The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Any ideas as to how legit this record case is? Age? Obviously the Victor newsprint info is not legit. Many of the dividers are currently reversed. My thoughts are most of the brass hardware is not legit (?) Many thanks!

The wood around the handle on top has light and dark areas suggesting another handle was fitted or the handle was once mounted the other way round. This handle is symmetrical along its length but not symmetrical along its width which suggests it was designed to be seen on a vertical surface. But anyway I’m sure cabinet makers used what they had.

To me the case could well be the 1900s.

I believe the box and front/center hasp are legit. I have one just like it with a square Victor trademark decal on top. But that original hasp is pretty anemic, and it looks like it broke, resulting in the installation of the two hooks. The handle on top is almost certainly not original to the box.

George P.

It appears to me that the handle was rotated 180 degrees sometime recently. If it is turned it would fit nicely in the old stain. Also, it retains the square nuts altho the zinc washers are new.

I have a similar box-- Different clasps and handle-- Has dividers (behind my records) Many years ago, another collector told me it was a H & S, but I haven't verified that.

Brad Abell

Here's a page from Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks in the "Cabinets and Record Storage" chapter. The image at upper left shows both the Victor record box and the Hawthorne & Sheble (it's marked as such) record box.

Click the image once to sharpen it; twice to enlarge it.

George P.

Many thanks guys!!! Much appreciated!