The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

If you had your choice of either, which would be in your collection?

My vote would be for a Victor VI.

That's an interesting question. While I have a number of Victrolas and outside horn Victors in my collection, I do not own either of the machines in question. I have seen many Victor VIs for sale, but only a handful of Pooley flat tops. I think I will vote for the Pooley, but only by a slight margin. I have had opportunities to buy each of them, but I didn't think they were worth the price. With vintage phonograph prices continuing to sink, that may soon no longer be an issue.

That depends on which one you want to sell me!!!

Rich Gordon

Easy choice for me.
The Pooley Flat Top VTLA never coincided with my aesthetic sensibilities.
If I found one, it would be re-sold to a true collector.

James.

I have two six's and one flat top currently in my collection, over the years I have had probably a dozen or so Victor 6's but only one flat top, but if I could only have one or the other ......... I don't know. The Victor 6 still brings good money, while I have seen numerous flat top's sell for less than half of what they used to. But putting value aside I think I would go with keeping the Victor 6.

You just need to have both. And multiple variations. The early VI is a much different machine than the later VI.

Victor VI. I don’t have much room left for floor model machines!

Tough choice but I think a flat top VTLA adds more interest to a collection.

Jerry B.

Neither is likely to come my way in the UK, but my choice would be the Victor VI .
The internal horn of the Victrola was a step backwards in terms of sound quality.