The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all, there's one of these on eBay, buy it now $125.00:'

Assuming the reproducer is in good shape, do these sound good? Is this overpriced?

Thanks, Mark

It may be a little overpriced, but worth considering if the reproducer is in good shape. Portable phonographs are good to take along on trip to antique shops and with the seller's permission, testing out some possible purchases for a collection.

Those machines aren't bad but not spectacular. They were mostly meant for playing popular music and wear on the record wasn't a big concern- by the time your Sinatra record wore out you were probably tired of it. The problem with these machines are the pot metal tone arms and reproducers- when they're in good order they work fine but if they get out of whack it might not be worth fixing them.

Victor didn't build these machines. Makers like Waters-Conley "Phonola", Prime Manufacturing and Birch Bros. made them. Often you can find the non-Victor versions cheaper.

I think $125 is a little high but OK if nothing is broken