The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm moving, and I won't be able to take all of my machines with me. Offering a very nice VV-XVI L-Door C with a nearly complete set of record boxes. Only two of the boxes (both 12-inch) are lacking, and they've been replaced with a Victor book and a generic book of the period.

This is a fine example of the L-Door C model, 1911. The cabinet is in excellent condition, with the darker (and in my opinion richer-looking) mahogany finish. There's light crazing overall that I believe could be rubbed down with little effort; overall it looks so good now that I haven't thought it necessary to do more than a thorough cleaning. The pictures aren't especially good -- the sun's hitting it pretty harshly and I should have dusted it before taking them. Be assured that this machine looks much nicer in person.

An interesting quirk is that this machine sports both the original bullet brake with the leather showing very little use, and a tab brake that must have been an upgrade soon after the tab's introduction.

The gold plating on the taper tube and soundbox is clean and shows very little wear. There's some wear on the base of the bullet brake. The felt on the turntable is original and shows virtually no wear.

The Exhibition soundbox has been rebuilt and it reproduces sound very well. Its original box is included.

This is definitely one of the nicer L-Doors I've seen, and it will be an excellent addition to someone's collection. I'm reluctant to sell it, but I won't have the amount of space that's allowed me to have as many Victrolas as I do now, so it and a couple of others will have to go.

This is on the second floor, and I won't be able to help you move it down the stairs due to a knee injury, so bring help. I'm very easy to get to -- just two turns and a couple of minutes off Rt. 95 in Providence.

Cash only please.

That's a very nice example of the L Door Cody. Especially with all the extras. I really like the automatic brake and collar that is added to the tonearm. You shouldn't have any trouble selling it!

Regards, Wes

Thanks, Wes -- it really is a beaut. I should add that the feltoid casters are also in excellent condition; I bought this from the great-nephew of the original purchaser, who told me that it had always been kept in the house, never having been relegated to the basement where so many of these casters have met their demise. Also that there's a 1.5" scrape on the lid that the seller put there while I was buying the machine, by dragging off a table that had been stored upside-down on the Victrola. (I made a move to help him lift the table, but he was already doing the damage.) It's unfortunate, since that's the only ding of any significance on the entire cabinet. I've darkened the scrape with Old English, so it doesn't look too bad, but I believe it could be filled pretty easily and become even less obvious.