The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

With a buy it now price of $150 it looks like a bargain, but who knows what is wrong with it. Too far from me. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Victor ... Sw8b1Z67oi

It looks like it was stripped of the stain and finish coating. The tone arm bracket is pot metal and crumbling. It could be rebuilt with tedious fitting. Or it would have to be replaced. The grill cloth is gone. I'm sure the reproducer is pot metal, but it's hard to see it in the pictures. If the reproducer is good, and the tone arm support can be rebuilt, not a bad price.
Harvey Kravitz

The wood is not oak, as the seller claims.

I agree with Harvey, it was definitely stripped and re-finished. The dark mahogany finish on what's left of the grille (barely visible in front of the horn) --
-- would be the appropriate color.

The veneer is gone. What is left is core plywood showing. Collect the parts that are original and burry the rest. Too many of 8-12's for the number of collectors that want them. Victor had a hard time selling them back then and dumped 5,000 at a much reduced price.

Thanks for pointing it out that the veneer is gone. I thought the wood looked kind of funny. Definitely, stay away from this. Unless you can find a cabinet with veneer and finish, cheap, this will cost more than it is worth.
Harvey Kravitz

I don't think this all that bad a deal. Even with all the issues pointed out, for $100 you are getting an orthophonic reproducer and tonearm and a motor and crank. Those parts alone are worth way more than the asking price. So, if the machine can't be fixed up, the parts can be used to help someone else fix up theirs.

melvind wrote:I don't think this all that bad a deal. Even with all the issues pointed out, for $100 you are getting an orthophonic reproducer and tonearm and a motor and crank. Those parts alone are worth way more than the asking price. So, if the machine can't be fixed up, the parts can be used to help someone else fix up theirs.

To me this is a perfect machine to create a "they should have built it" custom. I'm envisioning a fresh overcoat of burled walnut veneer on the flat panels and some tasteful contrasting paint on the trim like a VV 8-9, all French polished to perfection.

Now if I only had the time and it were 3000 miles closer...

If I were closer I would offer $60 and he'd probably take it. Being the condition the body is in. Also, he dated incorrectly. this one was actually made in 1928. I see people dating Victrolas incorrectly all the time. Cheers

It certainly deserves a second chance. The idea of taking what has monetary value and burying the rest is contrary to the objectives of the hobby: restoration and preservation.

Skihawx wrote: Collect the parts that are original and burry the rest. Too many of 8-12's for the number of collectors that want them. Victor had a hard time selling them back then and dumped 5,000 at a much reduced price.

I wasn't aware that there was such a surplus of talking machines. I am so glad that we are so awash with gramophones that we can dispose of those with veneer blemishes and replaceable brackets.