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Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 3:45 pm
by oldphonographsteve
Thanks for all your input guys! I want to get it but I unfortunately it would cost just too much to get it with a u-haul. This seller lives two and a half hours away from me and the uhaul cost would be $180.
I will still try and figure out a way though.
Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:23 pm
by De Soto Frank
Steve:
U-haul not necessary.
I've moved the majority of my machines on their back, in my wife's Chevy Colorado pick-up ( small truck ) with a cap, or in my Jeep Grand Cherokee with the rear seats folded down.
In fact, back in May, I brought a 1915 XIV home from Buffalo this way.
Station wagons and mini-vans work too...
Just remove the reproducer, turntable platter, needles, etc that can bounce around inside the lid, and remove the record albums form the cabinet and back separately in boxes.
Got any buddies with an appropriate vehicle that are up for an adventure, if you pay for fuel and pizza ?
Anybody near Steve that can help ?

Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 5:29 pm
by 52089
oldphonographsteve wrote:Thanks for all your input guys! I want to get it but I unfortunately it would cost just too much to get it with a u-haul. This seller lives two and a half hours away from me and the uhaul cost would be $180.
I will still try and figure out a way though.
FWIW, I have moved large machines like an Amberola 1A or a C-19 (blanket wrapped of course)on the back seat of my Oldsmobile sedan. I remove all the records, motor, loose parts, etc., but I also take the lid off, which buys me a few extra inches.
As long as you have at last a mid-size sedan, you should be able to move a XIV in a car without too much trouble.
Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 6:01 pm
by gramophone78
Now hang on guys.....what if
oldphonographsteve has a Vespa like our member Leo....???

. Then what...???

.
Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:33 pm
by 52089
gramophone78 wrote:Now hang on guys.....what if
oldphonographsteve has a Vespa like our member Leo....???

. Then what...???

.
I
walked my first phonograph purchase home - a long case Edison Model A Home cylinder machine - by balancing it on the handlebars of my
bicycle. This was made especially difficult because I had the horn and 3 cylinders in a paper bag that I also had to balance. It was a little over 2 miles, but everybody made it home in one piece

Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:16 pm
by oldphonographsteve

I do have a mid-size sedan (actually my mom's), its a Nissan Altima. I just measured the insides of the back seat and it looks like there should be about 5 inches of leeway, a little close for comfort but hopefully it'll do!

Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:27 pm
by De Soto Frank
Harbor Freight has decent buys on quilted moving pads...

Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:32 am
by oldphonographsteve
The seller just sent me photos of the decal and ID plate inside of the machine. All seems to be in order except that the decal has a scratch underneath the dog. Hopefully this doesn't devalue the machine too much!

Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 9:51 am
by gramophone78
My goodness, look at all the needles in the lid hinge area...

. I guess this machine has been on her back at some point. Time for a magnet...

.
Regarding the decal scratch.....not a big deal (probably from the reproducer when on her back). This is not a high end, high dollar machine anyway. More a good solid daily player to enjoy your records on...

.
Re: Is this Victrola worth the price?
Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:43 am
by De Soto Frank
Maybe not a high-dollar collector's piece, but it was a higher-end product in the Victor family, and is indeed a VERY good "daily-driver"...
Certainly more valuable ( I would think ) than a mahogany XI...
Figure-out a way to get-it...