The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I didn't get a receipt stating it was from his estate. The picture posted above was taken in one of the rooms upstairs right where I found it. The estate sale is still going on until Sunday maybe I should go back?

Definitely!!! Go back and see if you can get any other information on it. Maybe the people at the sale will get you in contact with some family members. Explain that you want to preserve its history and would appreciate any help.

I bought an L-door Victrola last November from a gal selling out stuff from an estate where there really wasn't enough to make an auction out of it. After I got home, I sent her an email asking if she would ask the owners if they wouldn't mind telling me what they know about the machine, where it came from, et. And the brother of the gal that passed actually gave me a call. We had a nice visit and a few days later emailed me a photo of his grandparents in front of their house about three months before they bought the Victrola new in 1911! It's a nice photo and I'm really glad I went to the trouble to ask. They were both born in the 1970's and lived into the 1960's. It makes the machine quite a bit more interesting when you know a little about it.

Question: is it ok to leave the horn on the machine even with the cracks? I've been worried about keeping it mounted on the machine because I'm afraid further damage might occur. Thoughts?

I use a kerf saw to cut a gap in the hoop,,,,,slowly increasing gap until crack closes. Then I use a syringe to inject fish glue into crack. Then hold shut with hands until glue sets. This takes a while, but allows you to adjust crack closure as needed. Resulting repair should not be noticeable!!!! Clean with wood cleaner after glue cures for 24 hours. Glue cleans up with damp cloth.

DO NOT USE PERMANENT OR URETHANE GLUE. you will be doing much more harm than good as that type of glue is not reversible.

Thanks Wyatt but I'm not going to attempt to repair this horn myself. I just want to know if it's safe to keep it mounted on the machine even with the cracks or if it could cause further damage.

I wouldn't leave it mounted on the machine as I'm sure it would put extra stress on the seams. IMHO.

That's what I thought.
Thanks

[quote="Victrolaboy"]Question: is it ok to leave the horn on the machine even with the cracks? I've been worried about keeping it mounted on the machine because I'm afraid further damage might occur. Thoughts?[/quote

Personally I wouldn't have a problem mounting this horn on the machine until you get it repaired. It has a few seam cracks but its not like its falling apart. The metal end in intact, the outer rim band is intact and the outside cloth band is intact. So its still pretty sound. And these spruce horns seem pretty light compared to an oak horn. Just my opinion.

Also I would go back to the sale. As things get sold off you never know what else might be found or discovered and put in the sale.

Larry Crandell

Nice Find!!!

No matter what happens (girls, cars, friends), NEVER sell that machine!
You're guaranteed to regret it.