The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've posted this before but if you haven't seen it

https://imgur.com/a/vgdz7ON

I already got tips on the cylinder player in the series now I'm going to ask about the victor cabinet. I was considering something a little more radical. What if... now stay with me now...

Since there's nothing in the cabinet as it is, what if I took something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Lauson-CL508-Tur ... rds=78+rpm

Maybe not that exact one but something roughly that size, take the platform off and mount it inside a new box that I would make out of some plywood. Then probably external speakers. I know this is blasphemous crazy talk around here but what do you think?

I have a new baby on the way sept 27 and my wife has informed me I get to pick ONE option for now not multiple.


I can

a) fix up the cylinder player
b) BUY a player (i prefer antique just to keep with our office motif)
c) put a modern player in the antique cabinet
d) find a model appropriate player to go into the cabinet

The cabinet is my wife's great grandfathers'. So if possible I would like to use that, rather than a brand new one. I have about 400 78s that I have yet to actually listen to outside of youtube. and about 15 cylinders.

What do you think of this plan/idea and what do you think is the best usage of my time?

michaelphoenix22 wrote:I've posted this before but if you haven't seen it

https://imgur.com/a/vgdz7ON

I already got tips on the cylinder player in the series now I'm going to ask about the victor cabinet. I was considering something a little more radical. What if... now stay with me now...

Since there's nothing in the cabinet as it is, what if I took something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Lauson-CL508-Tur ... rds=78+rpm

Maybe not that exact one but something roughly that size, take the platform off and mount it inside a new box that I would make out of some plywood. Then probably external speakers. I know this is blasphemous crazy talk around here but what do you think?

I have a new baby on the way sept 27 and my wife has informed me I get to pick ONE option for now not multiple.


I can

a) fix up the cylinder player
b) BUY a player (i prefer antique just to keep with our office motif)
c) put a modern player in the antique cabinet
d) find a model appropriate player to go into the cabinet

The cabinet is my wife's great grandfathers'. So if possible I would like to use that, rather than a brand new one. I have about 400 78s that I have yet to actually listen to outside of youtube. and about 15 cylinders.

What do you think of this plan/idea and what do you think is the best usage of my time?

Since we are talking family heirlooms here if I understand correctly, I would go with option a) for now, because that will give you an option to immediately play your cylinders. I would put the incomplete Victrola cabinet in my basement and patiently over time find the correct parts to complete it. Then you have both your heirlooms and your inherited records saved from destruction and blasphemy. Of course that won't allow you to play your 78s anytime soon. The other option would be to store both heirlooms in the basement for now and but a modern record turntable to play your 78s. Of course you could go with option b) and buy someone else Victrola, but it would be a shame to give up your family history.

JMO
Andreas

I had a similar situation a few years ago when I came home with a motorcycle.
My lady told me either the bike goes or she does.
The next day I was living alone.

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it "blasphemy." The sin of gutting out the Victrola has already been committed, and you weren't the guilty party. The question is, is it worth it to resurrect the Victrola from the dead and return it to its former glory? Personally, I agree with Andreas's advice, and think it would be--since it's part of your family's history--but it may take some time.

First, you'll have to find out what the model is, and when--approximately--it was made, so you can hunt down the proper horn--they varied in size from model to model, and within models over time--along with the correct style motor, and the motor-board and crank. (I assume it didn't come with the electric motor option.) You'll also have to locate a tonearm and reproducer--either an Exhibition or a No. 2 sound box--and all the mounting screws, etc. Fortunately, you already know that all of the hardware should be nickel plated to match the hinge and lid support.

If you don't find the metal manufacturer's plate, containing the model and serial numbers, in all the junk stuffed inside the cabinet, the paper ID label may still be intact on the back of, inside, or underneath the cabinet.

Once you find out what the model is, you might want to put the cabinet aside until you come across the same model in a junker cabinet, and do a swap-out of the innards. That would probably be the cheapest route. Then, you can turn what remains of the (now empty) junker cabinet into a blanket check for the next generation of collectors to fret over .

OrthoFan