Victrola XIV

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Post Reply
User avatar
phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8081
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Victrola XIV

Post by phonogfp »

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

August 27, 1910: John C. English filed for a U.S. Design Patent (eventually granted as No.41,008) for “Talking Machine Cabinet.” This would be marketed as the Victrola XIV.

#antiquephonographsociety #phonograph #gramophone #antique
englishXIV001.jpg

VanEpsFan1914
Victor VI
Posts: 3375
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:39 am
Personal Text: I've got both kinds of music--classical & rag-time.
Location: South Carolina

Re: Victrola XIV

Post by VanEpsFan1914 »

Queen Anne cabinet--looks a little bit like the cabinet of the Edison A-200, which the XIV predates.

I have the second model XIV which is why there is 1914 in my username. I am often tempted to dispose of it but it is just too good at being a Victrola--lots of storage space, nice big horn, motor with long run time, auto brake, and tachometer. It is a nice combination of talking-machine, record cabinet, side table and cat perch.

Playing electric records on these just sounds weak but they do really shine with acoustically recorded stuff.

User avatar
Inigo
Victor Monarch
Posts: 4567
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 1:51 am
Personal Text: Keep'em well oiled
Location: Madrid, Spain
Contact:

Re: Victrola XIV

Post by Inigo »

Electrical recordings sound better in these machines with an orthophonic soundbox, but you need to provide an adapter for the tonearm diameter, slightly smaller for the exhibition and no2 soundboxes. Of course, a no4 can also be used, but the results are indeed astonishing when you play with the orthophonic.
Be ready for a large volume. The bass, of course, is weak, corresponding to a short small horn, but the clarity of the treble and sibilants is great.
In my record room I use the HMV equivalent to the VV-IV tabletop with a hmv no5a soundbox, and the sound is good for a small study room. In the end I find it much better than the no4, which sounds good but has a noticeably shorter frequency range, and causes more record wear.
Inigo

Post Reply