The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

August 27, 1910: John C. English filed for a U.S. Design Patent (eventually granted as No.41,008) for “Talking Machine Cabinet.” This would be marketed as the Victrola XIV.

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Queen Anne cabinet--looks a little bit like the cabinet of the Edison A-200, which the XIV predates.

I have the second model XIV which is why there is 1914 in my username. I am often tempted to dispose of it but it is just too good at being a Victrola--lots of storage space, nice big horn, motor with long run time, auto brake, and tachometer. It is a nice combination of talking-machine, record cabinet, side table and cat perch.

Playing electric records on these just sounds weak but they do really shine with acoustically recorded stuff.

Electrical recordings sound better in these machines with an orthophonic soundbox, but you need to provide an adapter for the tonearm diameter, slightly smaller for the exhibition and no2 soundboxes. Of course, a no4 can also be used, but the results are indeed astonishing when you play with the orthophonic.
Be ready for a large volume. The bass, of course, is weak, corresponding to a short small horn, but the clarity of the treble and sibilants is great.
In my record room I use the HMV equivalent to the VV-IV tabletop with a hmv no5a soundbox, and the sound is good for a small study room. In the end I find it much better than the no4, which sounds good but has a noticeably shorter frequency range, and causes more record wear.