Oak Queen Anne Victrola XIV - Wonderful!

[Jerry B.]

I freely admit I love the early Victrolas. Without exception they are unique interesting machines and offered for a brief moment in talking machine history. I recently found such a machine. It's an oak Type M XIV with a serial number of 9723. That puts it very late in the initial run of unique XIVs. Shortly after this machine was made, Victor changed the entire lineup. The result was a series of models that look like a group of brothers from age 10 to 20. They look undoubtedly related from small, medium, to large. It was a great business move for the Victor Talking Machine Company but I consider it a bit boring from a collecting standpoint.

The early Victrolas are not boring and this XIV is a perfect example. The serial number places it in the first 3% of all Victrola XIV production. (Victor Data Book) Also consider how unusual it is to find an oak example. Maybe 10% were made in oak. I purchased this machine from a local antique shop. The owner is a friend and he told me he took it out of a house where it's been since new. I believe this to be true. But look carefully at the photo showing the horn. I'd swear the horn is made from mahogany. Why would Victor place a mahogany horn in an oak machine? The machine is in good original condition and the case has suffered no trauma. It's not like a horn wears out and needs to be replaced. I wonder if an oak machine was made when ordered and the mahogany horn was given the same stain as the rest of the oak cabinet. I don't really know but it makes collecting interesting.

The "as found" photos show a machine that needed very little. But to make it look its best I cleaned the cabinet with Gojo followed by Feed-N-Wax. I also cleaned all bright gold parts with ammonia. Some missing knobs were located as well as a gold needle cup. I'd estimate I have five hours invested in this Victrola but this is what I enjoy. I'd love to keep this machine but there is no room in the basement. I am proud to deliver it to the new owner when I go to the APS Show.

Jerry Blais

[mattrx]

Beautiful. A forum member and I found an oak example a couple of years ago. It was beautiful. Another forum member owns it now. I certainly miss it and would love to have another. They are quite unusual and interesting!

I once had a mahogany version of the early XIV as well. Another forum member has it now. I love these, but I keep letting them get away! Like you, not much extra room.

Matt

[AZ*]

It is wonderful, Jerry. That oak grain really pops!

[Phono-Phan]

WOW!! Absolutely beautiful. Congrats!!

[phonogfp]

That's a stunner, alright. I'd have a hard time letting that one go!

George P.

[Damfino59]

That is one beautiful oak Victrola!

I have seen in a collection near me a golden oak XVI 1912 series E with the new wide horn & slats, in mahogany.

Perhaps with oak being only 10% of the production there were more mahogany horns then oak available? The Early teens history of Victrola models illustrates Victor was still rationalizing production.

But still that is one gorgeous Victrola. It will give the new owner many years of enjoyment.

Regards,

Glenn

[audiophile102]

That's a stunner, alright. I'd have a hard time letting that one go!

George P.

Same here. I couldn't let that one go.

[Valecnik]

Nice! My favorite Victrola! If I were to have "just one" victrola, a Queen Anne XIV would be the one.

The mahogany horn is a bit odd but no reason to guess it didn't come that way.

[Django]

I freely admit I love the early Victrolas. Without exception they are unique interesting machines and offered for a brief moment in talking machine history. I recently found such a machine. It's an oak Type M XIV with a serial number of 9723. That puts it very late in the initial run of unique XIVs. Shortly after this machine was made, Victor changed the entire lineup. The result was a series of models that look like a group of brothers from age 10 to 20. They look undoubtedly related from small, medium, to large. It was a great business move for the Victor Talking Machine Company but I consider it a bit boring from a collecting standpoint.

The early Victrolas are not boring and this XIV is a perfect example. The serial number places it in the first 3% of all Victrola XIV production. (Victor Data Book) Also consider how unusual it is to find an oak example. Maybe 10% were made in oak. I purchased this machine from a local antique shop. The owner is a friend and he told me he took it out of a house where it's been since new. I believe this to be true. But look carefully at the photo showing the horn. I'd swear the horn is made from mahogany. Why would Victor place a mahogany horn in an oak machine? The machine is in good original condition and the case has suffered no trauma. It's not like a horn wears out and needs to be replaced. I wonder if an oak machine was made when ordered and the mahogany horn was given the same stain as the rest of the oak cabinet. I don't really know but it makes collecting interesting.



The "as found" photos show a machine that needed very little. But to make it look its best I cleaned the cabinet with Gojo followed by Feed-N-Wax. I also cleaned all bright gold parts with ammonia. Some missing knobs were located as well as a gold needle cup. I'd estimate I have five hours invested in this Victrola but this is what I enjoy. I'd love to keep this machine but there is no room in the basement. I am proud to deliver it to the new owner when I go to the APS Show.

Jerry Blais

In regard to the Mahogany horn, my Oak, L Door Victrola XVI also has a light colored Mahogany horn. I don’t know if this was done because they didn’t make many high end machines in Oak or because Mahogany is an excellent tone wood. Either way, I suspect that your horn is proper.

[Phonolair]

But look carefully at the photo showing the horn. I'd swear the horn is made from mahogany. Why would Victor place a mahogany horn in an oak machine? The machine is in good original condition and the case has suffered no trauma. It's not like a horn wears out and needs to be replaced. I wonder if an oak machine was made when ordered and the mahogany horn was given the same stain as the rest of the oak cabinet. I don't really know but it makes collecting interesting. Jerry Blais

My early oak queen ann Victrola XIV 8715 is the same way. Its a untouched original with what looks like a dark stained mahogany wood horn. My guess is that's the way they came from the factory.
Although I'm not a big Victrola collector the early oak XIV is one I had to make room for.

Larry Crandell