The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I think we have all been there. A friend-of-a-friend has a "Victrola" and they want to know what it is worth. In short order you realize how much we take for granted with even basic knowledge of these machines. It took several emails to get this scant information. I think she has a 16 L-Door. That was a pleasant surprise. Today she sent me an email that said, "I was finally able to see the plate and wrote down this information: VV. XVI, 45020 D. I hope this is accurate as I had to use a light and magnifying glass to see it." LOL.

These are the only pictures. I really don't know about the condition although I suspect it is a nice machine. Her family are the original owners. Don't know if it has the original albums/boxes. If I can't get better pictures, I think will go to see this one.

Assuming that it is original, complete, and in good condition, what would you estimate the (wholesale) value would be both with and without the albums? Thanks.

Here's the basic information about this model -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/XVI.htm
(Use the serial number dating guide at the bottom to find the year it was made.)

As for wholesale price, I'll let someone else chime in. So much depends on the condition of the cabinet, motor, etc.

OF

The finish looks nice and the reproducer box is nice to have but it's not a rare machine and the screws that hold in the motor board are missing. It's probable that the screws are missing due to a repair that was never finished.
I'd guess that it would sell on Philly area Craigslist for $200 - $400.

Judging from the lack of discoloration on the reproducer rim where it gets handled, and the J-tube where it gets more handling, it looks like this one was not used a lot. I think I see one of the motor board hold down screws under the needle cup unit. And lastly, the second larger box looks like the one for a Victrola 2 reproducer. There may be more than one reproducer with this one.

I finally received some additional pictures. Still have not seen it in person. Assuming the spring motor is intact and either functional or easily repaired, what would be a reasonable offer (wholesale value) for this machine?

donniej wrote:I'd guess that it would sell on Philly area Craigslist for $200 - $400.

not that I'd ever advocate parting out something as decent and complete as this, but I've seen the motor and motor board hardware alone sell for that much, at the higher end of that lowball range. Everyone wants a bargain, but if you want to be truly fair with these people, if you don't have sales records for comparable machines, I'd at least bear in mind what some of these components are worth on their own.

Brian is correct. I just sold the identical spring motor to a fellow Forum member for $200 plus postage. In my opinion the buyer and myself received fair value. A gold Exhibition has been offered for sale in the Trader for around $100. After that you are left with a valuable turntable, tone arm, and other assorted good parts. If I had a nice clean mahogany "L" door XVI for sale I can't imagine taking less than $500 for it and more if it had boxes or albums. Jerry B.

MY 2 CENTS

This is one of the machines that are worth more in parts than as a whole. But unless you are planning on parting it out you're not going to make a offer on the sum of the parts.

This L door is very late, it doesn't have a bullet brake or cast iron turntable. And if memory serves me right this late L Door motor is slightly different than the earlier high dollar motor that collectors look for.

The original OP was looking for a wholesale price, and different parts of the country will be different. But around here If I had this in the shop it would be priced at $495 and I would work from there. Which for me would put the wholesale price at $300 to $350.

If it were a earlier L Door the retail price would be a little higher, but not much. Around $550 to $600.

Larry Crandell

I haven't heard anyone really mention the cabinet condition on this, which looks to be exceptional if it's the original finish (and it looks like it is to me). That would add something to my offering price in my book. Larry points out that this is a late L-door, which is correct, and it seems to also have most of the albums. Boxes weren't used on these late L-doors. I'd personally be in the $400-600 range if it was something I wanted for my collection because it's A) Late and B) Really clean.

My 1 ½ cents.

Sean

I'd also be in the $400-600 range. I'd never expect to pay $250 for an L-door in this condition.
I HAVE seen some that I would only pay $250 for, but they needed a lot of work, and then they'd only ever
be a 'restored' L-door.