The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My buddy just bought a Vic jr that appears to be be all original including the reproducer. At first glance I thought someone had painted the horn silver but after closer inspection I noticed that it's actually nickle plated. And it's not new...in fact it does have some pitting in places.
Has anyone seen or heard of such a thing?
I can post pics if anyone interested.
Bob

Yes, I'd love to see photos.

Jerry B.

Back then, it was not unusual for plating companies to advertise that they would plate just about anything you want for a minimal fee. Many antique cars of the "brass era" show up with nickel plated parts that would normally be polished brass. This may possibly explain it. Could also be a dealer "extra", to attract sales.

Pictures please...

35+ years ago I tried to buy a Nickel-Plated Victor R from an old-time collector in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The machine appeared 100% original with an aged patina to match! In place of the normal tiger striped oxidized finish, all parts were plated with nickel, including the horn! It was a sight to behold!
The collector said that it was a salesman sample machine taken "door-to-door" to sell Victor machines. He said that he wouldn't part with it for any price.
My guess is that it was plated by a local dealer to make his Victor machines stand out from the crowd. Damn, I wish I could have bought it!

Cheers, Bob S.

Zwebie wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2024 9:56 am
The collector said that it was a salesman sample machine taken "door-to-door" to sell Victor machines.

Maybe that's true, but I always find it amusing when a seller or collector encounters something that's odd and inexplicable to them, they haul out the universal term, "Salesman's Sample". Always with the expectation that salesman's samples are more valuable.

Other favorites are "Prototype" or "European", for phonos that defy explanation within the USA.

(Obviously, sometimes these things are true.)

Pics

Very interesting!
- Bill

I like it! I am fortunate to own a nickel plated Edison Home Model A that's nickel plated. It does not have the Edison signature tag. The nickel plating shows wear from use. I assume it was plated by the original owner aftermarket. I think an aftermarket nickel plated horn on a Victor Junior make for a more interesting collection.

Jerry B.

My belief is that the horn was plated "aftermarket". The reasoning being, a factory plated horn would have been more carefully finished before plating. This example was not buffed out and smoothed before plating, but instead, appears to have been stripped of paint, then directly plated without removing imperfections in the metal surface. I'm not knocking this horn. It's really cool, and I believe it was plated very shortly after it was originally sold. Again, just my take on it.

It actually looks better in person. The pics show imperfections that are not easily seen with the naked eye. Thanks for the input.
I agree with the comments I don't think this was a factory job.
Bob