The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Grover,

We have a few complete “Potmetal Elimination Kits” and turntables available that will make your 10-50 work like new again. The aluminum, steel and bronze parts are fully finished, powder coat painted and have matching laser cut Merino wool felts from a company in the Netherlands. It took a lot of searching to find the right 100% wool material in the right color. Unlike other sets produced in the past, no machining or filing or trial fitting is needed, the parts are drop-in ready. We’ve helped about sixty collectors restore their Victor 10-50’s, 10-51’s, 10-70’s and 9-55’s. In addition to the new parts the kit includes full documentation and unlimited free email support to help you complete your restoration. The soundbox is a separate item and would refer you to other experts to restore that. Replica turntables are available separately because they are not always needed. The earliest 10-50’s had cast-iron turntables which are always fine, the later 10-50’s and all the Electrola changer versions have a pot metal turntable. The Potmetal turntables are sometimes useable but if they are warped more than about 3/16” the changer will not work reliably.

If you buy it we look forward to helping you restore your 10-50. They are fascinating machines.

Here is a video of a fellow I helped last year.

https://youtu.be/qA1aOk_33JM?si=N0OSeG0exvRaOuhf

Mark & Bronson

Some photos of the internal mechanism, this is a 10-70 Electrola but the function is the same. It has a magnetic reject solenoid that the 10-50 does not.

Also. Video of a 10-50 and 10-70 with the reject lift pad removed. One has a 10” record, the other a 12” record

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y44ank5m ... xf8et&dl=0

Mark

Although I'm home right now, I remember the seller wanting $250 for the machine, not sure if any room on that.

It looked okay, though definitely sitting for a while, covered in dust and cobwebs in the interior. I could see something had made itself a home in the bottom area where the albums go- besides that, it seemed complete in terms of parts. I asked to try it, but the seller said he didn't want to, which struck me as a bit odd. The felt had either been stripped or disintegrated from the turntable. Looked like a walnut cabinet.

GroverOverton08 wrote: Wed Nov 19, 2025 7:30 pm Although I'm home right now, I remember the seller wanting $250 for the machine, not sure if any room on that.

It looked okay, though definitely sitting for a while, covered in dust and cobwebs in the interior. I could see something had made itself a home in the bottom area where the albums go- besides that, it seemed complete in terms of parts. I asked to try it, but the seller said he didn't want to, which struck me as a bit odd. The felt had either been stripped or disintegrated from the turntable. Looked like a walnut cabinet.

I say if the opportunity is knocking, answer it! I have been a machine collector for almost 10 years and I've still have yet to see one in person.

GroverOverton08 wrote: Wed Nov 19, 2025 7:30 pm Although I'm home right now, I remember the seller wanting $250 for the machine, not sure if any room on that.

It looked okay, though definitely sitting for a while, covered in dust and cobwebs in the interior. I could see something had made itself a home in the bottom area where the albums go- besides that, it seemed complete in terms of parts. I asked to try it, but the seller said he didn't want to, which struck me as a bit odd. The felt had either been stripped or disintegrated from the turntable. Looked like a walnut cabinet.

250 USD is a bargain. That's a "haul it away" price.

Garret

Hi Grover,

Garret is right, this is quite a deal. How are the negotiations coming or did you decide to pass? Did you take any photos that you’d like to share?

Mark

Looks like the one at Stanton's sold for $150 and it may have already had new parts metal parts.
Including all record boxes. What has happened.

Hi Jeff,

That is right, it was a bargain and well below the market price but big machines rarely meet their potential at Stanton’s. Most buyers don’t come prepared to pick up a 300+ pound machine. After adding in the buyers premium and the cost of delivery it is no longer a $150 machine. Curiously enough a set of the eight program boxes brought more than the cost of this complete machine in this recent and last Stanton’s auction.

If he can buy that local 10-50 for $250 that is still a very good good deal. Moving the big machines as you well know isn’t easy or cheap if you have to hire a mover and they seem to be getting heavier with each passing year.The last two recent sales of complete and fully restored excellent examples of 10-50’s in my records brought $2500 each. I hear that unrestored 10-70’s are still changing hands at $1500 and the last two complete and restored 9-55’s brought $3500 in the last year. The market is smaller than when you and I started but there is still strong interest. I’ve sent out over fifty sets of pot metal replacement kits in the past two years.

Mark

That is true, moving these machine is no small task. And I was reminded of the added unknown knobs on the control panel that may have discouraged a purist. I can't figure out why the knobs and switch would be there. I love my VE 10-70 and still would go out and buy a VE 10-51 if one was available.

Update.

I chose not to buy the 10-50.

After going back to the sale and looking at the machine, the interior was in derelict conditon, most of the metal parts had become corroded partially, and while this would be restorable with some work I could throw in- seeing Skihawx posting of the fully restored unit for $150 at Stantons made me realize it's a hunk of junk for the price, work, and cost of restoration. Also, needing to transport the machine since it wouldn't fit in the trunk of my car. My dad was onboard but my ma would kill me.