The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

HisMastersVoice wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:

Jerry B. wrote:Holy Grail?... I'll take a Berliner Doll. Thank you very much. Jerry Blais

Of course opinions will vary..... .

I'll take this Victrola
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Why is there a record in the lid ?

It's just an educated guess but I suspect the expensive Period Model Victrola was a gift from Victor to Caruso and the photo was a publicity shot. Maybe that record was a huge seller for the company. Caruso was the pinnacle of all the major opera stars at the time and a huge asset for the Victor company. That specific machine would be a good choice as a "Holy Grail" Victor machine. Jerry

This may be the Victrola presented to Caruso as a wedding gift by the Victor Company in 1918.

According to the Stanley Jackson biography, the gold disc set into the lid was "La donna e mobile" from Caruso's first recording session for Victor.

This machine would certainly be my Holy Grail, but I would like to think that it is still treasured by the great man's decendants. Does anyone here know what became of it?

Hopefully it wasn't gutted and made into an upcycled liquor cabinet...