The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Jerry B. wrote:Does the ID tag say "V 3"?

Jerry B.

If you enlarge the photo in the first post, the data plate (assuming it is original) is clearly marked III, not 3 and with serial # 33111. I believe the OP is more comfortable with Arabic numerals given his mention of his 6 & 11 (e.g., VV-VI & VV-XI).

As the other posters have stated, this appears to be a fairly nice, but not rare, unmolested machine that should clean up nicely. Prices for machines are all over the place. Every week, someone on this board brags about a nice machine they got for cheap. Gone are the days of $1500 Credenzas for example, since Credenzas seem to routinely show up now for $200 or $300.

I don't think the value of the "average" external horn machine has dropped as much as the "average" internal horn machine, but they are definitely selling for a less than they did in the past.

The seller is putting you in a difficult spot. You don't want to overpay, but you don't want to offend him or her either by offering a "too cheap" price. The seller should not expect to get what a professional dealer would ask for this machine.

Based on the push button type release for the motor board and serial number, I would expect that this is a mid-series machine. The correctness of the reproducer,(not shown), the condition of the plated parts and the condition to the striping on the back bracket are all factors that contribute to value. Without seeing these features it is hard to determine value. I do love the III though. Completed auctions on eBay can be a decent approximate guide, (take eBay fees from the sold price to determine what the seller got for a comparable machine).

Years ago I paid around $800 for my humpback Vic II in similar condition and without horn. Prices have come down since and I probably overpaid slightly for mine back then. The Vic III shown in this thread will need a good cleaning and the motor needs to be serviced. If you cannot service the motor yourself then it's about a $200 investment to have someone do it. Cleaning of the case and horn can be done following the many forum posts about the subject. Once all that is completed you probably have a machine worth about $1,000, so I'd offer maybe $800. Some may think that's too much, but when do you have the chance to get a nice unmolested original? Just my opinion.

Andreas

I generally approach situations like this as follows. If the seller is not willing to do the "foot work" of getting an idea of value, (which is not too difficult in the days of the internet & eBay), then I make my offer with the following in mind. I try to offer more than the seller would likely ever be able to get, by any other means that they would be willing to try. At the same time, the upper end of my offer still allows me to get a "deal". NOT a "steal", just a "deal". After all, you could buy Vic III's all day long for "market" price, but you are most likely not interested in doing that or you'd have one already, so why do it now? When I make my offer, I very often state that if they went to eBay or sold it by some other means, they might do better, but to me, today, I can offer you $xxx for your item. That method has never failed me.

Since you know your seller well, you should know whether or not your offer is going to prompt them to suddenly do an exhaustive search of the value of Victor III's, to see if you're trying to take advantage of them. Which you seem in earnest to NOT want to do. If the seller is such a person, then it's a tricky matter to satisfy them, as even a "market price" offer may not suit their unrealistic expectations. If that's a possibility, it may not be worth going down that road at all.

Best, of luck to you!