Gramophones, Phonographs, Victrolas....

[ScionPI2005]

Hey everyone... Brand new here & thought I'd share my most recent, (really my 1st ever) purchase... A 1923 Victrola! My grandpa used to play a lot of old music for me when I was little and the older I got, the more I loved it! I'm planning a Golden Era wedding and a fellow bride from the area was selling this baby for $60! I jumped on it. Apparently, her Great Aunt Fern was a lounge singer back in the 20's and it belonged to her. I also have about 300 records now, just sitting in crates until I buy sleeves for them. Glad to be here!

Welcome to the Lounge, Scorp! And thanks for sharing your "new" Victrola with us. It sounds like you got a very good deal on it.

I have a passion for listening to swing, big band, and jazz on older, truly vintage equipment as well. Glenn Miller really just does not sound right unless he's playing through vintage tubes and speakers with the glow of the tubes lighting up the dial.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

I have a similar Victor, a 270 that my Grandparents bought in the mid 1920s, along with all the original papers. Along with a "Lifetime Warranty".
Other than having the spring re-greased, it's outlived the "Lifetime Warranty" and the store that offered the warranty.

One unusual gadget that I found with the Victor 270, was a small speaker like an early radio earphone that plugs into the tone arm, then you can use the internal horn to play an early radio through.

 

[scotrace]

I have a VV210, which is very similar, but has a flat lid. Victor had given in to the demands of decorating by then.

 

[Dr Doran]

Can someone tell me about mine? I don't know much about it.

 

[RetroToday]

Can someone tell me about mine? I don't know much about it.

Hmm, I don't know the model number for your RCA Victor portable, but I've seen them before - I'd say it's from the 1930s.

Usually, Victor portables have their model number stamped on a metal plate underneath the platter board, beside the motor - you have to use a screw driver to open that platter, be careful.
Once you know that model number you can usually find information easier.

As far as the problem you're having with the tone arm: Are you sure the soundbox is fastened properly to the tone arm? I could be wrong, but it seems like the needle is at too sharp of an angle for playback and that could be what's causing it to lean to one side. Typically the soundbox is fastened with a screw through a channel on the tone arm. If you loosen that screw and turn the soundbox clockwise it should reach the end of the channel where it should be.
When it is in it's correct position tighten the screw again.

Either that, or something is wrong at the base of the arm. That old red rubber gasket you mentioned can be the main problem.

Again, I'm not as familiar with this model, what I'm saying could be incorrect. But, I hope some of this helps.

 

[Flivver]

Can someone tell me about mine? I don't know much about it.

I seem to remember seeing a portable like yours in a 1937 RCA-Victor radio catalog that I have. Now if I could only remember where I put that catalog...

 

[Dr Doran]

Thanks, gents. I'll try to find the model number. Yes, the tone arm is at the wrong angle. The head of the arm is connected to the rest of the arm by the rubber gasket and that needs to be replaced.

Otherwise the machine is in good shape.

 

[RetroToday]

Nice to see so many people keeping the gramophone alive and well!

To save them from wear, I often play my 78 rpm records on a 1960s dual turntable but I also have three gramophones which I play them on frequently.
I too am addicted to listening to these older records on the players they were meant for, unfortunately the older players have heavy reproducer heads and tend to wear records a little faster.

Here's the Gramophones I have:

1912 Victor Victrola, model XVI-E

1920s Amherst Cremonaphone

1927 Victor Victrola model VV-2-60 portable (needs work and some parts)

I also have a few vintage record player/radios that currently don't work, but I'm learning how to repair them:

1930 Victor Radio-Electrola radio-phono (Also one of the very first home recording units)

1941 Sparton "Savoy" radio-phono

I have a few others that are in such bad shape, not really worth showing here, but there are other larger 1950s consoles I have that are on loan to the studio/gallery I work at. It's good for me to store those there because they would take up way too much room in my house.

 

[Flivver]

Jeremy, your Sparton Savoy is truly a thing of beauty. I've been interested in vintage radios for more than 40 years but I have never come across one of these.

You're a lucky man to own it!

 

[PADDY]

Just loving this thread!

It's really getting me to think about having and old gramaphone now with the crank handle..et al!! You folk are just so inspiring :eusa_clap

 

[LadyDeWinter]

This is my grammophone, I am so proud of it:

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[Absinthe_1900]

One of my three Edison machines, a 1906 Standard.

 

[RetroToday]

One of my three Edison machines, a 1906 Standard.

Sweet! :eusa_clap

A phonograph is going to be my next purchase!
I've been looking for a while now for a good, reliable model of Edison that plays both the two and four minute cylinders.

Three? Hey, you have two too many - I think I'll have to commandeer one of those!

 

[RetroToday]

This is my grammophone, I am so proud of it:

Very nice portable! I've never seen a 'Picnic' gramophone, wonder if they're hard to find.

People used to definately take these along to Picnics all the time, the name is very fitting.

 

[RetroToday]

Jeremy, your Sparton Savoy is truly a thing of beauty. I've been interested in vintage radios for more than 40 years but I have never come across one of these.

You're a lucky man to own it!

Thanks, I think so too. The Savoy's Deco/Moderne styling attracted me to buy it, even though I have no more room! It's incredible that you haven't seen one in that many years of collecting, maybe it was only produced up here in Canada?

Interesting to note, being 1941, it seems likely that this Sparton player would have a more modern needle system, but it takes standard gramophone needles that you tighten with a thumbscrew. From there, the sound vibrations are transferred electrically up the tone arm to the amp.

 

[kpreed]

Not A Gramophone, But It Is Mine

My Victor Victrola Model VIII.

 

[RetroToday]

My Victor Victrola Model VIII.

That's a great gramophone Ken!

I'm just wondering now, why does it say "Not a gramophone but it's mine" above your post?

 

[scotrace]

...because it most surely is a proper gramaphone.....

 

[Miss Neecerie]

...because it most surely is a proper gramaphone.....

Well maybe it only plays improper songs!

 

[scotrace]

Two threads, properly merged.