My Monarch MS

[jboger]

This is probably the last machine I will buy to keep. It'll go to one of the kids who have an interest in many of the things I have found over the years, not just phonographs. My wife and I plan to move in about a year and the thought of moving everything is not a pleasant one.

In any case I guess I got this machine about a year ago, maybe less, I forget. I have done nothing with it except dust it off: no GoJo, no wax, no linseed oil--no nothing. Eventually I will take the motor apart and clean and oil it.

Actually it was my brother in Buffalo who found it. It came out of a house in a neighboring town, the contents of which were being sold at auction. I had him examine the photograph and take multiple pictures, which he sent me. It also came with some needles, several cranks (including an Edison), and the reproducers you see in the photos. Those include a Talk-O-Phone long neck reproducer in good working shape. This is the second excellent machine my brother has found.

I don't think the MS is particularly rare, but this one seems to be in nice, original condition. It did NOT come with the the record clamp. That was bought on the Eastern Shore where it was on a broken-down Victor C that someone had attached a Columbia horn and bracket to. It's described elsewhere on this Forum. I believe there is more good stuff to come out of attics. Please have a look at the photos.

[FellowCollector]

Very nice looking Victor MS. Your brother has a good eye for items. The black elbow is interesting. Never seen a black elbow on a rear mount Victor. I presume someone in the past painted it? Can't tell from the pictures.

Doug

[Inigo]

Nice finding!

[alang]

What a beautiful machine. I hope to find one like it at some point. I did not realize that the rear mount Victor MS still had a record hold down nut. Or was it maybe converted from a front mount originally?

Congratulations!
Andreas

[jboger]

Andreas: The simple answer to your question is that some did, some didn't. The model experienced a number of changes. The later ones abandoned the threaded spindle and clamp. And I refer to rear-mount machines. This machine was always a rear-mount machine. And these can be found with a threaded spindle.

[tictalk]

Nice looking machine, would definitely be a good keeper, Larry

[Django]

Very nice. Your MS is one great looking machine.

[Phono-Phan]

Very nice. The rear mount MS and the early D are my favorites.

[audiophile102]

Oh ya, it's a keeper alright. I know that if I owned one it would never be sold in my life time. Congratulations.

[jboger]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

Actually if I found a front-mount Zon-O-Phone for the right price, I'd be sorely tempted to buy another keeper. Or maybe some real early Victors, pre-dog ones. Who knows what will turn up.