The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently purchased a victorala-radiola borgia I cabinet. It is just the cabinet, no radio or phonograph included. The cabinet is really beautiful and really good condition. I was planning to repurpose it and make it into a bar or bureau; however, after reasearching it a bit it appears to be a rare model. I am wondering if I should instead consider selling this to a collector for restoration. Does anyone know anything about this model or does anyone have an interest in preserving it or purchasing it? The model can be seen here:
http://www.victor-victrola.com/Borgia%20II.htm

It looks just like this without the guts. http://www.mulhollandpress.com/VictorBorgiaI.htm

Is it a Borgia I or a Borgia II?? It also makes a difference whether the interior sections of the cabinet have been cut out. It the components were simply removed they can be put back. If the shelves, brackets and horn have been removed then that can be a problem. Where is the cabinet located??

If you would post pictures of your cabinet, we could be a lot more helpful.

Jim

Well it is literally just the cabinet so I believe the same cabinet was used for the borgia I and II. There is no shelving inside it, just the framinging at the top of the cabinet where the phonograph would sit and the brackets are still in place, no horn. I am located in La crosse Wisconsin, US.

I will post pictures tomorrow?

Is there any novelty value for the cabinet itself, I guess I am wondering if not restored does it carry any value as a free standing cabinet for something else? Also if someone really needed this cabinet for their restore I would be more inclined to pass it a long before altering it for another purpose.

If it had a horn there might be some chance of restoring it, but that is a major loss. If I had it (and had room for it) I'd rebuild the interior for record storage.