VTLA Cabinet

[Microtrol]

Hi all,
Picked up this Victor VTLA serial number 6249 on ebay on a whim. This cabinet is in pretty good shape, just some cleanup and such, but it is missing the motor board and tone arm (gold plated hardware on the doors) assembly. I know this may be a tough find but if anyone knows or has these parts let me know if they are for sale. I would really like to put this one back together as it is a very nice design. Here are a few pics of the unit.

Brandt

[Jerry B.]

Here's the correct tone arm for the VTLA. It's also correct for other early Victrolas and many horn machines such as the M, MS, D, III, IV, V & VI. On some of the machines it was nickel plated and others gold plated but it's the same arm. The other pieces in the photo are little metal guides that helped center the Vic VI motor board that was used in the VTLA.
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There is always a small mark on the tone arm where the reproducer has rested for years. Do you see the arrow in the photo? It points to the mark on this tone arm. The mark tells me that the tone arm was mounted so the sound went down to the Victrola horn. If the mark was on the other side, the tone arm was used on a horn machine. This is something that I always check when I look at a Victor horn machine. It's not that the arm is incorrect but it tells me that the tone arm has been upgraded or possibly re-plated and the machine may be assembled from parts. It gives a clue to the history of the machine.

[Starkton]

If the mark was on the other side, the tone arm was used on a horn machine. This is something that I always check when I look at a Victor horn machine. It's not that the arm is incorrect but it tells me that the tone arm has been upgraded or possibly re-plated and the machine may be assembled from parts. It gives a clue to the history of the machine.

Very interesting observation. Thank you for sharing!

[FloridaClay]

These may be harder to come by than most, but my first stop on any quest for original phonograph parts is always George Vollema.

http://www.victroladoctor.com/

And things do turn up now and then, even for VTLAs, on eBay is you are persistant in looking there.

Clay

[gramophone78]

I would think the motor/table will be the hardest part to locate and maybe the most expensive. Since it was also used on a Vic 6.
You may also want to post a list on the "Yankee Trader" of the parts you need. Checking here, Ebay and other places should lead you to complete your VTLA.
The only pitfall you may want to avoid is spending more to complete then to find one complete for less. Unless a rare finish....these have come down in price over the last while. I wish you luck .

[Microtrol]

I kinda figured the motor board/motor parts wouldn't be cheap but I would like to bring it back to playing condition instead of a wine rack they were using it before and the cost all be it expensive, will be worth to have a nice L-door for my little collection. I am going to check with George and see what he can find today.

Jerry, thanks for the info on the tone arm as I always learn something new on this site .




Something about seeing one of these machines shabby chic'd or used for a laundry hamper just isn't right.

[Zeppy]

Great pick up. I have a VTLA a couple thousand higher than yours:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 984#p38984

The tone arm should be rather simple to get. They do pop up somewhat regularly, and were used on the Vic VI, VTLA, and if I recall correctly, even some of the early XVIs (even post L door). The bracket and screw for the tone arm might be a little harded to get, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could get one from the usual suppliers.

The motor I'm guessing will be more expensive rather than difficult to get. They do pop up regularly on ebay, but can command up to $400-500. Something to remember when getting a motor board. While the motor itself changed very little, and is interchangeable for all the VTLAs and Ldoors, there were several different motor boards. Yours, like mine, sit flat on the inside deck of the interior. It is held in its proper place by 4 narrow strips of metal. A slightly later version of the motor board is partly beveled on the underside, and the beveled part rests in the hole for the motor board, and there are about 3 inches that rest on top. It will look similar from the top, and will fit in the space for the motor, but the winding key will not line up. The third version is what most Victrolas have. The square that drops in the space for the motor, and the board is level with the rest of the interior deck.

[rizbone]

I have one from an early XVI. It looks the same until you remove it from the back bracket. Instead of having a pin,in the insert at the base of the taper tube, it has a hole. The pin is part of the back bracket. The top of the taper tube also has a hole instead of a pin. Other than that I don't see any difference.

[Microtrol]

Jerry,
here are some pics of the deck lid top with missing veneer chips on two corners. Overall, the rest of the veneer is pretty good and securely attached.

Brandt

[Jerry B.]

There are at least two types of the early tone arm bracket. I think you need one of these. The one on the right is from a flat top VTLA. The one on the left is from a Victrola XX which is tagged "VTLA" on the ID plate.