The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I had a chance to buy this machine and cabinet, but I passed having just spent quite a lot on my Sonora. I really regret letting it go. Didn't know much about it except I liked it.

I'm dizzy looking at the photos

Very nice looking outfit. It's a Victrola IX with a matching record cabinet. It's a good example of what makes collecting interesting. For some reason, known only to the original buyer, they bought a table model machine and then purchased the matching record cabinet. Most people bought the VV-X or XI for about the same money. Maybe they wanted to take the Victrola when they went camping. Perhaps they planned to sit it on the porch when it began to cool on summer evening. It's those decisions that give us the variety of machines that we have today.

Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:Very nice looking outfit. It's a Victrola IX with a matching record cabinet. It's a good example of what makes collecting interesting. For some reason, known only to the original buyer, they bought a table model machine and then purchased the matching record cabinet. Most people bought the VV-X or XI for about the same money. Maybe they wanted to take the Victrola when they went camping. Perhaps they planned to sit it on the porch when it began to cool on summer evening. It's those decisions that give us the variety of machines that we have today.

Jerry Blais

Thanks Jerry. I suppose getting a portable and a cabinet made sense at the time. I would have to say that the VV-X or XI would be a much better choice. Still, I wish it was mine.

Very Nice combination. I like the fold down trim at the back of the cabinet to allow the machine to be slid on and off the stand.

I'm doing the same wrestling match with myself on a European machine up for auction. I know if I do not make a play for it I will regret it so I might as well face the inevitable and place a bid

Otherwise I will have the same regrets that you are having.

Bruce

Jerry B. wrote:Very nice looking outfit. It's a Victrola IX with a matching record cabinet. It's a good example of what makes collecting interesting. For some reason, known only to the original buyer, they bought a table model machine and then purchased the matching record cabinet. Most people bought the VV-X or XI for about the same money. Maybe they wanted to take the Victrola when they went camping. Perhaps they planned to sit it on the porch when it began to cool on summer evening. It's those decisions that give us the variety of machines that we have today.

Jerry Blais

From what I've seen, some of these record cabinets have larger capacity than an X or XI. Being a non-Victor product they might have been cheaper. like the combination because I can't easily carry a floor model but I can carry a table machine and a cabinet.

My Dad was friends with an old gal that lived about 10 miles from me and she lived to be 102. She had a Victrola on a record cabinet much like yours and I asked her about the machine one time and she said she bought it new in 1917. She didn't have enough money to buy the floor model but she did have enough money saved for the table machine. She said she wanted records too, so it made more sense for her to buy the one she did, some records and then get a cabinet later once she had enough records to need somewhere to store them. "We already had a table" I remember her saying that for some reason.

Lucy also had a nice player piano she bought new about the same time. She died about 15 years ago now and had a pretty good sense of humor. She told me she made a lot of money working in Chicago in an ammunition factory during WWI. I should have asked her what "a lot of money" was in those days!