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Here's something I've been wondering about, and any opinions welcome. Did the serial numbers on early Victor E's begin at 1 or so, or were they numbered as a continuation of the Victor C. I know that the C did not officially turn into the E but I've never seen a really low (<10000) number on an early 1901/02 E. Predog ID plate, and they seem to go up into the 25,000 range. That would seem to indicate an awful lot of E's sold in 1901/02. The Victor data book estimates only about 12500 through 1902 so where are those approximately 10000 early machines? I have an early 1902 predog E (fiber gear, leather elbow, early style "pinball" brake, etc.) in the 20000 range. Victor C cabinets eventually look very much like the E and I wondered if they just continued the numbers into the E. Has anyone seen a low 4 digit Victor E number?

I have a Victor E, with the leather elbow, pinball brake, concert reproducer, record hold down and pre dog ID plate. The date on the label is March 1902. Serial number is 24XXX. We know that Victor made 7000 plus or so machines in 1901, Oct -Dec. I do not know when my machine was made, but I have seen Victor E's with serial numbers around the 30000 mark, and they have the brass elbow, lever bullet brake, and the ID plate with Nipper on it. I always assumed my machine was made really close to the March 1902 date and I also assumed that there was 24XXX Victor E machines already made.
I know this does not answer the question, but it does give more credance to it.
I hope someone with more knowledge than me, will chime in as I am also very curious on the answer.

I have an E also, which is the same as the ones described except that mine has a brass elbow and serial #26XXX. Apparently the elbow was changed somewhere between 24 and 26K serial numbers. The sticker date on mine is Mar. 1, 1902. It is pre-dog and the dataplate reads "E".

Jim

I rechecked mine and it actually is in the 22000 range and also has the March 02 sticker. The lowest number I've actually seen was in the 16000 range, I think Jerry B had an early one in the 17000 range. Mine also does NOT have allowance for the rigid arm. All these machines seem to be early to mid 02, so the question still is ...did Victor produce more than 20000 Victor E's in the last 2 months of 1901 and the first 2 of 1902?

Mine does not have the rigid arm mounting provision either. Does anyone know at approximately what serial number that was added?

Jim

I have a pre-dog Victor E with a rigid arm. Serial # 30XXX. Remains of label show no date.

Here's my two cents worth:

Eldridge Johnson Victor C - C 6550
Leather elbow Victor E - E 17256
Victor E with Rigid Tone Arm - 42370 (this machine had the Rigid arm added by a prior collector)
Victor E with "Rigid Tone Arm" tag - 44797
Victor E with Taper Tone Arm (no front mount holes) - 62435
Victor II (humpback) - 45904
Victor II (humpback) - 50351
Victor II (plain case) - 26821 B

I always assumed the serial numbers of the Victor II continued where the E left off. Apparently that's not true. I'm curious, what is the lowest serial number of anyone's humpback Victor II. Anyone?

Jerry Blais

Pre-dog E, front mount, "Rigid Arm" tag, brass elbow, #38xxx, March 1902 label date.

Bill

Victor "V 2" (post E, pre II), backmount, tonearm missing: s/n 427

Since my last post on this thread, about five years ago, I've added the later Victor C with serial number 11510.

Jerry B.