The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As many of you probably saw the many questions I posted on this forum a while ago, you probably already know I’ve been working on my first phonograph, the Victor E. After a few weeks of work and cleaning, I’m happy to say that it’s finally done! I tried it out the other day and after some adjustments, it sounds fantastic! Thanks so much to everyone on this forum for all the help you’ve provided. I had a lot of fun doing this and am looking forward to the next one and getting more into this hobby!

Also, I realize the support arm is from the wrong model, but after some consideration I decided to leave it to preserve the history unique to this machine.

Congratulations, your E looks marvelous.

Best,
Fran

Nice work! Clean, honest age, and not over-restored. Hope you enjoy it for many years.

George P.

Yes, congratulations! It is fun restoring antique phonographs. For many of us collecting an playing the period records is part of the fun. Consider what kind of music from the period you like and explore more like it on You Tube.

The Victor E is absolutely charming! You did a nice job saving its originality--it still looks like an early phonograph--while also freshening it up for service. Now you need some old records from back then.

Don Wilson (donniej on the forum) produces the old records better than the originals. He molds from early copies and while they're expensive, you can't wear them out and they sound great. I have two copies of Maple Leaf Rag but I'd have more if I had a job. He did some 1920s jazz 78s that are especially tempting now that I have a late 1920s portable Grafonola.

The brass horn is great. It's not over polished and it's not rotting. I like how you were able to pull the big dent out of the rim--that's touchy stuff. That wood finish glows...cleaned up beautifully.


Now we're all waiting on that Edison Home Model A!

Great job -- it looks terrific. You'll be hooked now, but it's a wonderful obsession.

Congrats on a job well done!!! Time to put this one aside and look for the next project. You will soon become a Phono-holic like the rest of us.

Looks very nice. You should be proud of yourself. Jerry Blais

Very nice. It is a good feeling when you can bring them back from the dead and have it look so nice. What did you use to clean the brass??? Tom