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A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:30 pm
by 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! :roll:

Anyway, enjoy this bit of paper fun!

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

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:36 pm
by OrthoSean
That's all, folks!

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:53 pm
by 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

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:54 pm
by GaryLC
Sean, I can't imagine how you could have "misplaced" that package of gems! :D That is very, very cool, I'm envious!

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:03 pm
by 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

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:19 pm
by 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.

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:33 pm
by 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

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:40 pm
by gramophone78
Now this is my kind of thread!!!!! :D.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 :lol:.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.
Victor #6h.JPG
1901 Canadian Berliner Record Catalog.JPG
victor #6j.JPG
Victor #6i.JPG

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:51 pm
by antique1973
I think $100 is more than reasonable for all those fascinating articles! Thanks for posting, really neat stuff! :)

Re: A Victor Time Capsule From 1905

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:53 pm
by Brad
Very cool Sean,

I guess most of us would qualify as Victor dealers :D

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.