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oldcrank.com identifies this as a Victor key but it is not, it an Edison key. Question is, what Edison is it for?

Victor.

It fits the VTLA. I have one. The Victor V key does not fit the earliest Victrolas.

There is/was one for sale here:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=50277

Sure looks like a Victor VTLA key to me.

Steve

Here are some identifiable Edison keys. All have an E at the end. This distinguishes them from common cabinet keys.
The so-called Victor key does not fit my 1910 Victrola nor any other but fits Edison just fine.
Your VTLA of what year? How odd Victor would make keys for lockable Edisons not even made until later.

Covah wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:17 pm Here are some identifiable Edison keys. All have an E at the end. This distinguishes them from common cabinet keys.
The so-called Victor key does not fit my 1910 Victrola nor any other but fits Edison just fine.
Your VTLA of what year? How odd Victor would make keys for lockable Edisons not even made until later.

That key would fit a Victor machine with a dataplate stamped VTLA, the last of which were shipped in the fall of '09. It won't fit a 1910 vintage Victrola. That was alluded to by AZ I think.

Steve

ChesterCheetah18 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:42 pm

Covah wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:17 pm Here are some identifiable Edison keys. All have an E at the end. This distinguishes them from common cabinet keys.
The so-called Victor key does not fit my 1910 Victrola nor any other but fits Edison just fine.
Your VTLA of what year? How odd Victor would make keys for lockable Edisons not even made until later.

That key would fit a Victor machine with a dataplate stamped VTLA, the last of which were shipped in the fall of '09. It won't fit a 1910 vintage Victrola. That was alluded to by AZ I think.
Steve

Well Covah, since you don't seem to want to believe Steve or me, will you believe Robert Baumbach (I assume you know who he is)? Take a look at page 29 of his "Victor Data Book" which clearly shows the Victor wreath key for pre-1910 Victrolas.

The fact that the Edison key has the same cut as the Victor VTLA key doesn't really mean much. In fact, for many years before I found a wreath key, I used an inexpensive repro Edison dolphin key with my VTLA, since it worked. I never actually lock my machines. I just turn the key with the lid up to show that the locking mechanism works. The last thing I want is a lock to stick in the locked position with lid closed. I've seen too many machines damaged by someone attempting to open it (due to a lost key or faulty lock).

Covah wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:17 pm How odd Victor would make keys for lockable Edisons not even made until later.

I think what you meant to say was "how odd that Edison would make keys for lockable Victors"!

This thread answers some questions I had, I saw a wreath key come up for sale at double the price of
the "V" key. Now I know why!

Both Edison and Victor outsourced some of the parts for their machines. It seems reasonable to me that both may have sourced locksets from the same supplier, at least for a short period. Of course I have no proof of this. Just a possible theory.

Steve

My Victrola XX (VTLA) had that same wreath key and believe me when I tell you, they are extremely hard to find and expensive if you do. They also differ from wreath style furniture keys, which have a longer shank.