The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I bought a Vic III, (my first) a few weeks ago on Craigslist and decided to post some pictures as I have some questions about it. When I arrived to take a look, I asked the owner where he got it from and he said his dad gave it to him. His Grandpa had given it to his dad and his Great-Grandpa had bought it new. It sat in the same farm house since it was purchased sometime around 1908 and included were two record carrying cases made by Hawthorne & Sheble full of his G-Grandpa's records all of which are pre-batwing label Victors. The cases are interesting and have locks on them with the original keys. (They are the same record cases pictured on page 106 of George's book, Antique Phonograph - Gadgets, Gizmos & Gimmicks.)

Anyway, I ended up buying it and finished cleaning the 100+ years of dust and grime on the machine a few days ago. I'm happy with the results.
It's a very clean machine throughout and was obviously well taken care of. I have a few questions regarding the cabinet. I noticed when looking at other Vic III's online that most of them have a few differences regarding the details on the base of the cabinet as well as the corner columns compared to mine. The majority of the bottom portion of the cabinets I have seen "stair step" down with three sections, each section being larger than the one above it. Mine has a base that is completely different. Were there variations in the base of the Vic III cabinets over the years? If so, does anyone know when the changes took place?

Also, the corner columns on the Vic III's I have seen have a larger square block at the bottom and top of the column that are identical, both having a notch cut into them. The columns on mine have the bottom square portion like other Vic III's, but the top portion of my columns are smooth without the carved line similar to those on a Vic V. Does anyone know when the column design changed on the Vic III?

My last question is regarding the latch release button that is pushed to lift the top for motor access. I have seen two styles on Victor machines. One style is a simple round push button that is pressed inward to release the latch. The other is like that on my machine where the button is surrounded by a diamond shaped escutcheon and is pushed downward to release the latch. Is there a date when the design was changed? If so, which was the earlier style?

As always, thanks for any help/information.

Wow. wow. wow. Now I see why this is on people's short list.

Does this one have the slotted crank too?

Slotted crank?

This is a late machine, with the new style cabinet introduced in late '09. The nameplate, with the japanese characters dates the machine as post-1911.

This style machine was made until well after the Great War, but is not as often found as the earlier model, for by the time of its introduction most folks were buying internal horn models.

Uncle Vanya's right - - the sticker beneath the cabinet is dated 1/25/1910. According to Baumbach's Victor Data Book, this serial number falls close to the middle of Type A production. The last of these were shipped June 3. 1913 (serial #41575). Sonny's III probably dates to 1912.

Beyond that, what a beautiful example! Congratulations - -

George P.

It's been my observation that the late Vic III's have the concave base and more massive corner columns. Jerry Blais

For comparison purposes, slotted crank, lever reproducer. Tag says March 01 1902.

A real treasure Sonny!

Clay

Mine has the early name plate and the diamond shaped escutcheon. The paper label on the bottom says 1904.

You've ruined my day!