Head scratcher

[zipcord]

from Palm Springs, CA

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/atq/7560661987.html

[Django]

Some sort of Frankenphone. The tone arm looks to be painted. The parts that are authentic don’t add it to anywhere near the price.

[gramophone-georg]

It's pronounced "Fronk-en-steen"

[Steve]

Some sort of Frankenphone. The tone arm looks to be painted. The parts that are authentic don’t add it to anywhere near the price.

The tonearm isn't painted. It's nickel plated brass and in certain areas the brass is showing through due to normal wear and handling. The elbow is original as the back bracket is an original part (although not the correct one?) but the plating has been lost to the elbow and the bracket poorly overpainted.

[Django]

Some sort of Frankenphone. The tone arm looks to be painted. The parts that are authentic don’t add it to anywhere near the price.

The tonearm isn't painted. It's nickel plated brass and in certain areas the brass is showing through due to normal wear and handling. The elbow is original as the back bracket is an original part (although not the correct one?) but the plating has been lost to the elbow and the bracket poorly overpainted.

To me, the color of the tone arm looks wrong for Nickel. The oddest thing is that the cabinet is backwards. It’s a strange pile of parts.

[Steve]

Some sort of Frankenphone. The tone arm looks to be painted. The parts that are authentic don’t add it to anywhere near the price.

The tonearm isn't painted. It's nickel plated brass and in certain areas the brass is showing through due to normal wear and handling. The elbow is original as the back bracket is an original part (although not the correct one?) but the plating has been lost to the elbow and the bracket poorly overpainted.

To me, the color of the tone arm looks wrong for Nickel. The oddest thing is that the cabinet is backwards. It’s a strange pile of parts.

I still see it as nickel. It doesn't look strange to me at all. What is odd, as you say, is the reverse cabinet. I've just realised it's not a Victor I either. I have the HMV badged version of the Victor I and its a tiny machine. This one looks to be much bigger? It's a bit of an oddity however you see it.

[Jerry B.]

My best long distance appraisal is that it's a much loved and well used Victor 1. I'd bet it was re-motored with something like a Victrola IV motor. The ID tag was moved from one side to another probably to make it look like most other Victors. The crank is not a Victor 1 crank and suggests a later motor. It would be interesting to see the top board with the turntable removed. It looks to me like the original owner did everything possible to get another bit of entertainment from the little machine. I like it for what it represents, a rugged machine with a thrifty owner. My opinion...

Jerry B.

[Inigo]

And this thing??? it seems the moveable lid of a later Victrola speed indicator... What has been it screwed there for?

Screenshot_2022-12-23-21-47-47-36_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg

[gramophone-georg]

And this thing??? it seems the moveable lid of a later Victrola speed indicator... What has been it screwed there for?
Screenshot_2022-12-23-21-47-47-36_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg

My guess is to hide the original crank hole.