The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Did the early Humpback Victor II come with a rounded slotted crank or a flat slotted crank? I still need one.
Thanks, Bob

The Victor II Humpback came with a round slotted crank, not a flat bar one. Ron Sitko sells them for around $40.00. They are spot on with accuracy.
Harvey Kravitz

My humpback II, serial number 23497 has a tapered round threaded crank. As far as I can tell it is original to the machine.

The earliest Humpback Victor II used a slotted crank. My early one has a 4 digit S/N, 2018. If anyone knows which S/N the threaded crank came out, let us know. I couldn't find it in the Victor Data book.
Harvey Kravitz

Thanks, Mine has a S/N 2189. It came with a repro flat slotted crank and I thought it was wrong. So I need a round tapered slotted one to be correct. What is the flat one for?
Bob

Bob, I can't give you a definitive answer to your question of round or flat. It's my observation that the larger machines like the Victor V and VI are seen with rounded slotted cranks on the early examples. I've seen medium sized machines like the MS with both flat and round slotted cranks. It's my guess, and it's only a guess, that a small Victor II would be more likely to have a flat slotted crank or perhaps a round one as they transitioned towards threaded winding shafts. If I had a cute little hump back Victor II that needed a slotted crank, I would be happy with either a flat or round crank that fit properly. Jerry Blais