The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As the title says as Are they less desirable than spring driven? I was curious as to what to offer for an electric motor machine
Dwight

The collecting community is an odd bunch. Even though electric machines accounted for only about 10% of Victrola sales, collectors do not assign a higher value to them. In fact, many collectors prefer a spring driven example. The opposite is true when you compare an Edison Alva, which is essentially an electric Triumph, to a spring driven Triumph. I would estimate an Alva to be worth ten to fifteen times the value of a Triumph. Perhaps it is because an Alva is a treated as a different model than a Triumph and Victrolas are lumped together.

Jerry Blais

I've noticed that most collectors prefer the spring motored Victrolas. I understand this preference since the spring motors represent the more "primitive" versions. My point of view is that the early electric versions represent the more deluxe and rare versions of the Victrolas. Personally, I do not prefer one over the other. I have electrical and spring Victrolas in my home, and love them equally.

I can only speak for myself. My interest in "windup phonographs" was an adjunct to my childhood fascination with mechanical toys. Given the choice, I would always prefer windup to battery powered. Batteries wore out quickly in a day and age before alkaline batteries, and tended not to get replaced very quickly.

A windup toy, such as the Marx climbing tractor I was given as a birthday present when I turned seven -- http://www.rubylane.com/item/551702-166 ... actor-Wind -- (Oh, that I had it today!!!) -- was always "rechargeable."

On the other hand, my battery powered Remco "Lost in Space" Robot -- http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Remco-Lost ... 485f188705 -- (BOY, do I wish I still had that one!!!)-- which I got the following Christmas, wold run for a few hours and then sit idly for weeks until my dad remembered to get some more batteries.

I've always loved the fact that, save for a constant need to replace the needles, acoustic phonographs are totally "green."

Along this line, I'd love to add this Wireless Vacuette--an early version of the Kirby vacuum cleaner--to my collection:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNWxzg47g8[/youtube]

I'd stand it next to my Vic. V, when not in use.

Joe

I prefer spring driven phonos... I just like mechanical stuff so they are more appealing to me.
that said, I wouldn't mind adding an Edison Class M to the collection.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-BETTINI- ... 7675.l2557

An exception might be the Credenza. Collectors seem to prefer them with the optional electric motor. I know I do.

As long as it came that way from the factory, I wouldn't say they are less desirable. There just aren't as many of them.

I own a VE-XVI and I really like it. I also have a 1921 Silvertone in the wide Jacobean cabinet that someone electrified early on. Probably mid/late 1920s from looking at the motor. I eventually want to make that one stock again.

The collector in me want's whatever is the least common. If most Triumphs are oak, I want a mahogany one. If most Grafonolas are mahogany, I want a walnut one. If most Victrola XVIII's a spring driven, I want an electric one. I'm easy to please... I'll take my Gem in mahogany with a Bettini attachment! Jerry Blais

I guess I have been a little leery of early electrics for fear of not finding parts for them and issues with getting the motors repaired. For just an example, don't the Victrolas have big honking resistors in them to adjust for the kind of current a body had in the 20s? Where would you get a new one of those? And I also have visions of their maybe being a fire hazard.

Clay

Power resistors may be had pretty easily, though they don't look quite like the originals. On the other hand, if the machine was not stored in a damp cellar the resistors are seldom faulty. The total amount of power dissipated b the resistors in these motors is on the order of sixty watts, about the same heat produced by an electric light bulb of modest size. The Victor machines were very well ventilated, so I don't see much of a problem.