The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all,
I found this somewhat nice, albeit dirty VV-XIV from 1915. According to the seller it works well, and it has all of its original record albums with 130 record. The albums seem to be in okay shape except for two that are missing the leather rings on the spine of the album. He is asking $300 for this machine plus all the records. Its hard to tell what condition it is in cosmetically because its so dirty. He says it hasn't been cleaned in over 50 years!
What do you all think, is it a good price?

Steve

I think it's a good price, considering it has all of the albums and records. I would get it.
Harvey Kravitz

Should clean up nicely. VV-XIVs never sold in huge numbers. Nice bunch of record albums. $300 is not out of line. I suspect a motivated seller. If it's something you'd like to add to your collection, make an offer. If it's something you're intending to flip, I'd pass. Too much time cleaning for a small profit. That's my two cents worth. Jerry

Decent price, but not exactly a steal- and the crank escutcheon is missing.

estott wrote:Decent price, but not exactly a steal- and the crank escutcheon is missing.

C'mon. 300 bucks for that machine and the albums is a good price.

estott wrote:Decent price, but not exactly a steal- and the crank escutcheon is missing.

OK.....maybe not... .

estott wrote:Decent price, but not exactly a steal- and the crank escutcheon is missing.

You got punked !

I would make sure that it works. This was the first Victrola that I bought back in 1979 from an antique store in Buffalo, NY. It was in great shape and came with all the albums. It could have been taken right out of the original owners living room. Cost me $100 back then which was an ok price. I bought it on the spot but then I didn't consider how to get it home back in Long Island. A nine hour drive in my 73 Camaro with the driver's seat all the way forward was the result. I never thought my legs would ever straighten out again. The reason for my telling this story is that you should check it out completely before laying your cash out because I dragged this thing all the way home to discover that some cruel, sadistic person had performed a huge atrocity on this poor Victrola. I set up the victrola in my bedroom and invited all to see and hear. When I turned the V key and raised the famously shaped lid, I was shocked at what I saw. Under the lid where the Victor decal is placed, ,,,,,,the figure of Nipper had been removed with the skill of a surgeon. Maybe he was out for a walk??? Nope. He never came back and I gave the Victrola away. Wish I had kept the car!

If those albums are in good to excellent shape you could probably get $300 for those alone...


I think it's a good deal.

I tend to enjoy projects, so I am a probably a little biased. If the motor doesn't need much work, you have a pretty good deal there. The XIV's are pretty machines in my opinion and $300 with albums and no missing parts does not sound like a bad deal to me. The escutcheon can be reinstalled easily. The fact that the escutcheon is where it is probably means the machine got LOTS of play and so I would check to motor out first. Good Luck!!
Matt