The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The Craigslist seller, at long last, Responded. He sent some pictures of the old Victrola RE-45 and it looks pretty restorable--

EXCEPT, I don't see the speaker.

Any idea if it has one? I'm more used to audio gear with a starting crank, not a transformer or induction coil.

And what would be a ballpark value without the speaker? I'd prefer an original, of course, but if a new one could be cabbaged in there I could try that...without, of course, trying to rewire it for transistors!

The outside looks like a snap to clean up, but I'd like to hear it play instead of it being just a boat-anchor. Opinions?

There's a few photos showing the back on this page -- http://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio- ... _RE-45.htm
It looks like the speaker is missing.


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Kind of what I figured. What should I pay for it then? There's a speaker on eBay but it's $150--that's the whole asking price of this guy's machine!

It's unfortunate to see it messed up but I don't want to funnel a vast amount of money into a radio that won't work.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:Kind of what I figured. What should I pay for it then? There's a speaker on eBay but it's $150--that's the whole asking price of this guy's machine!

It's unfortunate to see it messed up but I don't want to funnel a vast amount of money into a radio that won't work.

I'm sure there are other speakers that could be substituted. We need some of the electronics repair peoples' input.

Ball park figure for an RE-45 without a speaker. That's easy, 0.00. The fact is that even though these sound good when restored, they are very difficult to sell even then. If owned that thing, I would be thrilled to pay someone $10 to haul it away. I'd probably forget that one and look for a restored one for sale.

Honestly, I would try to find a better one. Like previously stated, they are great sounding and performing machines, but so many were made that they aren't very valuable. You'd want an original speaker, for sure. That's part of what gives these their full, warm sound.

For the record, the guy selling those RE-45 parts on eBay has had them listed forever, and they are way, way overpriced. You should be able to buy a nice working machine for between $200-$400 depending if it has been serviced already or not. The machine pictured above looks like it has also seen some moisture, which is not good for wood or old radios.

There was a speaker for one awhile back on ebay for $15 and no takers. I'm pretty sure I have one around here that I paid about that for if you end up needing one for this machine. I wouldn't want to give more than $50 for it the way it looks. The parts are worth something, and that's probably the best way to think about it for a price. Hopefully, the cabinet's not in too bad of shape, but it looks like there might be some loose veneer on it. I just sold an RE-75 for $350 which is the same chassis, in a fancier cabinet is all. It was restored, and refinished, so you could hardly say it was a money maker. Haha! But the guy that go it is really happy with it and it will be taken care of for now, so I guess that's something.

Well, if you really want it, there's these, on eBay now;

JerryVan wrote:Well, if you really want it, there's these, on eBay now;

Well, fellows...

I got an email & it looks like the seller found something in his garage.

We'll see how this works out.