The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

An identical Japanese made J1-51 just came up for sale here in Hong Kong. Does anyone know if it's similar in performance to an HMV 130?
Looks in very good condition and from the text on the transfers looks genuinely Japanese.
Priced at equivalent of 500 pounds, overpriced or a bargain?

Cheers Steve

nostalgia wrote:The next four models:

Victor tabletop Model J1-50


Victor tabletop Model VV-J1-50


Victor tabletop Model J1-51


Victor tabletop Model VV1-60

We just bought this beautiful Victrola 260 and the cabinet is in the nicest condition we’ve seen. Were these actually made in Japan or were these a custom order from Victor?
Is it possible to clean the cabinet at all?

cheryla wrote: Mon Jun 27, 2022 7:01 pm We just bought this beautiful Victrola 260 and the cabinet is in the nicest condition we’ve seen. Were these actually made in Japan or were these a custom order from Victor?
Is it possible to clean the cabinet at all?

Great find. As for the cleaning I do not think I am the right guy to answer that part of your query--but the data tag should say whether it was made in New Jersey or in Japan. I believe this one is American-made by the looks of things, but to tell whether it is a Victor custom shop piece or an aftermarket customization, we would have to all see the decal. If the decal is applied over the paint, then it was done in the Victor shop in Camden. If the paint frames the decal, and the decal is applied on wood, then it is an aftermarket painted finish done by a small firm specializing in that kind of decoration.

Chinoserie antiques are beautiful and to have a Victrola humpback done in that finish is always a treat--the pagoda-like shape of the cabinet lends itself well to an Oriental theme. Very artistic, and it'd look well in a room decorated in that style.

It looks like ours was from New Jersey. The decal feels smoother than the painted interior of the lid. Do you know how many of these were made and how much more this would have cost the original purchaser? I’m not finding anything…
We are very gently and carefully cleaning the robin’s egg blue interior.

how do you clean one thanks.

cheryla wrote: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:33 am how do you clean one thanks.

When I cleaned the cabinet of my Fullotone Chinoiserie model I used baby wipes. Don't laugh. They contain the very mildest cleaning agents and are safe to use on a baby's face. Let us not even think about the baby's other end. It took several applications to remove the accumulated dirt.
Although this method worked for me I would advise great caution. I started work on the undecorated back panel, as no-one knows the composition of the paints used by the specialist decorators all those years ago.