The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So I need to know it all. Whatever you know. Now this machine needs a new elbow as the present one is cracked and so held together with this clamp. Someone told me this is not original brake. What is the original? Do you have a photo of an original? Someone also told me this machine did not have an escutcheon but crank moves up and down a lot so do I have the wrong crank or did it actually need an escutcheon. How old do you think this is? Does it have a model number? Would you replace that decal? Or keep it?

It seems that I have seen this machine somewhere before... I'm not an expert on G&T machines, but I am sure that the elbow and horn are not original - they should probably more closely resemble a Victor horn & elbow. The crank looks like it's wrong too, but don't know what type it should have been. Not sure about the brake, except it looks like one from a portable...

Thanks. Also if it helps in identifying it. The platter is 8 inches. The base of the machine is about 11 inches square and the top is 9 ¾ inches square. The sound box says The Gramophone Co. Limited. Thanks again. If anyone know who has British parts let me know. George in Michigan does not.

I don't think it matters too much if it has British parts. The horn elbows have the same outward appearance whether they're British or U.S. and either would look better than what is there. As to the decal, I say leave it alone. It looks pretty good yet. The brake is definitely wrong. The one you want rubs on the beveled edge, on the underside of the turntable. Crank is wrong too.

Without seeing it in person, it appears to be similar to a Victor I or II machine (someone on here probably knows and can verify that) and the parts are probably interchangeable...

Here is a Victor I:

Here is the early style Victor I brake that you need for a beveled turntable...

Even this model in England was known as the Victor. Elbow is obviously wrong as all other commentators have said. Horn looks like it belongs with a cylinder machine and the brake is way too modern. Should have the brake as shown on the previous post which would have been found at front right (you should see the screw holes there). And as also mentioned, winder is wrong.

DO NOT REPLACE THE DECAL it looks fine

The machine is indeed a G&T Victor of about 1905.
The original horn would have been a "Witch's Hat" pattern in black enamelled steel with a brass bell, measuring 14x10 inches.
The original winding handle would have been of 3 piece construction with an offset web.

epigramophone wrote:The machine is indeed a G&T Victor of about 1905.
The original horn would have been a "Witch's Hat" pattern in black enamelled steel with a brass bell, measuring 14x10 inches.
The original winding handle would have been of 3 piece construction with an offset web.

Yes, it's a Victor I or "New Victor" retailed by Gramophone & Typewriter in England from 1905 onwards. However the correct horn for this can also be an ALL-BRASS type 'Witch's Hat' horn. The elbow, horn, winder and brake at least are all incorrect replacements. The machine should also have an escutcheon.

I note also that the speed control is different to the standard machine. My own example has the vertical speed adjustment screw on top of the motor-board. This example shown here appears to have an earlier motor with the speed screw from a 'Trademark' style machine (first Junior Monarchs and New Style 4) mounted at the side. I've never seen another like this. The screw and escutcheon appear to have a different plating (or at least it looks to be aged differently) to the rest. Alarm bells are ringing.......

The brake looks much more like those used by the Linström Company (Germany), also for export.