The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

It's not often these days I can say I picked up two really great machines in a matter of a few days. This past Saturday I picked up that Oak B-250 from a Craigslist seller in High Falls, NY and after deciding to "go for it", I won the VTLA auction on eBay this past Sunday in Poughkeepsie and brought it home yesterday. I've always wanted one and I'm not afraid of cleaning up a mess. This machine is the perfect candidate. It was found in a barn where it likely sat for decades. Veneer is lifting in spots and the broken piece on the right door was actually there, the entire cabinet feels damp, so I'm letting it sit near my pellet stove for a few weeks to really dry out before I can do much. One neat thing about the machine is the spring tension reproducer and apparent lack of a mica screw on the needle bar. The mica has no hole in it, either. The seller informed me that there were records with it and I had some hope there might be some boxes for the records, but alas not. Here are a few photos. I couldn't leave well enough alone last night, so I just lightly cleaned a couple of spots to see what potential it has and I think it has plenty!

Sean

I'm jealous. It will clean up nice. I was bidding on that also.

Congratulations, Sean! I'm sure you'll have it looking beautiful before spring.

George P.

Great machine, certainly worthy of repair and cleanup, congratulations. With all the snow you guys are getting (according to the weather man) you won't be doing any yard work for awhile so you'll have some free time to work on the machine.

Best Regards, Larry

Yeah, the snow has been, well, nuts for us! I hardly slept waiting to pick it up. Other than the two horn door knobs, everything else is there. Anyone have a pair of those they don't need? The motor in this example is surprisingly quiet after just a quick lube.

I will be taking my time with this for sure. Between this and the B-250, I have plenty to keep me entertained during snowmageddon. I'll post some photos of the B-250 soon. I pulled it out of a pretty damp basement. It's also enjoying some "dry out" time before I do any more work on the cabinet, but it's already cleaned up a lot with just one light going over.

Sean

Congrats on both! Keep us posted as things progress with the restoration.

Clay

What are the correct knobs for those doors. It almost looks like you have the smaller, later style knobs on the bottom doors as well. Would this have those knobs, or the style found on the later VTLA and L-Door machines?

The bottom knobs are correct, the top ones should be smaller, but I'm not 100% sure exactly about the size, I'm almost certain they're not the same ones used on the later dome-lidded VTLAs and L-door XVIs comparing with my examples. Here's a photo I lifted from elsewhere showing them.

Sean

Congratulations Sean, what great projects. I can't wait to see progress photos. Jerry Blais

Hi Sean,
Glad you got it. I am surprised you did not have one (or two) already!

Here are some pictures of the correct knob. They are "hollow" with a screw and does not pass though the door. In the second photo the size is compared to an early victrola IV door knob. The IV knob is slightly smaller and a solid brass knob. But a good place holder until you locate the appropriate knobs. Good Luck! John