The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was looking at this old photo of a man with a Victor, and it looks like the crank is in the front of the cabinate. Along with the diamond shaped crank hole cover. On the right side of the machine, where the crank normally is, you don't see one protruding. This is apparently a period photo post card. Found on ebay. Certainly weird, is this a possible factor mistake??? Seems unlikely.

I think it is a front mount to rear mount (tone arm) conversion NOT using Victor parts. The tone arm does not look Victor to me.

I agree. The back bracket appears to be offset and closer to one side similar to many Talk-O-Phones. Jerry

I don't think I would trust that stand with my prized Victor.

Rgarding the post card... the horn does not appear to be shaped (scalloped) like a traditional black metal Victor horn. May be a cobbled together affair. Given the position of the crank, the horn of a Victor would be to the right side of the case rather than the opposite the crank. BTW, the difference between a Victor front mount and a rear mount machine is the direction the horn points. The horn/support is mounted on the same side of the case for both.

This raises the question. Were there vendors that provided the parts to convert a front-mount to a rear mount, using 3rd party parts?

The reproducer angle seems off as well..........

The picture raises another question: wouldn't someone attempting to convert a front mount machine at least have tried to match up the back bracket with the existing holes for the extension arm, rather than drill new holes in the side of the case?

Phototone wrote:This raises the question. Were there vendors that provided the parts to convert a front-mount to a rear mount, using 3rd party parts?

Yes, there were "3rd party" suppliers of back brackets & tone arms for both cylinder and disc machines. Some of these are shown in Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks and in Antique Phonograph Accessories & Contraptions.

George P.

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