The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
I own 37 Machines. We just sold our larger Home in Victoria B.C. Canada and moved 6200K to a smaller 1890's home in Lunenburg Nova Scotia. I didn't trust the movers with the heavier machines so my wife,cat,and eleven Phonos made the 14 day trip with me in my Ford Ranger!!! I can't wait to drive to the big Union Show next year.
Pete

I have 62 as well, but only 55 are currently playable. I have curtailed my acquisitions as I am running out of room to display machines and stay married. I will probably have to begin to part with some machines in order to get others. I guess that is a good problem to have???

Clearly I've a long way to go before I'd ever be REALLY considered a "collector":) However, what I do have are 8 fully functional machines:

1926 Victor Credenza, walnut & mahogany. 4-door, offset turntable, no record lifter
1921 VV-X, golden oak
1919 VV-X, mahogany
1917 VV-XVI, mahogany
1909 VTLA, mahogany
1923 Columbia Grafonola "low boy", walnut, electric motor
1928 Brunswick Panatrope portable, black case
1920s Outing portable installed into a record cabinet as a "faux console"

Non-functioning:

1917 VV-X, mahogany, chopped off legs & really beat up finish-bought for $50 just for the Exhibition soundbox. Has a good 2-spring motor.

Used to have a functioning Edison Amberola VIII, til I tore it apart when I was 13 & couldn't get it back together again. All that remains now is the cabinet & the motor-no mandrel, crank, horn, reproducer

I don't think I'll ever have an 'extensive' collection; but I wouldn't mind finding a couple more: maybe an Orthophonic or Viva-Tonal, for my electric discs, and something that can handle vertical discs (I only have one of these at the moment - an early OKeh; but I wouldn't mind getting into Pathés and DDs).....

Bill

Well, I have 9 machines including the VV-80 that I picked up today. It's in very rough shape but then I like the ones that need that special bit of help to bring in back to its former glory. Yeah I'm bit by the bug.
VV 8-12
Edison standadard model A round top
VV-IV
Vv-80
VV-260
Edison B-80
VV-VIII
VV-XIV
Amberola 30

I have somewhere between 40-50. If I acquire one more machine my wife says she will set up an intervention ::))

I've been stuck at around 50 for years, 55 now I think. I've bought/sold and upgraded from time so the collection has not been static.

Going much above 55 becomes problematic for obvious reasons we've all shared.
- space
- finances
- fear of change in marital status.

As my wife sometimes says, "Keep at 55 to stay alive!"

No where near the size of the collection some folks here have, but I'm happy with my

VV-IV (picked up cheap to eventually flip)
VV-50
VV-XVI (1913 Mah.)
VV-XII (1909 Mah.)
VTLA (1909 Oak)
Vic 1
Vic P-3
Vic Monarch

Oh, and I forget, an Edison Home

I suppose 9 isn't too shabby considering my wife feels they should blend into the furnishings, and not appear to be a collection.

Sold another half dozen along the way, as well.

Uncle Vanya wrote:I have 43 just now, I think. At times I've owned as many as two-hundred-sixteen.

I'm not really a collector, just someone who enjoys listening to the hot dance bands of the 20's on original equipment. I have a 1916 Victrola the 11th and a 1926 Victor Orthophonic Credenza, an early 4 - door model with centered turntable and "Credenza" on the ID plate. I don't have the room or the money to expand the collection to more machines that would probably not even see any use since these two do all I want or need. OH, I also have a 1912 Henry F. Miller full size upright player piano that I use on a regular basis.
I want to congratulate the real collectors and restorers here for saving these wonderful machines for future generations. In the hands of you experts, these machines and also records are getting better care than in any other time in their lives!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtk0kF0xRHY