Early Pooley VTLA, No.884, Factory Second, Need Help

[Jerry B.]

The "factory second" VTLA is so interesting. My later oak VTLA was assembled with such detail and precision. The slot in every screw was perfectly in line with the next. Even screws not normally seen were in line. I have seen quite a few Victrolas and this is the first time I've noticed such precision.

Jerry B.

[Django]

The "factory second" VTLA is so interesting. My later oak VTLA was assembled with such detail and precision. The slot in every screw was perfectly in line with the next. Even screws not normally seen were in line. I have seen quite a few Victrolas and this is the first time I've noticed such precision.

Jerry B.

Your VTLA looks like a real showpiece. Aligning the slots is above and beyond, but a nice touch just the same. Your Oak VTLA would be the centerpiece of many collections.

Regarding my VTLA, the cabinet was built by Pooley, so it may not be fair for me to include Victor.

I would suspect that the cabinets would have to have been crated before being shipped to Camden, so it makes me wonder if the phonograph parts were installed at Pooley and a closed crate was all that Victor would have seen. For all I know, (and maybe somebody knows the correct answer), the Pooley VTLAs may never have been in the Victor factory and been shipped from Pooley to the dealers or distributors. That would make good sense because it would save on shipping and handling.

I am surprised, (and glad), that the large “L” door, held in place by two small screws, managed to stay in place for 116 years.

Maybe I should have preserved the defect, but I don’t want to have issues, so now the door has all of the screws that it should have had when it left the factory.

[Jerry B.]

Maybe I should have preserved the defect, but I don’t want to have issues, so now the door has all of the screws that it should have had when it left the factory.

I would have done the same. I had an Edison Standard that was manufactured after Edison started offering their large morning glory type horns. This Standard had pilot holes drilled on the bottom of the cabinet for the bracket that held the crane foot. On this particular Standard those holes were never filled so that told me it never had anything but the 14" black & brass horn. I would have expected Victor to have used pilot holes to help avoid a slipping screwdriver and the possibility of gouging the cabinet.

Jerry B.

[Skihawx]

Back in the day when RCA televisions in Indiana, we injected molded cabinets in Indianapolis, put them in final shipping box with all the Styrofoam. The boxes were shipped to Bloomington Indiana where the boxes were opened, and the picture tube and chassis were installed and aligned. They were then put back into the same box to be shipped out to customers. I would expect Victor and Pooley could have had the same arrangement. If Pooley actually made the shipping crates it would make even more sense. Since each machine was audio tested, I would not think they would do the final assembly in the Pooley factory. I guess they could have just carefully shipped the completed cabinets across the river. Imagine the surprise when someone stole a tractor trailer full of RCA televisions only to find they were full of empty cabinets.

[Phono-Phan]

Would this motor work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275517148848?h ... R5SsnbODYQ

[Jerry B.]

Would this motor work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275517148848?h ... R5SsnbODYQ

No, that motor would not work in the earliest VTLA's. He needs the motor from an early Victor VI or possibly a Victor D.

Jerry B.

[Django]

Would this motor work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275517148848?h ... R5SsnbODYQ

No, that motor would not work in the earliest VTLA's. He needs the motor from an early Victor VI or possibly a Victor D.

Jerry B.

The later VTLA motor would hopefully be a temporary solution until I can find the correct motor for this early Pooley VTLA. The plan is to run a gear train to the winding shaft so that I don’t have to alter the cabinet. The gear train would not permanently alter the motor either.

I appreciate the tip. Unfortunately, that would do it, but including shipping, that’s more than twice what they typically sell for.

Jerry is correct. The permanent and correct motor would be from an early VI or D. I think that an MS motor would work well as well.

[Django]

The Pooley VTLA-Victor-Django machine is coming along in spite of itself. The new, reproduction drawer is in. The new horn is coming along, (the bent parts have to set for a couple days before getting trimmed and glued). The bell of the horn is from an L-Door. The casting is original and the rest is new, solid Mahogany that would have been a guitar. The motor should be here in a couple weeks.

Skihawx was kind enough to to let me look at his machine, so now I can make a fairly accurate horn and motor board. I coped the dimensions and joinery from his drawer.

I am becoming optimistic that I will be able to end up with a fairly authentic machine in the end.

[alang]

A true labor of love! Thanks for putting in the effort and letting us take part in the process. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed project.

Andreas