The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I really do like the very early Victrolas. By 1913, Victor had pretty much turned all their machines into cookie cuter versions of each other, just simplfying and shrinking the cheaper versions. The early VTLAs, XIV, XII, and even the X and XI offered some real choices in styling (and even the later XIII, although only offered in Canada, which did look a lot like the XIV was dramatically different than the other post 1913 machines). I never understood the decision to offer consumers any options on cabinet styles for so many years.

I have the feeling a lot of the reason that they did not offer a series of different cabinet styles had to do with consumer demand. By 1912 they had more orders than they could fulfill and as a result they really did not have to market their machines. All they had to do was build them and push them out the door. With that being the case, simplifying the line to a standard look probably made the manufacturing and packaging process much simpler and cheaper. It is interesting to note that by the mid to late twenties when competition was much more intense, Victor had a whole range of cabinet styles to offer the potential buyer.

Really beautiful machine, love the grain and very mint condition! Thanks so much for sharing your photos and info.