The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After several days of intense negotiations, I picked up a seldom seen Victor Z!
This machine comes from the descendants of the original owners. As a result it
is in very good overall condition. I replaced the gasket in the Exhibition reproducer and
it sounds superb. The motor runs great but can use some new grease as it bumps
a little. Only concern is that the slotted crank handle hangs down below the
bottom of the case, making it necessary to hang it off the edge of the table to
wind. Perhaps this is a crank for a Victor I or other model? Any advice would
be appreciated. Sorry if the pictures are a little dark.

Nice little front mount. You are correct that the crank is for a different Victor. However, not a Vic 1 but, it is the size for a Vic 2 or larger. The one you need is the little "flat" crank. Since the "Z" later became the Vic 1.....you should be able to find one or a repro. FYI, the later larger case Vic 1 with a 10" table has a mini (only for this model) threaded crank.
Congrats and good luck.

gramophone78 wrote:Nice little front mount. You are correct that the crank is for a different Victor. However, not a Vic 1 but, it is the size for a Vic 2 or larger. The one you need is the little "flat" crank. Since the "Z" later became the Vic 1.....you should be able to find one or a repro. FYI, the later larger case Vic 1 with a 10" table has a mini (only for this model) threaded crank.
Congrats and good luck.

Thanks for the advice. Its good news that the crank is for a Victor 2 since I can sell it to offset
the crank I have to buy. One escutcheon screw is missing too but that's an easy fix.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XEtA0huZ9I[/youtube]

Congratulations on the Z!

Lucius1958 wrote:Congratulations on the Z!

Thanks! Been lucky lately. Ok, ready for my Vernis Martin now.

Fresh felt.

I re-greased the single spring motor but it slows and stops on most
non-Victor records. Is it just a tired spring?

It may well be the record. Newer records are softer and will drag down a phonograph. Also, some older ones will also do the same; I've had blue Columbias that did this.

Considering the drag forces imposed on the needle tip by the weight of the horn-arm-pivot arrangement, and the single spring motor, it's understandable that you'd see some turntable slowing. This is why the newer arrangement seen in the Victor o types (see Baumbach's Victor Data Book, pp.71-74) and later Victor models represented such an improvement, at least from an engineering standpoint. Just my 2¢ worth.