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Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:51 pm
by tomwil
Any idea what model Victor this is?

http://frederick.craigslist.org/atq/2200831035.html

Looks like a VV-XI but has a strange grill and tonearm. Is this a Frankenphone?

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Re: Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:00 pm
by estott
It looks as if someone married an XI Orthophonic parts.

Re: Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:38 pm
by OrthoFan
Definitely parts culled from Orthophonic Victrolas installed in a pre-Orthophonic type cabinet.

The gold tonearm probably came from a larger Orthophonic model--possibly a Credenza, while the grille looks like it came from a 4-3 (Consolette). If that's the case, the horn's mouth would measure 12" x 16" which would make it too large for an older style XI cabinet. (Possibly a late model VV-80, which had a larger horn?)

If they also installed an Orthophonic horn, such as the type used in the Consolette, it would have the advantage of looking like an older style Victrola, while performing like a later style (Orthophonic) model.

In terms of value, probably for parts only. (And how did the seller come up with the 1907 date?)

Re: Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:31 pm
by Edisone
There's an L-Door on the same list, too. And how about this one: http://baltimore.craigslist.org/fuo/2246463225.html

A Pooley with an odd tonearm. Almost looks like a Brunswick Panatrope arm, but not quite.

And a cute Brunswick console, for $75! http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 30422.html . Worth that, just for the Ultona box.

Re: Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:07 pm
by Kirkwood
And a cute Brunswick console, for $75! http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 30422.html . Worth that, just for the Ultona box.[/quote]

That Brunswick is about an hour away from me, and if you wanted a nice daily driver phonograph, it's a good deal. It's about a 1924 model, so the Ultona reproducer may not have the angled needle chuck for the Pathé ball stylus. By that date, I think Pathé had already converted to the lateral recording method, and Brunswick probably didn't feel any need to keep the ball stylus chuck on there. IIRC, this is the Brunswick BR-160 model, BR = Brunswick Radiola. The Radiola panel resided in the left compartment, and was a battery powered set. The batteries were accessed via a removable compartment door in the back of the console. The tonearm may well be gold-plated brass, not the usual pot metal---I have seen several that were---although the Ultona reproducer will be of the usual nickel plated pot metal alloy construction. Locating, servicing and obtaining parts and tubes to restore the Radiola option will probably be time consuming and expensive. Those 199 tubes aren't what you'd call "free" these days. For those that want to know more, The Radiola used was RCA's AR-812 superheterodyne, rebadged and reconfigured for Brunswick as the AR-813.

If one of the members on here buys this to part it out, the driver for the radio (permits the radio to use the same oval horn as the phonograph) will be of interest to some radio collectors, as will the conical "valve" that makes the switch between the two functions. It's a handsome cabinet design, and a bit large to call "cute". With several Brunswick consoles already awaiting my attention, I can't buy it myself, but I have been sorely tempted. It IS a good deal.

Re: Any idea what model Victor this is?

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:22 am
by Covah
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