The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just curious how often are you finding machines that previous owners have marked with their information in some way. I purchased a Vic IV a few years ago that was marked in several places, one on the tone arm with someones SS#. Last week I bought a Columbia BI with the SS# under the platter and on the base of the horn. Was this something that was accepted by collectors as okay at one time? I know collectors sometimes put a label or something similar inside a machine but I just can't imagine why someone would inscribe on the tone arm or horn.

At one time, putting your SSN on valuables was encouraged as a theft deterrent. It would also help with identifying owners if items were stoen and recovered.

A similar thing was done with cars for a while, where a registered ID number was etched into all the glass.

I have an Edison Triumph with the previous owners drivers license number on the mandrel. ( NC47#### ) it would be easy enough to just replace the mandrel

52089 wrote:At one time, putting your SSN on valuables was encouraged as a theft deterrent. ...

Yes, lots of police departments pushed that idea, but unfortunately people took it to extremes. Somehow I have trouble envisioning some sneak thief breaking into a house and ignoring the jewelry and electronics to run off with all the...disc graphophones and Victor talking machines!

I have a Columbia Q with a previous (1945) owner's address in St. Louis, etched onto the bottom. When I got my Fairy Phonograph Lamp, someone had etched their drivers license number inside the copper turntable lid (it took some effort to remove it, but now it's gone).

drh wrote:

52089 wrote:At one time, putting your SSN on valuables was encouraged as a theft deterrent. ...

Yes, lots of police departments pushed that idea, but unfortunately people took it to extremes. Somehow I have trouble envisioning some sneak thief breaking into a house and ignoring the jewelry and electronics to run off with all the...disc graphophones and Victor talking machines!

I agree. I can't imagine people would take them but who knows. I will just leave them as is, as trying to remove them would cause further damage. I guess they are just some extra history added to the machines.

We have my wife’s grandfather’s antique GE fan with his SS# engraved on it. He supposedly did this to a number of things he thought were of value.

I remember that program , I believe , in the 1980s They were loaning out etching pens to use too. Tom

tomb wrote:I remember that program , I believe , in the 1980s They were loaning out etching pens to use too. Tom

Just wish they would have marked in hidden places.

people often marked items with addresses with a uv pen invisible until a uv light was shone on it , so you need a uv light to see past provenance