The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Today, while doing some antiquing, I found two very nice floor model Victrola's . One was for $325.00, the other was $275.00. Both in very good shape, and booth the right size. In fact they may have been the same model. Unfortunately, I do not remember the model number. I did not test them out, but they looked like they still would play. My question is this, is there anything I should be on the look out for, with a floor model machine? I am not going for anything too big, since I live in a condo. Something about the same size as my Edison S-19.


If I do buy one, I will most likely sell, my current table top model. It has served me well, but if I get a floor model, I will be out of space. Plus, I do not want to wind up with too many machines. Unless of course it's something unusual. Say a Victor Talking Machine "External Horn" or a Columbia Cylinder machine? I'm not holding my breath though.

Paul

Hard to say much, without knowing what models you're looking at - but my very first machine was a floor model, and while I now have 7 or 8 machines, it's still my pride & joy. There's something deeply satisfying about the solidity of a floor model, that a table-top just doesn't quite have.

My school did (and still does) a rummage sale every year. My 7th Grade year (1961) I saw the machine through the front door, and the moment the doors were opened, I sprinted for it, getting there a fraction of a second before the next guy. The machine had several albums of records in it, still had the owner's booklet - and cost... eight dollars! It's a VV XI, in mahogany, from Sherman & Clay, Seattle.

I will never part with it, and it still does great service, with a spring re-build about 1975 and a new reproducer about three eyars ago.

Go for it!

Nat

I recommend the VV-XI also. It's not hard to find, and it's big enough to have a real presence, but is small enough to not take over a small room. I think that it's Victor's best looking standard phonograph from the pre-ortho era. Somehow the proportions and the lines all come together just right.

Bring a Victor or similar 78.


Crank it up until you feel the "maxed out" tension. Release the brake, and (with the record on - and a new needle!) set the tonearm on the record. The record should be crisp, bright, and very little to no distortion.

After the record is through, pickup the soundbox, and let the springs wind down. Listen for any bumping or anything that would lead you to believe the motor needs service.

If the sound is good, and the motor checks out, then by all means, go for it!

I prefer the later Victor machines built after 1918 with the speed indicator. These will have the "A" style motor which is a very quiet and dependable motor.

It's tough to advise things to look for without knowing the model, condition, etc. That being said, you should obviously check the condition of the motor, nickel plated hardware, whether there are any reproduction/incorrect parts etc.

Aside from that, my only advice would be to not spend too much money. You mentioned that you would like a smaller upright. In my opinion, (and this is just an opinion) $275 - $325 is quite a bit to pay for a smaller upright. Unless, like you said, it is a rare and/or particularly valuable phonograph, there is no reason you won't be able to find one for half that price with a little searching and some patience.

I agree with Nat and bbphonoguy. An XI would be a great Victrola for you by the sound of what you are looking for. But you shouldn't have to pay that much for one. Nat found his for $8.00, and I just finished working on my X a couple hours ago that I got for free. I had told a local antique store that I collect Victrolas and phonographs and if they ever had any to give me a call. Sure enough, I got a call a few days ago with the news that they had two for me to come see. They were in horrible condition! Both cabinets were horrible and they needed a lot of work. I told the guy at the antique store that and he said I could have them if I would get them out of his store that day. So I took them home and got to work. I am nowhere near the restoration gurus that some others on this forum are. But, with some time and a little elbow grease it turned out to be a nice little XI. Here are a couple before and afters.

This is the XI. Like I said, they were in really bad shape. But I think they cleaned up really nice.


This is the finished X that was identical in condition to the XI.




If you wait and keep looking, you should be able to find an X or an XI for half the price of what you found the others for. However, if you go back to check them out again, let us know what they are. Maybe one is an early XIV or a nice XVI in which case the price would be much more justified. Either way, keep us posted and good luck!

bump

I'll add my voice to those who praise the VV-XI. I have owned and enjoyed my XI (model G, 1917) since 1980; a motor cleaning/re-lube and sound box (Exhibition) rebuild have been the major maintenance items. It still has its original turntable felt. I play 78s from all periods on it, from Zonophone and early Victors right up through the '40s-'50s big band and "pop" era. The only 78s I do not play are the very late vinyls, which would be seriously damaged on this machine. Acoustical recordings sound wonderful, as do solo and small-medium ensemble electricals. Large orchestra stuff does not sound as full as it would on an Orthophonic, of course. I can't see that that I would ever part with my XI unless I would quit the hobby altogether (horrors!).

Don't wait around for an $8 one, though, or you'll wait a long time: Nat got exceptionally lucky on that one! I paid $100 for mine in 1980, maybe(?) on the high side for back then, but it was in such beautiful shape: no wear on the nickel plating, which looked factory-new, and no defects in the mahogany finish, aside from the mottled or alligatored areas one usually finds on machines of that age. Keep your eye on the web auctions/sales and get to phono shows in your area. Based on some sad tales I have read on this site, I would avoid buying a machine that involved shipping. I hauled mine home to PA from upstate NY in the front passenger space of a '64 VW Beetle, after removing the seat. It's a heavy beast, built to last, and it still decodes analog data embedded in shellac after almost a century and more.

An X is a good machine but it's pretty much a table model with a record cabinet added so it has a small horn. An XI is a step up in size and quality. I agree, the later machines can be better for just about the same money- they have larger tone arms and horns. Oak is still the popular wood these days so you can sometimes get a Mahogany case for less. If you're on a budget and want a console look for a 210 or 215- they're neat and handsome and can often be found at give-away prices.

If you're not tied to getting a Victor some of the second-tier brands are very nice: Brunswick, Sonora, Aeolian, Starr and the more expensive Silvertone machines. These makes often have cabinets which look just as good as a Victor, sometimes better- the biggest problem is the use of cast pot metal in the tone arms which can lead to breakage. If you stick to the bigger sellers like the ones mentioned getting parts isn't too hard.

Columbia Grafonolas can be quality machines (excellent motors) but I don't recommend them for regular use on records you like- they relied on a friction fit tone arm without ball bearings so the record groove has to do more work and can wear out faster.

I didn't know that Grafonolas don't use ball bearing tonearms. Thanks Estott. I'll stop playing records on mine. How about Silvertone's tonearms. Are they ball bearing?