The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Congratulations for a great and beautiful machine! Enjoy it!
In Spain I've never seen one of those big old hmv-olas (gramolas), except one in a fashion Cafe, when I was young, which was used as bar, but had the upper works complete, with a record on the turntable and the lid opened. After years, I understood that the legs must have been cut, for the machine, very big, was not tall at all.
Another time I saw a saxophone model (181 I suspect).
And the one and only time I saw a 194, I bought it!
Later I've seen 163s and 157s for sale, and years ago, a 203.
There must have been very scarce herein. My 194 was assembled in Barcelona, and the case, boards and lid, all have the assembly number 2.

Very nice!

old country chemist wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:12 pm Hello Dischoard (a clever name!) It looks like a brown Pathé PERFECT record on the turntable of your machine. Do I see a wooden needle in the socket?
I had a feeling that wooden needles and brown "Perfect" records did not go well together.

That is not actually a wooden needle, it's a spear tip needle I was experimenting with. The record on the turntable is a Cliff Edwards ukulele record that had radial crack that I repaired. I was trying to see how noticeable it would be and clean out any adhesive that would have made its way into the grooves. It turns out to have been a miraculous repair, I'm lucky!

Nice save on that L-Door!

old country chemist wrote: Sat Jul 24, 2021 1:12 pm ... It looks like a brown Pathé PERFECT record on the turntable of your machine. Do I see a wooden needle in the socket?
I had a feeling that wooden needles and brown "Perfect" records did not go well together.

Perfect records are the same as any lateral groove and do accept Cactus or Bamboo needles just fine.

James

Very nice job!! Another one saved.

Very good work dischoard, and quite the transformation. It can live again.

That take a lot of time, sweat, and patience to accomplish that good of a job. As everyone has said it is nice seeing another one saved from the victor graveyard. Tom

I share the opinion about Perfect records and bamboo needles not being compatible, as weren't many of the dime - store labels records, because their surfaces used to be quite rough...

Looks like a perfect match!!! That is exactly what I would have done.

Nice job. An L-Door Victrola is a must have for many of us, (often more than one).

I’m glad that the record is still playable. Cliff is one of my favorite 1920s performers. What was the A side title?