The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

ChuckA wrote:If the motor board / tonearm hasn't been messed with it's probably a very late manufactured 9-18. It has the phono parts from the 1929-30 RE-45 / RE-75
model Electrolas. I had one with this setup a while ago, the ID plate just had the number "727" stamped on it. It also came from California.
Would like to see if this one says "9-18" or some other number stamped on it.

Chuck

Chuck, so its possible these parts are not original to the machine? I know its hard to speculate just based on appearance without some model numbers. Thanks!

I'd ask him what he means by that. (He may not even know it needs a needle!)

It looks like the thumbscrew assembly is missing. They come up on eBay from time to time, and, I bet you could (or get a scout to) find one at the show tomorrow.

Being a radio collector/restorer myself, to find a radio as old as this is, and for it to still work, tells me it's been well taken care of/serviced.

I'd jump on it, personally, if the price was right.

Thanks guys for all your helpful info!

SignatureSeriesOwner wrote:I'd ask him what he means by that. (He may not even know it needs a needle!)

It looks like the thumbscrew assembly is missing. They come up on eBay from time to time, and, I bet you could (or get a scout to) find one at the show tomorrow.

Being a radio collector/restorer myself, to find a radio as old as this is, and for it to still work, tells me it's been well taken care of/serviced.

I'd jump on it, personally, if the price was right.

Thumbscrew? so this takes steel needles? This is one of those hybrid ones with an acoustic horn and electric radio you think?

It's most likely all electric. My 1929 Grigsby-Grunow was all electric, and had a electric cartridge with a thumbscrew and steel needles. It's probably supposed to be the same setup.

The Victor 9-18 had a Radiola AND Electrola---meaning, in this case, it had electric pick-up and amplification of the signal from the records. The sound all emanated from the cone speaker behind that little door at the bottom right. The horseshoe pickups used steel needles or Tungs-tone needles secured to the chuck via a thumbscrew, like any common Victrola. No special needles were used, although these days a Tungs-tone needle is becoming a bit more "special" than they used to be. I never tried wooden or bamboo needles in mine when I had it, I'd be interested to know what this sounds like with one of those in play.

It would seem to me that IF the Radiola is working, then the amp would be working as well, and so potentially would the Electrola portion. There is a switch on the center front panel to switch between the Radiola or Electrola. The horseshoe pickup had gum rubber damping that will likely be rock hard by now. This can be repaired. Chuck can speak from experience about the amp chassis and the transformer issues. Whoever buys this, bring help to move it---it's a very solid cabinet and the electronics add on the weight as well.

Well it sold according to the owner today for $500. That's too rich for my blood in any case.

antique1973 wrote:Well it sold according to the owner today for $500.

Perhaps I jinxed you in my e-mail

antique1973 wrote:Well it sold according to the owner today for $500. That's too rich for my blood in any case.

Well, that's still about only two-thirds of what it's worth, according to LFTG.

The stylus used in this machine is a common steel phonograph needle, they are a couple of pennies apiece.

Change the needle after each record!

If the pickup has not been rebuilt, George Epple can do a fine job of rebuilding it for a modest fee.