Record Cabinet or cut off machine?

[larryh]

I wish I had taken my camera, I always swear I will and then forget it.. Yesterday at a mall I saw a rather low cabinet which looked like a record cabinet. When I opened it it had a tilt forward wooden divided record holder alright, not the usual slots. It had four major devisions. I don't recall seeing that as a lower form of record holder in an upright machine but its possible of course. What made me wonder the most was it had a molding that formed a slightly wider top than the cabinet and a different type of wood in the center, all of which showed wide screw heads. Not generally what I would think was an original cabinet. But I don't know if it rings any bells with anyone or not. I would guess it was about 28 inches high, which seemed low for a machine to set on.

On another trip I saw a cabinet lately that has a rather large sticker inside the door that said Talking Machine Company, if I recall the wording right. I think it had the needle holders on the door as well? Isn't Talking Machine a Victor patent or not? If so do you think they made it and had that large decal inside the door?

Larry

[AZ*]

I can't comment on the first one, but I can on the second.

The Talking Machine Company was a Victor distributor in Chicago who marketed a line of cabinets called "The Cabinet that Matches." I have a catalogue reprint that shows matching cabinets for Victors I through VI.

I do not believe the term "talking machine" was copyrighted or trademarked.

[estott]

The term "Talking Machine" was not copyrighted and was widely used the "Cheney Talking Machine Co." of Chicago being a good example. The terms Phonograph, Graphophone and Gramophone were copyright and another generic term didn't become popular until "Record Player" caught on.

[larryh]

Thanks for the comment, it would stand to reason that a distributor out of chicago would perhaps of sold to someone where it ended up downstate many years later. I should have realized that all those other companies used the Talking Machine wording in their titles! The first cabinet was for sure an old version which I am still suspicious was a cut down machine of some odd brand perhaps. Would be nice to also know which victor the second one went with as well. Maybe next time I am that way if its still there I can get a photo of it.

[larryh]

Anyone have a feeling for the reasonable selling value of those Talking machine cabinets? The one I saw may be a bargain depending, I am not a all informed on what these things actually sell for?