The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Although the seller has overpriced this Victrola, please note the photo of the parts under the lid. While the hardware should be gold-plated, it appears the tonearm and lid support are nickel. Was this perhaps a transitional piece or has it been modified.

http://denver.craigslist.org/for/4824069249.html

Looks like a marriage of parts. The tone arm and reproducer are not correct for any XVI. The XVI was the "flagship" of the Victor line. It wasn't the most expensive but it always had the most powerful motor, best reproducer, biggest horn, etc. Other models, like the XVIII and XVII, were more expensive but the extra cost was for appearances and not performance. Jerry Blais

That's not the original tone arm. XVI parts were always gold plated, as was the hardware on it's re-numbered model, the 120. This machine also looks poorly refinished and if you look closely, the lid lock appears to be missing as well.

Oh, and having just looked at the ad....$1500?

One interesting thing is the dealer tag - I wonder if this was a "second hand" machine?

Sean

I've never seen the needle cups in the front right either. Was this ever done?