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Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 4:41 pm
by Phono-Phan
A collector friend is downsizing and offered me this glass Victor needle tray for free. I said no to free and gave him what he paid for it years ago. I was back up bidder when he got it. I always loved it. I have never seen anything like it.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 5:54 pm
by Roaring20s
That's a treasure!
James.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 6:31 pm
by phonogfp
I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.
I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.
George P.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 6:57 pm
by JerryVan
phonogfp wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 6:31 pm
I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.
I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.
George P.
I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 7:34 pm
by Roaring20s
phonogfp wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 6:31 pm
I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.
I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.
George P.
They went to great lengths to make it look good, but dam!
Look here ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=Frank+A ... =730&dpr=1
James.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 7:39 pm
by Phono-Phan
Thanks for all the information. Fantasy piece or not, it is pretty neat.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:10 pm
by phonogfp
JerryVan wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 6:57 pm
I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?
Beats me, Jerry. I've seen no period Victor documentation of such an item, nor any mention made in periodicals such as
The Talking Machine World. I can't remember who was showing one around at Union, but he brought it around to many (all?) dealer tables asking if anyone had ever seen one like it. At the end of the day, he admitted that he had a few of them made up. I don't recall him saying that it was a reproduction.
In any event, it
is a cool item.
George P.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 6:27 am
by JerryVan
phonogfp wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 8:10 pm
JerryVan wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 6:57 pm
I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?
Beats me, Jerry. I've seen no period Victor documentation of such an item, nor any mention made in periodicals such as
The Talking Machine World. I can't remember who was showing one around at Union, but he brought it around to many (all?) dealer tables asking if anyone had ever seen one like it. At the end of the day, he admitted that he had a few of them made up. I don't recall him saying that it was a reproduction.
In any event, it
is a cool item.
George P.
Thanks George. It seems James found the source of the glass, and you're correct in that it's a fantasy piece. But yes, it is a cool piece. I would display it and use it.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 1:12 pm
by phonogfp
JerryVan wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 6:27 am
Thanks George. It seems James found the source of the glass, and you're correct in that it's a fantasy piece. But yes, it is a cool piece. I would display it and use it.
So would I.
George P.
Re: Glass Victor Needle Tray
Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 5:31 pm
by OrthoFan
Apparently, it started out life as a "salt cellar":
FROM --
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185890876279
........for a three handed person?
