The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just picked up this 1923 VV-S-215 Victrola. It appears to have an Early English Oak finish. This is the model where the left side is adaptable for an AM radio. Typically this model comes with the mahogany finish. However, this is my first tme seeing this model in oak. How rare is this oak finish on this model?

Thanks,

AR

congrats! it's a beauty!

Thanks! Do you know if this vaneer oak finish is rare for this model?

AR

Per the survival database, out of a total of 5,010 reported VV-215 models (thus far), 196 have an oak finish. This is likely an underestimate, as 1,056 email submitters of VV-215 machines were not 100% certain of the finish type, so these can't be accurately classified in the database. 3,272 are mahogany and the remainder in walnut.

For the S-215, 1.620 have been reported, of which 48 are in oak. 280 were submitted with an 'uncertain' finish, 988 in mahogany and the balance in walnut.

However, it is apparent that oak did not make-up a very large percentage of any the console-style models.

Paul Edie

They're definitely uncommon. One has to remember that in 1923 oak was on its way out in popularity. Walnut had virtually replaced oak by the end of the decade.