The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321150196606

This is a curious machine to my eyes. Is it not a Victor 'E' with French G & T badge? But what I'm most interested in is the curious "little ears" cut-outs around the circular aperture for the cast motor-plate. Clearly there has been some revisions made to this in order to fit that motor into that cabinet. But when was it done and by whom?

Has anyone got any ideas about this one? It clearly started life as one thing (travelling arm machine Victor) but ended up something else.

It seems like a pretty standard 1902 (fiber gear) Monarch (M not E), probably supplied by Victor for G&T, then converted to rear mount in the standard fashion. The "ear cutouts are also pretty typical of Victor machines of the period and allow for the slight movement of the exposed screws at certain points in the motor, such as for governor adjustment, or other frame parts, etc.

Others probably know more, but that's my opinion