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Does anyone know what this picture is from?

Considering building this but would like to extract more details if possible.

Has anyone ever seen one in the wild? I would love to have an original!!

There maybe something wrong on my end but I can’t see the photo…

Flying Dutchman wrote: Thu Jan 12, 2023 12:15 pm There maybe something wrong on my end but I can’t see the photo…

I don’t see a picture either.

How’s this one?

Yes I see the photo now. No I’ve never seen a “Victrola Repair Bench” before.
Pretty cool though. I’m sure they were repurposed to some sort of other small parts repair person like watch/clock repairman. Maybe sold off at auctions or close out sales…?

It is similar to a watchmaker's bench, but not the same. A watchmaker's bench typically has a couple of dozen drawers, most very shallow, some slightly deeper, and a couple much deeper. These are for spare parts, tools etc., with the different sizes to accommodate a variety of materials, mostly very small. The center is open, leaving room for a chair.

The Victor bench has much deeper drawers, and the illustrated one shows layers of inner compartments in the drawer. There's an open area on the right side, but the shelf on the bottom wouldn't allow a chair to slide under. I'm not sure what might go in there.

My guess is that it was designed to house a wide variety of parts and tools of various sizes, like a watchmaker's bench, but the repairman would stand at the bench while working on whatever part of the machine needed repair, rather than sitting. That makes sense -- he would be working with much larger springs, gears, and other parts than would a watchmaker, and most of the time he wouldn't need a loupe. It looks like it would be a very handy unit for a local store, with room to hold a healthy stock of parts in a small area, and a built-in work surface.

Do you know the date of that advertisement?

One benefit of a watchmakers bench is that they have a pull out tray and a raided edge around the top. If a small part slips out of your hand is will generally land in the tray. A soft cloth will stop it from bouncing. Mine even had a foot powered lathe, but I only keep the foot part in place. It’s a great thing to have for rebuilding reproducers and doing any fussy assembly.

No, that was my original question. Where is it referenced, other than the Victor Data Book.

Simple,

The bench is advertised in the December 1923 issue of The Voice of the Victor.

Mark

MarkELynch wrote: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:04 pm Simple,

The bench is advertised in the December 1923 issue of The Voice of the Victor.

Mark

Thanks, this is an interesting ad.