The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've had an electric 9-30 for about 25 years - no problems at all with the motor, even though it's labelled as "25-40 cycles" it runs perfectly on 60. It was joined by a Credenza X well over a year ago - this one is for either "25-60" or "40-60" cycles (I forget now) & runs fine. The new one hums more, but most music drowns that out.

I would agree that there's less "Charm Factor" with an electric motor. In my case, there's also the "forget to unplug before sticking my hands in there to oil" factor. Only got zapped twice, though. erp.

Speaking from personal experience of owning an electric machine or two, I would offer the view that electrically motored machines just do not have the same appeal as mechanically motored equivalents. It is true that often these were the premium models but whilst the electric option might be very rare due to the relatively low numbers sold, the very essence of what made it "special" in its day, no longer exists today. In fact, it is arguably the case that the complete reverse is true. Something mechanical and acoustic seems marvelous to us today and we admire its ingenuity. Everybody uses electrical items on a daily basis and we have come to take this for granted. Therefore the very thing that makes the mechanically driven machine so special now makes the electrically driven item seem more mundane and ordinary by comparison.

I no longer have any electrically motored machines and will stick to mechanical items that can be more easily repaired and show to those of us jaded and even oblivious to the wonders of modern technology, just how simple and effective the earlier technology was.

I also think that if you're looking for improvements in the quality of vintage machines, then you have to ask yourself where does that imaginary line get drawn? If you want electric equipment then why not also by the later electrical pickups and amplifiers instead of acoustically amplified horns? Before long you'll end up collecting MP3/4 players!

Motors can be rebuilt and wiring replaced, so not very concerned about that. One thing that has made me a little nervous about the early electric Victrolas is those big resistors in the back used to adopt them to different mains currents in the days before that was standardized (or at least I think that is what they are for). What do you do if the one you need goes south?

Clay

As far as my experience with the synchronous motors in Orthophonic Victrolas, I have nothing but good to say about them. A minimum of maintenance and they seemingly go forever! The earlier AC/DC motors and the motor in my Brunswick which seems never to care about it's speed are another situation in their entirety. However, the motor in my early VV-XVI has never given trouble in either it's running or speed even though it looks like a refugee from being intended as a drill motor

I'm playing records on the Credenza X right now, and a major advantage of its electric motor struck me: SPACE. The only available Victrola spot in this (my 'puter) room is between a record shelf & a floor register (heat), and if clearance for a crank was needed, more than ½ of that register would be blocked.

marcapra wrote:As I said in an earlier post, this Victrola Electrola with radio and record changer is certainly getting some respect on Ebay right now. Makes me feel good about owning a VE 9-54!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151067772071?ss ... 1423.l2649

Wow, there's been a giant reset as the two main bidders each retracted their bids! Currently the phono's at just over 600 dollars.

B.

Maybe they were under the impression that shipping was free, which isn't the case. Also the seller says they have not played any records using the changer and the one record they did play didn't sound good?

As I wrote in the thread regarding this machine:

"Very nice indeed. The bidding seems somewhat suspect given there are seven days plus.. ".

Shill bidding that it's best.... .

I was looking at the pictures of that Victrola/ Radio combination.
It seems to me that the radio looks rather outdated for 1928. The tuning looks like that on a Radiola 28 Superheterodyne. RCA had a single dial superheterodyne by 1928 ie: Radiola 60.
I hope I got my model numbers right.
Howard

Yes, the radio in the Victor 9-55 is a Radiola 28, the same as was used in the 9-25 and the 9-40. According to Baumbach's LFTD book, the 9-55 came out in 1927 and apparently was designed earlier with the best Radiola that RCA offered at that time. The 9-54 came out in 1928 and used the then-new Radiola 64. Radio electronics were undergoing a whirlwind of innovation in the late 1920s with major changes happening every few months.