The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

We found a Victrola in my grandmother’s attic. The cabinet is in great shape, but it is missing some parts. It has the tone arm, turntable, motor, crank, key and horn. It is missing the reproducer, the flange that holds the tone arm, and the motor does not work. It appears to be an XVI from what I can tell from about 1908. Can anyone offer some advice as to whether it is worth fixing?

Thanks,

Matt

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously this looks like a very nice VTLA 1908-1909. The hardest part to find, is the cabinet. If the motor, soundbox, tone arm need repair thats very doable. This looks like a great early Victrola. On the other hand just crate it up and send it to me!

The correct tone arm is on e-Bay right now. It should have
the two piece back bracket with the thumb screw holding it together.
This one doesn't turn up that often. I base my decision on whether
to restore a machine on how rare it is, how far gone and do I have
one in my collection. You might get several hundred dollars out of
the parts and it may cost several hundred dollars to put it back in
order. If it was a family piece I would keep it.

Definitely a worthy project. It looks like the cabinet is in good shape and the parts you need are not all that difficult to find. It'd be great looking with a little work.

Steve

Just to clarify, the earliest Victrola model was badged 'VTLA' (abbreviation for 'Victrola'). It was produced in two basic cabinet styles, of which yours is the second style. There are a number of minor variations within each cabinet style as well -- minor things like type and placement of needle cups, etc. The VTLA cabinet was slightly restyled in mid-1909 and the 'VTLA' was subsequently badged as the 'VV-XVI' (iteration 'A'). There was also a very fancy model marketed as the Victrola XX, but usually badged 'VTLA' as well. So, although the XVI is similar to a VTLA and is a direct descendant, it isn't the same as a VTLA. VTLA's are more desirable from a collector's standpoint. Does your example retain its original record storage boxes?

Does anyone have a copy of the Victor ad showing a VTLA in the (IIRC, the Blue Room) of the White House?

Absolutley worth restoring Matt! What a nice discovery.

Clay

With a little work, time and patience you can clean that VTLA up nicely. Certainly worth the effort!

I picked one up last May and here you can see the progress from when I got to to mostly "completed":

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=6025

Keep us posted, the VTLA is a neat machine!

Sean

HECK yeah!

Is that tonearm support unique to this model or is there a range of models he could search for that part for?

As for 'motor does not work', does it crank up but just won't run or is the crank just spinning loose or is already fully wound?

Very nice machine Matt!

YES!!! L-doors are VERY rare.