The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Jerry,
I've been to your house many times, and have wondered about this Victrola. With the toppless woman, it's actually a Pornograph. This was Victor's entry into the bordello market. LOL
Harvey Kravitz

I have always considered this a "folk art" phonograph because I am fairly sure that none of the phonograph manufactures of the time would have made any thing like it. The machine is quite well made of different types of Walnut, but the most striking detail is the door to the record storage compartment. It is comprised of many pieces of wood veneer glued together to form the beautiful picture that you see. As you may know, this is called Wood Marquetry, an art form that you do not see much these days. The maker of this machine used a Victor motor, motor board, and tone arm. Another unusual feature on this is the small electric motor that has a rubber wheel that rides up against the side of the turntable. It took the place of the spring barrels, which were missing. I was not sure if this motor was actually made for phonographs until I later found an old ad on ebay for this same motor. They were sold as accessory motors to replace the springs. I had never seen one. When I first bought the phono, the naked lady was turned inside the record compartment. She could only be seen when the door was opened.I turned the panel around so that you could always see the true craftsmanship of this piece. It certainly was a true wood artist that constructed this piece.

Bill "

Bill, this is an awesome piece. I love the Wood Marquetry, very well done. I also like the electric motor, seems to be one of the better accessories of the time. Would you happen to have that ad for the motor?

Thanks for sharing
Andreas

alang wrote:Bill, this is an awesome piece. I love the Wood Marquetry, very well done. I also like the electric motor, seems to be one of the better accessories of the time. Would you happen to have that ad for the motor?

Thanks for sharing
Andreas

I do have the ad framed on a wall by the phonograph. I will try to snap a picture of it and post it this evening.

Bill

Here is an ad for the Shelton motor from 1915.

Silvertone wrote:Here is an ad for the Shelton motor from 1915.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Now I want one...

Andreas

That AD is a bit misleading. How can you use the motor -at all- with the springs still in?

I'm late stumbling upon the post where I read about this wonderful hand carved cabinet made by William M. Plummer but thought others might be interested in seeing it. The cabinet was shown at Philadelphia Museum of Art Jan. 15-April 5.

http://myauctionfinds.com/2015/01/12/vi ... can-hands/
Photo of artist with cabinet from "Souls Grown Deep: The tree gave the dove a leaf" Paul Arnett, William Arnett: Google Book

Phototone wrote:That AD is a bit misleading. How can you use the motor -at all- with the springs still in?

It will unhook the springs, if I understand correctly. So, you can use the electric motor but NOT also with the option of going back to spring power - unless you are very lucky & the springs happen to re-hook themselves !