The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Henry wrote:Outer cabinet looks stripped

I'm not so sure. It might just be the light refracting off of an alligatored original finish. I suspect it may clean up nice with go-jo.

In any case, buy it. That's a nice machine. I would however not install a spring motor. I'm sure that given the resources here, you should be able to do all that is needed to make this a nice machine.

Regards,
Martin

Is it an AC/DC Universal motor or an induction disc AC motor? Probably the induction disc would be easier to get working right. It's easy to tell the difference as the the induction disc motor has a big disc in the middle of it and a Universal motor has a commutator, brushes, and points.

It's a pretty good bargain for $75. You can devote more resources to getting the motor running properly (checking the wiring, resistors etc.)...

Bill

Looks like it has been sold. The craigslist listing has been deleted. I really regret posting this now because I have a feeling it could have been someone who viewed this post who bought the machine. Oh well

-Steve

The electric option was only offered on the best Victrola models and represent only about 10% of those machines manufactured. In spite of being much more unusual than the spring machine equivalent, todays collectors do no assign a higher value to the VE examples. It is interesting that the electric Triumph, the Edison Alva, is worth about ten spring driven Triumphs. Can anyone estimate how many Triumphs were sold for every Alva? Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:It is interesting that the electric Triumph, the Edison Alva, is worth about ten spring driven Triumphs. Can anyone estimate how many Triumphs were sold for every Alva? Jerry Blais

Of course, the Triumph was available for a much longer period of time than the Alva, but we can compare within the same timeframe. From June 1907 through May 1908, 44 Alvas left the factory. During the same period, 7166 Triumphs left the factory. That's one Alva for about every 163 Triumphs.

George P.

Thanks George, you've a wealth of knowledge. Jerry Blais

Would you tell that to my wife?

George P.

There is nothing esoteric about the electric motor drive on this victrola. Any motor shop can fix anything that would be wrong.

What about safety in such a machine if all the original wiring is in place ? Even in a working model, doesn't some of that need inspecting / replacing ?