The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would leave it as is - How cool is that!
Too bad it can't tell the story of why, and then all the comments it received after it left the factory, like at the distributor, dealer, etc., etc.

My earlier answer was based on the disbelief that a machine could have made it from the factory through a wholesaler, a dealer, and then be accepted by a customer like this... but maybe this was more common than I imagine, to which my only response would be... "WTF???"

If you think it left the factory with that imperfection I would celebrate the uniqueness of that particular machine. If you think Honest Eddie's Victrola Refinishing made a mistake it's time for a redo. Personally I hope it escaped being discovered by Victor's final inspection.

Jerry B.

A Vernis Martin Victrola XVII in fabulous original condition with an upside down decal was in a collection here in Oregon. The owner suspected it had been discovered by a final inspection and pulled from inventory. He thought it was placed with other machines to be corrected but it never was corrected. After some time it became obsolete and was sold at a steep discount. But it is hard to imagine that Victor would let anything leave the factory with such a blemish.

We had an OTAPS meeting at this collector's home and had an interesting discussion on preference between two nearly identical Victrolas with the only difference being a decal flaw. If my memory is correct the preference was almost evenly split but I personally would take the one with the decal error.

Jerry B.