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While I was cleaning up this arm for my Victor E, I noticed some odd-looking detailing along the side. It almost looks like a previous owner tried to make a custom design or something. Has anyone seen something similar before?

That's the support arm usually found on the Victor "Royal" ("R"). The finish is legitimate and should not be polished with steel wool or other abrasive.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:That's the support arm usually found on the Victor "Royal" ("R"). The finish is legitimate and should not be polished with steel wool or other abrasive.

George P.

Oh I see. So I should probably find one for the type E then?

LtFrenchFries wrote:

phonogfp wrote:That's the support arm usually found on the Victor "Royal" ("R"). The finish is legitimate and should not be polished with steel wool or other abrasive.

George P.

Oh I see. So I should probably find one for the type E then?

Yes, the correct support arm would be all nickel plated. If I were you, I'd post a "FOR TRADE" for the correct support arm in the Yankee Trader.

Here's a photo of mine, although the traveling arm on mine is the earlier version, I believe.
Best,
Fran

Not to sound contradictory, but is it possible that was installed at the factory (for some unknown reason). It is known that sometimes non-standard parts were installed, not only by the factory, but by dealers, or even the first owner. I have no evidence of that being the case in this example, just offering it as a possibility. Cheers, Russie

startgroove wrote:Not to sound contradictory, but is it possible that was installed at the factory (for some unknown reason). It is known that sometimes non-standard parts were installed, not only by the factory, but by dealers, or even the first owner. I have no evidence of that being the case in this example, just offering it as a possibility. Cheers, Russie

That's why I phrased it, "...usually found on the Victor "Royal." What you describe is certainly possible, but not likely in my opinion.

George P.

Hello LtFrenchFries,

Did it look as if the parts had been together for a long time? Is the arm you have the same length as the support arm you want? If so, then consider it something that makes your phonograph unique and try keeping it like that?

It's a beauty either way and I love that "oxidized copper" finish.

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:Hello LtFrenchFries,

Did it look as if the parts had been together for a long time? Is the arm you have the same length as the support arm you want? If so, then consider it something that makes your phonograph unique and try keeping it like that?

It's a beauty either way and I love that "oxidized copper" finish.

It did seem as if it was there for a long time. There was a very obvious outline on cabinet when I took it off. Perhaps it was there originally? From the pictures I can find online, it seems to be the same shape, length, etc as the one intended for the machine.

LtFrenchFries wrote:

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:Hello LtFrenchFries,

Did it look as if the parts had been together for a long time? Is the arm you have the same length as the support arm you want? If so, then consider it something that makes your phonograph unique and try keeping it like that?

It's a beauty either way and I love that "oxidized copper" finish.

It did seem as if it was there for a long time. There was a very obvious outline on cabinet when I took it off. Perhaps it was there originally? From the pictures I can find online, it seems to be the same shape, length, etc as the one intended for the machine.

It would be the same for all intents and purposes, only the finish would differ.

This really comes down to how you feel about the overall appearance of your Type E. Do you want it to be as it likely left the factory, with the historically appropriate parts, or do you want it to remain as found with the unique history it represents?

The finish on your support arm indicates that it was likely replaced at some point in its long history. Take a look at some images of a Victor R. All of the hardware on the R had the same oxidized copper finish, differentiating the machine from the others offered at the time.

In my mind its very unlikely it left the factory with the incorrect support arm. It's certainly more likely that someone put this machine together from various unoriginal parts. We see that all of the time with many, many machines. In fact, to find a machine that's survived for over 100 years entirely intact, is a bit of a rarity.

The fact that the "remove this plate..." plate is missing, suggests that perhaps this had the upgraded rear mount support bracket, tapering (tone)arm and horn installed at one time, and someone perhaps removed those parts to create this sometimes more desirable (from a modern collector's perspective) version of a front mount machine out of various parts, without regard to authenticity. Or perhaps they needed the rear mount support and associated parts to put together another machine. This happens all of the time, and there's been 100+ years for it to happen.

Who knows?

Just my $0.02,
Fran

LtFrenchFries wrote: It did seem as if it was there for a long time. There was a very obvious outline on cabinet when I took it off. Perhaps it was there originally? From the pictures I can find online, it seems to be the same shape, length, etc as the one intended for the machine.

I believe the support arms for the R and the E were identical, except for the finish: the outline may have been there already.

As said above, the lack of the plate suggests that this machine may have been converted to a rear mount at some time. It's possible that someone scavenged the back bracket; and someone else later reconverted it to a front mount, using an arm that was available.

-Bill