The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

briankeith wrote:Here is the answer I got this morning from the seller so beware: It is a Victrola. It does not have a decal. I play it often, its in excellent working condition.

OK, so no decal?? Refinished? A Victrola?

Well now, seems to be contagious...

So what is this machine that has been refinished ??

Crank, tapering arm, and reproducer look to be 1905-1909 Columbia-ish. 8-panel horn.

NOT a Victor product, IMHO.

It's a Columbia. Some early features like motor w/dual front control. Cast aluminum tone arm. Thin, rimless turntable. However it appears to have a later 8 panelled horn screwed in. Plus the early type crank seems a trifle long and out of proportion to the case, which itself appears to lack the applied corners characteristic of a BN say, or a Standard.
The guy's uncooperative attitude regarding further pics or even info is troubling. So I'm gonna stay away.

It's always a good idea to see what else an eBay seller has listed. In this case he has an early radio and several early talking machines. He knows what he is selling. If the other items were a hodgepodge of things, then I might think otherwise. He's probably protected himself with a retail-level reserve (his right to do so). I suspect he's rather ornery and non-responsive because he doesn't want to bother; he'll probably get his price.

As regards being "beautifly restored" as he says, kindly note the Edison and Columbia horns have the same semi-gloss or flat black.

jboger wrote:It's always a good idea to see what else an eBay seller has listed. In this case he has an early radio and several early talking machines. He knows what he is selling. If the other items were a hodgepodge of things, then I might think otherwise. He's probably protected himself with a retail-level reserve (his right to do so). I suspect he's rather ornery and non-responsive because he doesn't want to bother; he'll probably get his price.

The RCA "tombstone" radio, and the Amberola both look like they had the Homer Formby treatment....

Additionally, I have it on unimpeachable authority that the reserve on our enigmatic Columbia "victrola" is well over $500...

De Soto Frank wrote:

jboger wrote:It's always a good idea to see what else an eBay seller has listed. In this case he has an early radio and several early talking machines. He knows what he is selling. If the other items were a hodgepodge of things, then I might think otherwise. He's probably protected himself with a retail-level reserve (his right to do so). I suspect he's rather ornery and non-responsive because he doesn't want to bother; he'll probably get his price.

The RCA "tombstone" radio, and the Amberola both look like they had the Homer Formby treatment....

Apropos of which, I once bought a '51 Chrysler Windsor Newport from an old fellow who painted it with an Electrolux vacuum cleaner exhaust sprayer, I shyt you not. He swore up and down it did a great job and left a really thin film of paint, thereby saving him money as Rust Oleum was getting very dear......

I HAVE one of those Electrolux aspirator-type spray outfits !

More than once I've thought about spraying paint with it... ( best to clean-out the vacuum-bag first, though ! )


Early HVLP paint gun !


I'm a MoPar guy myself, (2) '41 De Soto De Luxe 4-door sedans, '48 & '50 Chrysler NY'ers, former '55 De Soto, former '60 Chrysler Windsor, former '61 Plymouth Belvedere ( LOVED that car ! ), former '64 Valiant Signet 200 convertible, with slant-six & factory four-speed with Hurst "golf-ball" floor shift.