The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Of course! That’s why I had to import my Credenza out of state!

No such problem finding post 1925 machines in the UK. In the 1920's radio was under the dead hand of the BBC, which enjoyed a monopoly and broadcast what it thought the public should hear rather than what they wanted to hear.
Although the gramophone and record industry was hit hard by the Depression, it did not decline as much as it did in the USA, where the public had a wide choice of commercial radio stations to choose from.
As a result, late 1920's orthophonic style machines such as the HMV163 survive in respectable numbers and are not hard to find.

I waited a long time to find my Victrola 8-12.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40852

It seems to me that more antique phonographs come up for sale in the summer. In 2019 I spent $100 to buy it and another $100 for a reproducer from a vv 2-35. Keep watching all the sites including the estate sales site and one you like will pop up eventually. I moved fast when I found mine. Good luck hunting!

They are not easy to find just have to keep an eye out. Several years ago, I saw a small Victor Orthophonic Consolette, I lifted the lid and it was gutted, someone turned it into a wine display. I passed on the cabinet, the parts would be a lot more than a entire machine.

By 1925, as other members have posted, radio was coming on the scene, people were switching to radio, they saw it as new and exciting with free music. Of course, many stations were only operating a few hours a day. I’m the late 1920’s, many bought Victor Orthophonic portables such as the 2-55, Columbia Viva-Tonals such as the 162 and 163, Edison P-1 and P-2 portables etc.
Many people were still holding onto the older Victrola’s and upgrading with the Victor No. 4 soundbox.

So very few were purchased, few could afford or even had the room for a new cabinet Orthophonic etc. I do find it interesting, I rarely have seen a Columbia Viva-Tonal floor model, they just have sold very few.

Keep your eyes open and eventually one will turn up.

Good Luck!!!!

Jerry P.

As we all know, when Victor came out with the Orthophonic Victrolas they wanted people to get rid of their old fashioned Victrolas, as their advertising suggested. edisonplayer.

Victrolacollector wrote: Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:32 am
I do find it interesting, I rarely have seen a Columbia Viva-Tonal floor model, they just have sold very few.

Keep your eyes open and eventually one will turn up.

This summer I found a Consolette, a VV 4-7, a 2-35, a 2-55, and a Credenza from a forum member. Then come fall all of those listings dried up.
But yes, not a Columbia in sight. I was wondering if maybe Columbia didn't sell much in the Northeast? If I did find out I would probably have to
let one go. It would probably be the Consolette even though it's in absolutely amazing shape, it's just that my 4-7 sounds SO good.

Good luck with your search!

Dischoard wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:13 pm

Victrolacollector wrote: Fri Feb 11, 2022 8:32 am
I do find it interesting, I rarely have seen a Columbia Viva-Tonal floor model, they just have sold very few.

Keep your eyes open and eventually one will turn up.

This summer I found a Consolette, a VV 4-7, a 2-35, a 2-55, and a Credenza from a forum member. Then come fall all of those listings dried up.
But yes, not a Columbia in sight. I was wondering if maybe Columbia didn't sell much in the Northeast? If I did find out I would probably have to
let one go. It would probably be the Consolette even though it's in absolutely amazing shape, it's just that my 4-7 sounds SO good.

Good luck with your search!

I hear that Summer is the time when machines seem to appear out of thin air. Hopefully, that's true this year!

You will find plenty of late 20 orthophonic type floor models if you go to the Stanton auction in MI, or the APS show in August in Calif.

I found an HMV-203 in Connecticut in September 2020. In 2020 I think the pandemic caused people to clean out clutter.