The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well, I have a new addition for my VTLA project. I won a reasonable match of an instruction book to go with it. Granted, it's not 100% correct for the machine. The cover identifies it as instructions for the XVI, and I recall from the auctions when I won my machine (the seller was selling the instructions separately) it should just say Victor Victrola. However, it is from the same year as my VTLA (1909, the year the change from VTLA to XVI was made, also the year they dropped the carving from under the lid), and the picture of the machine still has the decorative carving, so I'm reasonably happy.

A little embarrassed to admit how much I paid for a little instruction book, but it was less than the instructions that originally went with my machine (the instructions actually went for more than what I paid for the actual VTLA!). Now if I can only get around to finishing restoring the thing (90% done. That last 10% is taking forever....just have to refinish the shelf and motorboard, and reattach the decorative trim...oh, and rebuild the motor, and replate...but that's just the icing on the cake).

Awesome! Isn't it nice to get that little extra something to further complete one of your machines?

Sean

OrthoSean wrote:Awesome! Isn't it nice to get that little extra something to further complete one of your machines?

Sean

I've always been a bit nutty about trying to have everything the machine came with (key, reproducer box, needle tin, record index). My other XVI has its instructions, and my vv-50 has a repro...now if could only find one for the Vic 1 (don't think they made instructions for the P). Looking at the instructions XVI, the only thing I'm missing is the block that held the horn in place while it was being shipped. I saw one on ebay many moons ago, but only the once (and before I had the VTLA). Well, that and the shipping crate, but I can honestly say I've never seen that particular type of shipping crate anywhere.

Oh, the addiction!

Paper items are my fetish so I'd be the last to criticize a pricey item.
This is pretty rare I have to say and I LOVE seeing stuff like this. If I would ever get off my duff and go and buy a new scanner I'd be posting a lot of my paper goodies as I used to. ( Got a new printer so I'm half way there )

Jim

Zeppy,

Excellent find! Finding original or at least copies of the original paper material for my machines is a pet project of mine as well.

Regards,
John

I can understand being nutty about paper. I have paper ads for most of my machines. I have instruction manuals to machines I never owned, and probably never will. A few random record catalogs. A whole lot less paper than machines out there...the irony being that more of my talking machines have manuals than my modern stereo equipment.