The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Not mine (though I’ll be putting mine up for sale before the Wayne Phono Show). It’s pretty rare to have so many of these rare phonographs (or empty cabinets) to be available.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2977729366

The ad says this is a 9-54 rather than a RE-154. I wonder if this is a 9-54 that had its record changer removed and a single player installed. It would also have to have had a radio replacement. Did these have a maker's plate that would verify what this was? The turntable doesn't look period.

Marc,

The seller is incorrect, this is a complete and authentic RE-154. There are a number of design differences that prove it... There are 3 back panels versus 2, the logo is the big V design, the addition of upper shelves for record storage versus the wide open area to handle the horizontally discarded records by the VE 9-54’s record changer, and no Victor Talking Machine Company’s ID plate evidence. The RE-154 uses the plain narrow metal strip ID plate that simply states the model and serial number (as also used on the RE-45), which can be found by removing the middle back panel.

The RE-154 is much more rare than the VE 9-54 whereby there were less than 600 made by VTMC versus less than 3000 by RCA Victor.

I think if I wasn't just embarking on my 9-55 restoration I would buy this. I have always admired this cabinet whether it be this one or the more common version of electrola and this one is in really nice condition and is complete. Unfortunately funds only go so far.

Out of interest did this model come with specific record storage albums or would it just be the standard ones?

Phonosandradios,

The RE-154 and RE-156 came with the exact same colorful 12 albums as the VV/VE 8-35, which is twice as many as their earlier version VE 9-54 and VE 9-56 had.

These can be seen in the following link:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39467

Now gone. Error in the listing..