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Has anyone ever seen a Victor Exhibition reproducer like this one? It appears to be gold plated (although worn) and personalized with initials(?). The needle bar "chuck" also appears to be different from other Exhibition reproducers I have seen.

I've never seen anything like it. Do the initials appear to be applied to the reproducer? Could you take a better photo of the needle bar and chuck? Thanks, it is interesting. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:I've never seen anything like it. Do the initials appear to be applied to the reproducer? Could you take a better photo of the needle bar and chuck?

Hi Jerry, Unfortunately, it is not mine. I found this on CL. The price is high for a common VV-IX but the unusual reproducer makes it interesting as I have never seen one like it either. The owner states that the reproducer has "...the owner's initials monogramed to the producer cover also in gold..." Here is the link:

http://longisland.craigslist.org/atd/3925263111.html

If it was closer to me I would buy it just for the reproducer!

Best, Doug

seems kinda hokey to me (and a little vain).

^^^^
Perhaps true, but still highly unusual and for that reason, I think very interesting and worthwhile.

Retrograde wrote:seems kinda hokey to me (and a little vain).

I agree. An IX would never have had Gold fittings to begin with. I do have a thought on this, though. It could have been something made by a jeweler along the lines that would just slip over the original nickel part of an Exhibition. I have an A-R-L attachment that slips right over the outer part of an Exhibition, like a ring, and fits snug for playing Pathé discs, you have to look closely when it's on before you notice the fact that it is basically a cover. It's too hard to really tell from the photo, but it could be just that. I know it doesn't explain the needle bar, which could have just been carefully "adorned" somehow. Notice the thumbscrew is not gold toned.

Just a thought...

The first initial is a "B", is the second a "C" or "S"? I was wondering if this wasn't Bugsy Siegel's!

Sean

It would be interesting to know its history. Another thought is that it might have been special ordered as some sort of presentation piece for someone.

Clay

I think Sean is right about the "ring". If you look closely at the edge it appears that there is a joint between the reproducer and "ring" with initials. Just MHO.

Sean, that was my thought too. Some kind of aftermarket piece that slips on.

Might have started out on some grander machine with gold fittings - soundboxes do get switched around.