Another Curious Victor Offering

[phonogfp]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/400774312030?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

A couple of things jumped out at me with this listing; primarily an early Arabic "6" on the data plate coupled with an impossibly-high serial number (56339).


George P.

6dataplate.jpg (39.07 KiB) Viewed 3150 times

[HisMastersVoice]

Curious indeed...it certainly appears to be a genuine VI, though.

[Jerry B.]

I have an early Victor 6 with the Arabic "6" but this one is a modified Victrola ID tag. Most Victor ID tags say "Type" to the left of the model identification. This tag uses "Style" which suggests that it is a Victrola ID tag. That, plus the smudges around the 6 indicate tampering. The crank appears to stick out a little too far and it looks like a black handle. This suggests the use of a Victrola crank. It may just may be the skeptic it me, but the back bracket looks too deep which would make the needle short of the spindle. If that's true, it has a Victor III size back bracket. When buying a Victor always check to see if the needle or needle chuck will come very close to the spindle. Jerry Blais

[Uncle Vanya]

The plate looks like one of the cast units that were offered by Cecil Dancer about twenty-fie years ago, as does the column capital shown in the detail photograph.

[Jerry B.]

I sure could be wrong about the crank. On my machine the crank clears the top board by about 1.25". Maybe it's an optical illusion but it looks like the crank on this machine would clear by a greater distance. When you see a machine with a modified ID tag and a horn that is not really correct, you start looking for other issues. Jerry

[phonogfp]

I don't think you're wrong about the crank, nor the back bracket. It's difficult to tell when the poor photos cannot be enlarged, but several red flags are flying for me. I'd like to know if that's a yielding turntable. I'd like to see the cabinet in person, including the bottom. Clearly, I'm doubting the legitimacy of the machine as a Victor 6. I too could be wrong, but I'd hate to see someone pay that much for something that's not quite cricket.

This is an instance when you can really appreciate a phonograph show & sale!

George P.

[Jerry B.]

I'd like to second George's comment on shows and sales. You can put your hands on an item. You can get opinions about something in particular. Even with forty years experience, I don't know how many times I've asked for an opinion or just a second set of eyes to examine a piece. Also sellers have to be competitive with prices to make a sale. There are even bargains especially during the last few hours of a show. Jerry Blais

[Pathe Logical]

Looks like a clean, well-appointed home (nice furnishings, outdoor pool, what appears to be a VE 10-50, and another nice horn machine). But a few of the pictures in the listing show a forgotten, out of place, can of black paint(?) with a brush on top laying on the floor near a couple of rags. Might explain the black crank handle and the shiny black horn!

[penman]

You can actually see in a blown up version of the tag photo, the VV or VE before the number, which is definitely not a 6. There's a 6 in the serial number and its clear that they are very different. The number looks much more like an 8.

[Hailey]

The ID plate is definately incorrect. The earlier Victor 6's with the arabic "6" on the plate and appropriate motor had the crank coming out of the case near the front (side), whereas, the later Victor VI's with the roman "VI" on the plate and appropriate motor have the crank protruding from the rear (side) of the case. On all Victor VI's (6's), you will not see any blue pin striping on the back bracket either. I am unable to tell if this one is correct. The crank is incorrect, as has been mentioned. By my assessment, the machine looks straight if not for the ID plate and the crank. BUT...if you are like me, this sends warning signs...and, if I were to spend ANY kind of money, I would be driving to Kansas first.