The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Recently picked up a careworn Victor II on a recent business trip off craigslist. Got a few interesting comments lugging it home on the plane and through security! Fit nicely under the seat so it was quite the contrast to see that and then folks using smart phones on the plane. Looked like it had been rubbed down with some type of stain over the years to make up for lack of original finish, but cleaned it up some a few weekends ago. Perhaps the oddest thing was the rachet pawl was missing and someone had improvised one with a spring (a first for me to see such a part missing). Rounded up that part and some reproduction column decoractions and how have a pretty nice little machine. Perhaps this will inspire one of you out there to go to the garage and elbow grease a project machine you have waiting for you....

Nice little humpback. Was there a horn and elbow with the machine..??. This machine will be nice to keep for taters tots..... .
I too just found a "later" Vic 2. Seems to be a few floating around out there.

Well it did not have the elbow but Ron Sitko solved that for me. You have "a to die for cabinet" with your later model 2!

Good looking little humpback II. Jery

Couch Potato wrote:Well it did not have the elbow but Ron Sitko solved that for me. You have "a to die for cabinet" with your later model 2!

Thank you. Ron makes great elbows. Congrats!!!.

The Victor II looks good! What kind of horn are you hoping to put on it?

Your airplane story reminded me of the time I brought a cased Q Graphophone back home on the plane from the APS California show. This was a year after 9/11, so security was kind of jumpy. The TSA woman asked me what the Q was, and I told her. She tried removing the lid, but as you cased Q owners know, the latches must be unscrewed. She fiddled with them for half a minute while I looked on, and I finally stepped forward and said, "Let me open it for you." The woman extended her hand and said, "Don't touch it." I stepped back and smiled, "Okay." Finally, she said, "Please open this up for me." When I lifted the lid, she pointed to the mandrel and asked what it was. I told her it was where the old-fashioned cylinder record slid on so it could be played. She was having none of it. Pointing to the mandrel, she said, "You'll have to open that up so I can see inside." You can imagine my visceral reaction to that!

I tapped the mandrel with a fingernail, saying, "It's hollow inside - - hear it?" I also pointed out to her that there are holes in the large end of the mandrel, and she was free to poke a pen or other object inside to confirm that it was hollow. (I didn't say that it would be a cold day in hell before she ever saw the insides of my Q mandrel.) Finally, the woman - - clearly exasperated with this bald dork - - told me to pack it back up and go on... Thank goodness.

George P.

Humpback IIs are my favorite Victor machine... nice one.