A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

[OrthoSean]

Here's something I've had for years and always wanted to share. It's a complete "Victor Package" that was sent out to a business owner who inquired to Victor about what it would take to become a dealer. I got this whole package at an estate auction about 8 years ago for $100 and at the time thought I'd overpaid, but I was still thrilled to find this package. In the envelope was a letter explaining everything, three record catalogs and a machine catalog. I've provided some representative scans from each catalog for you all to enjoy. I had actually "misplaced" this package for about three years and just found it today...and all my friends call me organized!

Anyway, enjoy this bit of paper fun!

PS, each catalog will be in a separate post, starting with the machine catalog.

[OrthoSean]

That's all, folks!

[ColoradoPhonograf]

OrthoSean,

That is an amazing package to find all together, and in such amazing condition ! That is a very informative catalog and the descriptions and other machine graphics makes a fun read. You certainly didn't overpay for it at all. You made a great choice to grab it when you did.

I have an original "dealer's contract" which was never filled out and sent back to Victor. If you want a scan of it I can send it out to you. It might be fun to add it into your package of goodies there.

Thanks for posting this.

ColoradoPhonograf

[GaryLC]

Sean, I can't imagine how you could have "misplaced" that package of gems! That is very, very cool, I'm envious!

[OrthoSean]

Gary, it's a LONG story, but ALL of my paper stuff got packed into totes a few years ago and swallowed up amongst totes full of 45s...ugh. I went through 60 totes today to find all my paper and put them all in one place....and I'm not the one who did this to begin with. Oh well, I found all my "stuff" again!

Colorado, I'd love that! I found out pretty quickly after I got these that it certainly was a good deal. A similar package like this but with less catalogs and rather battered contents sold on a certain auction website for several times for what this cost me, so I guess I did alright. I have no intention of ever selling this though! It's just too cool.

Sean

[transformingArt]

Thanks so much for posting all these! I only have very, very few documentations regarding early records, so it is really good to see all these.

By the way, I haven't seen any 14-inch Deluxe Special Records so far - I know they were commercial failures and not so many were ever sold, but surely, there much be survivors. I know YT user MusicBoxBoy posted one example on his channel, but I wonder if there are other people who has this record in their collection.

[Jerry B.]

Most collectors don't realize that the Vic VI was offered for a very short time with a brass belled horn and the steel portion was wood grained in mahogany. And I learned something... The VI was priced at $100 with the #10 reproducer. I always thought the VI with the #10 was $105 and slightly less with the Exhibition. Thanks for sharing. Jerry Blais

[gramophone78]

Now this is my kind of thread!!!!! .What a great package you found.Just to add a little color to the pic of that Vic 6 with the #10.Allow me to add this.It looks so sweet in color.Hell,it looks so sweet in B/W too .I thought,since we are showing some cats.Here is a Canadian Berliner cat that is to date the oldest(Canadian)to have survived.I sent a copy to our Canadian archives.It was found with a Canadian trade mark I bought along with the operation manual for the trade-mark machine.I also would like to add the label under the Vic 6 that shows the price when sold with the # 10.Then this machine was traded in to a Victor dealer (post 1909) and cleaned up with a new horn (wood) and reproducer.It was then re-sold for 100.00.Kind of a time capsule it's self.

[antique1973]

I think $100 is more than reasonable for all those fascinating articles! Thanks for posting, really neat stuff!

[Brad]

Very cool Sean,

I guess most of us would qualify as Victor dealers

I have looked through stacks and boxes of paper at estate sales and auctions and have never found any phonograph related items. I have pretty much given up. This makes we think it might just be worth the time.