Virgil Phonograph, before and after.

[James]

I rescued this phonograph that came in three different pieces. It was the last one in the collection to go, and nobody wants it. The owner was anxious to clear the basement. I was offered to have the four record shelves, and the phonograph for free. I declined the shelves, but accepted the offer for the phonograph. Nothing special about the phonograph, only the case is 100% Canadian, and the unique decal. I filled up the dents with a wood filler, and glued back the pieces together. Clean up with Gojo, stain the wood filler, and spruced up the original finish with shellac.

Now it was given another chance to be enjoyed by future generation of collectors.

Jim

[Lenoirstreetguy]

That phonograph was probably made by the R.S.Williams Co. which manufactured pianos and organs. Plaola was one of the brands that was a subsidiary of the R.S. Williams Co. It was a player piano, as one might guess.
R.S. Williams and Sons were the Ontario jobbers for the Edison Phonograph, so if in fact they made this machine, and I suspect they did, here we have the Edison jobber not only selling, but manufacturing a machine to play discs made by the competition.
Speaking of the Williams piano, as a piano technician and phonograph nut, it's always grieved me that I'm not more impressed by the Williams instruments...manufactured but the Edison jobber. As pianos they aren't exactly bad, but by the same token they don't send me wild with professional desire, let us say.

Jim