The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well... I really hate to do this, but I'm doing it to make way for one of Victrola- Monkey's 9-55/ 10/50 crossbreeds... so at least it's for a good cause.
This Credenza is S/N 8976, and prior to coming to me last August it belonged to fellow TMF citizen Peter F for the previous quarter century or so. (Yes, Peter knows I'm selling it- and why).

I bought it without a reproducer, and then lucked out in finding a complete new reproduction reproducer. The reproducer was incredibly expensive... but OH, so worth it.

This Credenza has incredible original finish- some bumps and bruises to be sure, but very nice- nothing annoying at all. This is one of the few machines I've ever bought that didn't set my OCD off on a full restoration.

The electric motor has a slight bit of side rumble but nothing out of the ordinary for these induction motors- it certainly doesn't interfere with the enjoyment in any way.

The sound is just nuts. Even with a super soft tone HMV Silent Stylus the clarity and punch is amazing. Loud tone needles turn it into a concert hall.

Make no mistake- this is a Credenza at the top of its game. Dashpots for the lid are newly serviced and work great. The only "negative" here is that the original felt has a couple holes.

Here are a couple videos- I shot these with a cheap 2000s camera and used a super soft tone HMV "silent stylus" needle:

https://youtu.be/IiqSWKAXnp0

https://youtu.be/K4exo1RqwOA

I'll offer this 3 ways:

1. "Full Monty": Just as you see and hear it here, $950.00
2. "Half Monty": Less reproducer, $600.00
3. "In Between Monty": I send you the Orthophonic off my new Electrola once it arrives: $800.00

No, it won't break my heart to be forced to keep the reproducer... not at all.

This is less about the money than about keeping the spousal unit happy. Our agreement with big machines is "one in- one out". Since one will be a 300 LB changer hybrid and the other one is a Columbia 810 that dwarfs the Credenza I'm thinking I pushed this envelope about as far as it'll go. She has a handgun, after all.

Sorry about the sideways photos- NOT from a phone. Go figure. They seem right when you click on 'em. Blow them up and get a good look!

Located in SPRINGFIELD OREGON- Some grease money might get Jerry B to bring it to Union or APS if he's got the room. I can hold it for awhile with payment.

PayPal "Friends and Family" works too.

Sorry- forgot a pic of the grille. Few really small, faint, minor stains in the big middle section- nothing tragic. The dark areas by the right door are a photographic anomaly.

Yes, delivery to Union or APS is possible. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:Yes, delivery to Union or APS is possible. Jerry Blais

Wrong Jerry, but we know what you meant.

Our Jerry has all 10 fingers, and is still alive. I’m guessing he still can’t play guitar as well as the other one, even though that one’s been gone since ‘95.

(Keep practicing, Jerry!)

As for my credenza, which I owned for almost 30 years, everything George says is true. A great machine at a great price.

George,

I politely asked that you not represent this as my work and I explained my concern at length. Since your post is still in error I am commenting on my own behalf.

If folks want to name-drop they should check things out first. Someone is confused about something. Maybe they bought parts from me or something, but whatever the case, the reproducer in George's pictures has obvious issues and is not my work. Most notably, the back has apparently been removed and then improperly reinstalled. It has been rotated such that the angle of the needle is nowhere near 60 to 65 degrees. Because it is not aligned it raises concern that the diaphragm and needle arm fork have also been subjected to twisting.

I have included some pictures of my work below for clarification and, what the heck, self promotion. The keen and careful observer will notice certain key details, especially on the front, that are different.
Walt

VictrolaGuy - Walt wrote:George,

I politely asked that you not represent this as my work and I explained my concern at length. Since your post is still in error I am commenting on my own behalf.

If folks want to name-drop they should check things out first. Someone is confused about something. Maybe they bought parts from me or something, but whatever the case, the reproducer in George's pictures has obvious issues and is not my work. Most notably, the back has apparently been removed and then improperly reinstalled. It has been rotated such that the angle of the needle is nowhere near 60 to 65 degrees. Because it is not aligned it raises concern that the diaphragm and needle arm fork have also been subjected to twisting.

I have included some pictures of my work below for clarification and, what the heck, self promotion. The keen and careful observer will notice certain key details, especially on the front, that are different.

No5ReproductionGold(5).JPG

No5ReproductionGold(6).JPG

Walt

Hi Walt:

Nothing nefarious, malicious, or impolite about it- there is this annoying thing that interferes with phonographs called "work" and I was at it till a little while ago. That's it. This is the first chance I've had to get back on here- and on top of that I've been getting a constant '500- internal server error' glitch tonight.

I have no idea why this reproducer photos so bad on the gold side. Must be my crappy camera. I'm holding this in my hand and to my eyeballs the finish looks EXACTLY like what you show, great gold coloring, superb detail- right down to the same very slight polishing scratchmarks- except the thumbscrew on this one is canted to the rear. This even has the same slightly odd Victrola No. 4-ish looking isolator yours does- no outer lip. (not that I'm complaining- it works just fine). Maybe I'm just not "keen and careful" enough in my observations, though.

Actually- if you noticed- I never came out and said this was YOUR reproducer- I merely pointed out the claim that was made to me and surmised that, due to the quality of the unit, that this was believable. If I really wanted to profit from "name dropping" I not only would not have stated it that way- I also wouldn't have said I would be fine with keeping it- not much profit in that, after all..

In my line of work, sometimes I get given credit for things I didn't do as well- rather than publicly running down what's presented, I'll reply with something like "Wish I could take credit for that, but sadly, it's not mine".

Now- as to the flaws you pointed out- valid concerns- first- after I shot the photos I went to do a test video and noticed that, for some reason, the locking ring was backing out. So I made a holding jig and a spanner and gently took it apart. NO twisting or damage anyplace on the diaphragm or the needle bar OR the spider. I properly aligned everything and torqued it back together to 5 NM with a drop of Locktite sleeve retainer where the locking sleeve meets the backing plate (not on the threads).

Incidentally, EVERY part in this reproducer is new and of very high quality- and the sound it gives in the video tells the whole story. Seems you might have a very WORTHY imitator out there!

Now, I'll go take your name out of the listing if I don't get stuck in the infernal '500- internal server error' loop again, that is.

Have a good evening, Walt!

Better pictures of the reproducer- they still don't do it justice, I'm afraid, but at least they're better. Also- new price!

Sale pending.