The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would like some idea as to when my Victor five was made. the tag is stamped V.5

It's an early "Victor the Fifth" and I bet it has a slotted crank. Jerry B.

1905

I have a V-1, V-2, and V-3. They use a slotted crank. I think these were made late 1904 or early 1905, when Victor went from the Alpha series to the number series. The earliest ones used an Arabic number and then the Roman Numerals. Much later, around 1921, Victor went back to the Arabic numbers like the VV-80 and so on.
Harvey Kravitz

Thank You. Y'all are the best

I remember years ago a machine advertised as a Victor VI in the MAPS newsletter. This was pre-eBay, pre-internet, pre-anything. The seller had done his research and the asking price reflected the then current Victor VI price. But his description of an oak machine with an 8" turntable and other features did not match that of a Victor VI. You know the rest of the story. It was actually a V1 or V 1. It was an honest mistake by an inexperienced seller.

Jerry Blais (from the olden days... like George)

Ehhh? What's that you say, sonny?

George P.