The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well, hopefully I'm saving a good machine and creating a new enthusiast. My brother-in-law and his significant other visited from Washington state this summer and really liked my phonographs. Most people think they are neat but she really liked them along with the history I was able to share. Knowing the pickings in the NW are not nearly as good as in the twin cities, I thought I'd keep an eye out for a good priced table top to send them as a surprise for Christmas.

This would also give me the opportunity to hunt down a machine and enjoy the clean-up process without adding one to the population in our house which has reached it's capacity. (not real capacity, capacity according to my wife ) So, low and behold, I found a nice little VV-IX in oak that was filthy, had a few small black rings on the top but otherwise a perfect first machine. I got to play with the gojo and take apart the double springs and re-grease them. (twice, I put them in backwards the first time in my haste)

Below is the Christmas gift with a few new knobs, a well cleaned and lubricated motor and freshly rebuilt reproducer. It will cost me more to ship it than I paid for it but hopefully it will find a loving home. So, anyone ever given a phonograph for a gift? I have to admit, I kinda hate to let it go.
Scott

As long as you're giving away phonographs, I'll be glad to PM you my contact information.

I tried to vote and kept getting an error. At any rate, yes, I have given two machines as gifts and both were very well received. One was to my Aunt who had always admired my drive at this hobby, even back then when I was a teenager. The second I gave to a high school buddy's Grandmother who loved it and played it daily. Thinking back now, both machines were Mahogany VV-XIs. I used to find them all the time at farm auctions in rural Vermont where my Grandmother lived and I'd pick them up for $20-30, clean them up and turn them around for $150 or so. My Aunt still has hers and proudly displays it in her dining room. My friend's Grandmother passed away in 1992 and he now has the machine I gave her. While neither inspired "collecting", each brought a pretty neat level of happiness to the people and their families. I'd certainly do it again if I knew anyone else that would appreciate one!

Sean

Four of them! Three Victor portables: a 50, three 2-55's and an Edison Fireside. One of the 2-55's gets used pretty often ta parties at a lake near me, where my friend Ernie serenades the annual picnic from his canoe, as well as at Christmas services at his church. The other, and the Edison, now sit in the shop where I take my viola for repair4s, and both get played pretty often to customers. The third just went to our church organist. The 50 seems to have faded away...

My first machine was a table model Cecilian which was about the size as a Victrola IX. I bought it at an antique auction in 1972 and it was my first attempt at refinishing a piece of furniture. I was very proud of my Cecilian but over time I purchased other more interesting machines and by the early eighties, I realized the little Cecilian didn't add interest to my growing collection. We had a retired lady that did occasional housework for us. She always asked about my latest purchase and was interested in my collection. It was easy to give my Cecilian to her for Christmas sometime in the mid 1980's. She's been gone a long time and I've always hoped that someone in her family is now enjoying the Cecilian. Jerry Blais

Yes, I have given away one so far. A VV 4-3 to my sister-in-law who plays it for everyone that comes for a visit. She and my brother-in-law seem to really like the machine. I think she now has her eye on the XVI I picked up a couple of months ago....

Yes, I was given an 8-35 which I passed along to a good friend in Arizona who broke off the screw holding the needle in the soundbox. He uses a toothpick to hold the needle for playing.

Cheers from Dallas,Tx ♫♫
Jerry F Bacon

Quite a few of them! To all of my inlaws, family, every librarian who retired in the school system with the same for those in the technology dept and as door prizes with the NCET which is a technicians group in North Carolina. I have probably given away dozens of machines ranging from credenzas, standard talking machines and the various types of Victrolas and such. the last one for librarians is an Edison h-19 for a retiring librarian since I am retiring and will not be within the school system any longer. I like fixing these items up and then letting someone else who I hope will preserve them for future generations to have a little insight into what life was like so many years ago...

I gave my VV-IV to President Obama last year. He just sent me a bill for gift tax

Sold one to a friend who gifted it to his sister. She will not let anyone play it.