The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Curt A wrote:Nice machine, but realize you are on a slippery slope to becoming an OCD collector of antique musical stuff... There is still time to save yourself... Hope you have a great Christmas with your new acquisition...

Oh so true. 3 months in, and I just bought my second machine (a simple Victor VV-IV). Saw it in an antique shop window while on vacation, and had to have it!

-B

De Soto Frank wrote:

Henry wrote:Ooh, nice one! Could that possibly be a walnut cabinet? Whatever it may be, it sure looks good! Congratulations!

I believe that is "American" Walnut.

Nice veneer feature for this model.


The XI was one of Victor's "bread & butter" machines, producing over three-quarters of a million of them.

Some collectors pooh-pooh them because they are relatively common, but they are a good machine.

I have one in "Golden oak", and it is a personal favorite.

Most of them turn-up in "alligatored" red mahogany.


Welcome to the hobby and thanks for sharing !

Frank

Glad to have my opinion backed by so competent an authority, Frank!

Indeed, my XI-G is in the "most of them" category. But it's presentable, and I couldn't be happier with its performance. For an acoustic (non-Ortho) machine, it sounds great. Jarrod's should sound at least as good, since it has the fat arm and (I assume) no. 2 sound box.

Seems like they don't get much love here, but if VTM could sell 800,000 of them, they couldn't have been that bad.

I'd have a hard time letting mine go.

Frank

Those are nice machines, like previous posts indicate that many were mahogany and the finish is usually bad. These were nice machines particularly in Oak and Walnut. I think your machine looks beautiful in Walnut. I remember seeing a VV-XI in Oak 28 years ago at an antique mall in Valparaiso, IN. I wanted it......when I inquired about it, it was a vendor or owner that just had it on display and did not want to sell it. It sure was a beauty!

Get you some steel needles and use them once per a play. Have the reproducer rebuilt, it will sound alot better with new gaskets, rubber back flange, wax seal and adjustments.

De Soto Frank wrote:Seems like they don't get much love here, but if VTM could sell 800,000 of them, they couldn't have been that bad.

I'd have a hard time letting mine go.

Frank

The only reason they don't get much love is because, as you said, they sold 800,000 of them. It seems that everyone's grandparents had one and saved it so they turn up more often than almost anything else.

An XI is a great starter machine. My grandfather's XI was the first Victrola I ever saw and it was love at first play.

That is a nice starting machine. Make sure you have room to add to your collection.. My first was a VV XVI which still plays loud and nice. The records are all over the place so check out second hand stores, salvation, army flea markets, etc. Tom B

Very nice!

My first Victrola (and the first machine I bought with my own money) was a VV-IX in oak: to have a machine in walnut is a bonus!

Bill

Thanks to all for welcoming me in and for all the great advice. It is a Walnut with #2 producer.