The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

If you very close, just below the power lines near the top of the photo, you will see an out-side horn machine, totally intact it seems.

tomwil wrote:

1923VictorFan wrote:They made nice boxes and were of course excellent as firewood.

Speaking of firewood, old radios have no love also, especially at a recent radio show held in the east.

It's hard to feel good about a scene like this, even if the "sacrifice" was a gutted, peeling, insect-riddled hulk that was was not good for anything...

The dial opening makes me think this was from an Atwater Kent...

briankeith wrote:If you very close, just below the power lines near the top of the photo, you will see an out-side horn machine, totally intact it seems.

If you look even closer, you'll see that there is some debris on this side of the horn, and that what seems to be the cabinet is even closer - on this side of the debris. I believe the horn is a loose cylinder-type laying among the debris.

George P.

The World War II era probably saw the demise of millions of machines being donated to the scrap metal drives.

[quote="Lenoirstreetguy"]George I think you're right about the 1920 date, judging from the clothes.
This pic reminds me of the department store story ( which I believe was Wannamakers) that I've told before. A friend of mine had a buddy who's Grandfather worked for the store in the early 'teens. It was decided to discontinue handling open horn machines, so after a final " all open horned machines must go!" sale, they stripped the mechanisms and tossed the cabinets and horns down the freight elevator shaft to be burnt in the boiler room. I suspect that story is far from unique.

Jim[/quote]

The centennial of the Wanamaker Building is fast approaching. The store opened in December 1911. President Taft attended the opening ceremony; there's a plaque on the floor where he stood. However, I understand that he will not be there in December 2011.



Rocky

I have a definite, verifiable quantity. There are more machines that survived than households that want them. More people are trying to sell one than buy one. That makes for nice finds, such as my Electrola XVI that I bought in my hometown last week. Most sellers can't tell a Victrola X from a Victrola XX. That's good for us as collectors! Also, as we discussed earlier on the group, most people that own phonographs don't actually use them. They're a decor piece in the home. Whether it's an uncommon model is irrelevant, as is whether or not it works.

Damon
St. Louis, MO

Came across a video on YouTube that shows a Victor Orthophonic being stripped for the Kutztown Antique Radio show bonfire.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfihJ5Jc-g[/youtube]

Maybe I am a newbie and, as my username may tell you, I grew up in a different culture. I really don't get this making-bonmfire-with-Victrola-phonograph-cabinet thing. Isn't firewood very cheap at supermarkets? Someone may find that Victrola cabinet good enough for his or her restoration project. Even converting the cabinet to other use is better than burning it for fun. I simply don't get it!

[quote="tomwil"]Came across a video on YouTube that shows a Victor Orthophonic being stripped for the Kutztown Antique Radio show bonfire.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfihJ5Jc-g[/youtube][/quote]

Clay

tomwil wrote:Came across a video on YouTube that shows a Victor Orthophonic being stripped for the Kutztown Antique Radio show bonfire.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDfihJ5Jc-g[/youtube]

how dare they!
forget the credenza, throw them on the bonfire!