The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Been trolling this site for quite a few months now and finally have a question. I have about 500-600 78s and a newer Audio Technica turntable to play but really want a vintage machine. Well...

A seller around me has this for sale around $200-$300 and I can't find anything about it on the net. It has a label that says it is from Knabe Warerooms in Newark, NJ and another that says Consolette distrubuted by Manufacturers Phonograph, 95 Madison Ave, NYC.

Here are two quick pictures:

Knabe was probably the retailer= they were a high end piano maker based in Baltimore.

The arm looks very like a Victor arm- could this be one of those cabinets that you slip a VI table model into?

I agree with Estott. It DOES look like a Victor tonearm on this phono. And the felt is the right color for an earlier era Victrola, too. Wish you had gotten some more pics of the inside. But for $200, if the unit plays & sounds well, & if you like the lowboy console format I'd say go for it. It has a sweet & simple look to it, nicely functional. Probably a 2-spring motor in it at any rate. The Victor models that it is somewhat similar to are the VV-210 & VV-215(Especially the 215, which had the lid raising up on the right. The 210 had a full-top lid, all of it raised up). I myself like consoles, & the "normal" uprights as Victor, Columbia, Brunswick made. They tend to be more affordable to a beginner or intermediate in this hobby, which is a good thing in getting started.

It is probably a modest but decent machine- Knabe had a reputation to uphold and their dealers wouldn't have sold trash.

Here are a few more pix

YES! That is a late mahogany cased VV VI inserted into a console case- and a very neat job too. The front doors may have been removed or folded back and there might be an extension on the crank. The reproducer isn't correct.

If the machine is clean and runs well it is a fairly decent price at $200 but you can also get a Victor console or upright with a larger horn for that price

There is an exhibition soundbox laying inside. I bought an upright version of that cabinet once and the VV-VI inside was really clean. Only problem was some wear around the top edge had rubbed against the cabinet.

I see a needle tin back there too.....