The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks to opinions that were solicited several months ago, I did not purchase a VV S215, and as my quest continues to find another, more substantial machine, I ran across a VV-100, about which I can't seem to find terribly much in terms of opinions.

The one that I saw the other day is mahogany, the serial number is in the low 60,000's, thus dating it to 1922, and the price was $300. The condition was superb, although I did not play a record on it, as the only ones in the cabinet were from the 1940's, and thus, not really for an acoustic machine.

$300: about right? Too much? Too "common" of a model?

Any insight would be appreciated.

A price of $300 should buy you a machine that is ready to enjoy. It should be attractive, original and function great. I would say that's a full retail price but that's what you expect in a nice antique shop. A great deal on price depends on your comfort level for repairs and restoration. If you check the Trader section of the Form, there was a recent thread offering a similar machine for a fraction of the price but it needed a reproducer and possibly other issues. (The thread may have been in the craigslist/ebay section.) You may do better on price but at a cost of personal investment. There's also a reasonable chance to find a bargain. How patient are you? Good luck with your search. Jerry Blais

The VV-100 is a fairly common machine even though it was only made for a few years. If you want another Victor to compare it to, I'd say it's closest to the VV-XI. Depending on what it needs, $300 is high in my opinion. I've seen antique dealers gush over how great a phonograph sounds when they have dried out gaskets, cracked diaphragms, and motors that make loud clunking sounds, then try to pass it off as "that's how they all sounded back then".

If it's all there and has a decent finish, I'd say this is more like a $150-$175 machine. Maybe $200 if it's really nice.