The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All-
As posted a few days ago, last Friday I picked up a Spider Leg VV-X at a local auction. I've got it cleaned up and in the house. Love it! (Even my wife loves it!)

Question-- The metal data plate is taller than the normal plate and includes extra wording about "Patents and Conditions of Sale" (see 3rd picture below--click on it for correct orientation) I've never seen that added wording on a plate before. Is that the norm for earlier machines? (I recently sold a cabinet for a 1907 Pooley Flat-top-- It did not have the added wording on the plate)
Searching online for other Spider Legs, I didn't find any others that had this type of plate. Label underneath is dated May 1, 1912. Suffix "D" is on the data plate so I'm guessing that would put this machine sometime in 1913.
Jus' a wonderin'

Thanks!!
Brad Abell

Hi- I exchanged emails with Paul Edie (victor-victrola.com) Here is his information about the data plate I found on the Spider Leg VV-X I picked up last week.

From Paul:
Some of the later-production X spider legs (I believe with a “D” suffix) used the ‘sales restriction’ clause on the data plate in place of the usual license sticker that was stuck on the back or bottom or inside of all other Victrolas. That was probably because there was no other place to put it. Underneath was not a good option on those models, and the back was finished, so that couldn’t be used.
This was the only model we are aware of that used this data plate, and since it didn’t cover many of the usual stickers’ legal details

So apparently only the Spider Leg machines used that data plate--and only some of the later 1913 models with "D" suffix.
Just thought I'd pass on Paul's wisdom (with his permission)

Thanks-
Brad Abell