The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

from Donley's Auction next month:

https://www.proxibid.com/Victor-Type-A- ... n/53850996

Could this have come from the factory in this condition?

In my opinion, Yes it came from the factory, but not in this condition!

Looking at the placement of the support arm and motor on the wooden bed-plate, they appear to be factory correct for a Victor Type "A".

Possibly the original "jelly-mold" motor case got cracked or misplaced and a creative individual made the wooden box to house the motor. Victor would not have left the multiple nail holes so obvious in the creation of the case. My guess is that the metal? plate under the turntable is a vent pipe frame, (it’s too small to be a Victor “R” bedplate). Still this could have been purposely built to try to imitate a Victor Type "B". The thing that we need to know is what’s under the metal plate. An original type "A" could be salvaged if the "jelly-mold" motor case is still under that case.

Original to my eyes:
Wooden bed-plate, Tag, Turntable, Record Nut, Reproducer, Leather Elbow (not sure),
Spring barrel and Support Arm, "although they look like they have been painted silver",
Tone Arm, "although the metal support appears to be fabricated",
and the Horn, which is original but should be a "japanned" black one.

Non-Original:
The fabricated motor case, and the crank (Victor did not use a screw in knob on it’s cranks).

Bob S.