Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Post Reply
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8727
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by Jerry B. »

Stan and I visited the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, New Jersey today. Tomorrow it's the various Edison sites around West Orange. I'll write a caption on some of the photos. We had a wonderful time and sent around three hours at the museum. If you are ever in this part of the country you must visit the museum. Stan and I were treated like royalty by Jackie Collins and Howard Fulcher. I hope you enjoy the photos. Jerry Blais
Attachments
DSC02323.JPG
One of only three VV-XII's I've ever seen in oak
One of only three VV-XII's I've ever seen in oak
DSC02326.JPG
A wonderful machine stand. The top raises and you can store the horn inside.
A wonderful machine stand. The top raises and you can store the horn inside.
Our wonderful hosts Jackie and Howard
Our wonderful hosts Jackie and Howard
Johnson's personal copy of the trademark painting "His Master's Voice"
Johnson's personal copy of the trademark painting "His Master's Voice"
Painted portrait of Eldridge Johnson
Painted portrait of Eldridge Johnson
Top
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8727
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by Jerry B. »

More photos...
Attachments
A wide Queen Anne period machine
A wide Queen Anne period machine
Grammy given to Eldridge Johnson
Grammy given to Eldridge Johnson
Top
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8727
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by Jerry B. »

More photos...
Attachments
There's more than just Victor products in the Museum.
There's more than just Victor products in the Museum.
A Victrola Number 80 with radio. One of 25 built. It must have been a sad day when this machine was ordered built. It was the beginning of the end...
A Victrola Number 80 with radio. One of 25 built. It must have been a sad day when this machine was ordered built. It was the beginning of the end...
Top
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8727
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by Jerry B. »

Last of the photos...
Attachments
The best for last... This is the most spectacular Victrola I've ever seen or expect to see. It's a Louis the XV period machine but done with a Vernis Martin finish. Parts like the horn doors are curved in two directions. Part of the ID says it is "Special Order Number 6". It was worth the trip just to see this machine.
The best for last... This is the most spectacular Victrola I've ever seen or expect to see. It's a Louis the XV period machine but done with a Vernis Martin finish. Parts like the horn doors are curved in two directions. Part of the ID says it is "Special Order Number 6". It was worth the trip just to see this machine.
During World War I, part of the Victor factory was used for the war effort. Rifle stocks were made and parts for aircraft wings were manufactured.
During World War I, part of the Victor factory was used for the war effort. Rifle stocks were made and parts for aircraft wings were manufactured.
Top
User avatar
fran604g
Victor VI
Posts: 3992
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2013 2:22 pm
Personal Text: I'm Feeling Cranky
Location: Hemlock, NY

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by fran604g »

Nice pictures, Jerry!

Any idea how many of the Enfield stocks were made? Did you notice if that one is a US Model of 1917 by chance?

Fran
Francis; "i" for him, "e" for her
"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while" - the unappreciative supervisor.
Top
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8727
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by Jerry B. »

Fran, That's actually a photo of a photo. It was dated 1918 but that's all I know. The giant Nipper next to the Vernis Martin Victrola is nearly six feet tall. I think it was someone's special project. The big Nipper next to the Victrola makes it look like a photo of a miniature but it's not. Jerry
Top
tomwil
Victor I
Posts: 189
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:38 pm

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by tomwil »

Jerry B. wrote:Stan and I visited the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, New Jersey today.
Just in case anyone is interested in visiting, the museum is actually located in the state of Delaware.
Top
User avatar
phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8081
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by phonogfp »

There are some wonderful machines in the Johnson Museum. Jerry barely scratched the surface! :)

By the way, that treadle Graphophone is the only known example of the Type "T" which is the last of the treadle players (but not shavers). It dates from 1896-97.

The museum is well worth the trip if you're in the region.

George P.
Top
User avatar
VintageTechnologies
Victor IV
Posts: 1651
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:09 pm

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by VintageTechnologies »

fran604g wrote:Nice pictures, Jerry!

Any idea how many of the Enfield stocks were made? Did you notice if that one is a US Model of 1917 by chance?

Fran
From the little bit that I can see, it appears to be the 1917 American Enfield, which had distinctive "ears" protecting the rear sight.
Top
User avatar
alang
VTLA
Posts: 3116
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:36 am
Personal Text: TMF Moderator
Location: Delaware

Re: Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, Delaware

Post by alang »

Jerry, great that you were able to visit the Johnson Victrola Museum. Every time I visit or volunteer there I just don't want to leave. I always feel like a kid in the toy store. And Jackie is a very nice person for sure. I hope you got a demonstration of the Auxetophone, it literally blows me away every time. And like George said, the pictures only scratch the surface. It is well worth the visit if you are in this area.

Andreas
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Machines”