend to repeat a good record a couple times just to savor it, so I am kind of picky about that (and buy needles in bulk LOL.) But I'm not sure if this is necessary or not, just something I do anyway.

[Benjamin_L]

It's a 2nd style VI introduced in 1918 and produced till about 1924-25.