The good news is that it winds up, the spring motor works, the platter spins at full speed, and I was even able to get it to play a record. The soundbox definitely needs attention because the rubber inside has deteriorated, but it looks like it's going to be a great restoration project.

The problem is I can't find a model number anywhere without taking the motor board apart, and I'd rather avoid disassembling it if possible.

Can anyone identify the model and approximate year from these photos? I'd also appreciate any advice on rebuilding the soundbox, cleaning the rust from the platter, and the best place to buy the correct replacement parts.

Thanks in advance! I'm excited to bring this old machine back to life.

Whats the value for this needle, is it antique?

VV-X, #1591, 1910.

Mother Machree, John McCormack, UCSB database w/digital recording from Library of Congress.

Was someone looking for this one? I seem to remember someone asking. I have a couple of these I believe.

I honestly don’t hear a difference in the isolator’s presence. I measured it down to like one fourth of a millimeter max tolerance so it fits so snugly it takes just a touch of effort to put it on!

Have a good one 🙂

Does anybody know how to fix this varying speed issue with this? It gets a little worse throughout the record but it can’t seem to hold a note.

So I decided to purchase this from GoodWill. I doubt it works, but I want to restore and keep it for display. Since it’s a piece from the 20’s would it be wise to sand it and re stain ?
This would be my first furniture flip but I’m excited to bring this back to life!
Any suggestions appreciated. It even came with the original records too!

… and what its fall (from previous owner) THANKFULLY didn’t HURT, even despite a small bit of damage (repaired bef/aft), it actually* *HELPED to a small degree!

tl;dr - looks like the tumble VV-X • 1591 took long ago shook it loose! All Victrolas (and Victor cabinets in general) are assembled- not heavily glued, though, and sometimes not at all (I’ve seen). Not oft does one view its ‘puzzle-like’ assembly, but today we see!

Thankfully, what this meant for me was to simply repair the “beading” on the column, then clean and reseat all of the other ‘puzzle pieces’ back where they belonged!

What I initially tried was to harvest and switch out the left rear column. I got it cleanly off, but it would have been way too much work. Took some beading from a trashed dark mahogany case and a broken bit to replace the chip. Et voilà!

Now it just needs to sit and think happy thoughts of never coming apart again while it cures overnight!

Just a little left and I’ll post a final for this one… kind of doing the assembly line thing.

Have a wonderful evening, thanks for stopping, and I hope you enjoy this and/or even find it useful!

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p.s.- the dataplate was CAKED on with black dirt. Even in not the best shape, this is a drastic improvement lol…

FYI and note: the progress you see is me working on these from basically dusk to dawn- granted I’m working on all THREE at the same time lol… it’s NOT hard, but safety is paramount, and taking time is better than rushing!

Hey guys,

Picked up (most likely a frankenphone from Europe) that is all period parts it seems, no markings though, for pretty cheap for an external horn.

Anybody have any idea what this motor may be? It is quite small and I’ll have to tear it down to make it work but I’m not 100% sure it is put together correctly at the moment..

Thanks for any info!

This is on display at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Va. I thought some of you might enjoy seeing it.

tl;dr - Quick once-over and sort of ‘function check’ of “Flat Top Pooley”🌷 VTLA • 1942 🌷

Still digging through and looking for idiosyncrasies!

Curious about this “Concert Record” if anyone knows about it. It’s obviously been pressed to sell and play in the early Canadian market, but I’m more interested in how it got to this point …

Have a wonderful evening, thanks for stopping, and thank you for your addition to the positive energy of this hobby!

please excuse my vibrations lol (mica)… I will remedy! ^

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^ I think I have a little gremlin in there. I tweaked the reproducer twice, it still sounds like it’s touching metal (in other words the outer edge of the mica is touching the inner edges of the reproducer ring lol- I know what I did wrong lol… no shellac dot on the rubber tube on steel…). He also has figured out a way to make me have to relook at the motor setup again- it’s not quite right lol…

This is in memory of my friend Cody, for his wisdom and kindness.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Note: Uncle Josh, Cal Stewart, comedic character of the early Dawn of the 20th century.

- he got kicked outta the hotel because he left the gas on all night and he’s dumbfounded as to why because there’s a sign the owner put up saying “don’t put out” (meaning the pilot light, not the whole kit n caboodle!)

- he goes back to the hotel and hears a Victor Talking Machine and goes outside thinking there’s a band playing- it’s the Victor… Nyuk Nyuk.
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*BONUS OUTTRO in the end of the record!
Kinda unintelligible…

I’m guessin’ it says, “he never wore his shoes, we all know…” See, even THEY knew Paul was replaced by an MI5 007 robot lookalike! /s

So this is my Columbia black wax record of moonlight played by the Columbia orchestra and it is a little crunchy in the beginning but it is a great record to have

No, it is •THE• GRAIL!!! (For me lol)

I am speechless, regardless! 🌷 VTLA • 1942 🌷***… never thought I’d find it.***

tl;dr - this is the VERY first Victor Victrola, “Victrola the Sixteenth”, Pooley-made! “Flat Top Pooley”. I even had a Pooley key so I could open the lock!!!

More when I can speak again…

Have a wonderful evening, thank you for stopping by; thank you for helping keep this thing alive!

Edit to add: Tunegirl, 2023, 1990s Euro trance!! Make sure to turn the volume down if you don’t like repetitive beats!

I've completely rebuilt the motor. I've regreased the spring barrel twice. Maybe I didn't get all the old grease out? I'm not sure.

Had to clean the mildew off these and let them air out a bit! ALMOST LOL

Hydrogen peroxide wipes (industrial grade ones) are what did it. At least now it doesn’t trigger my asthma ;-) i think it’s been sitting in a barn too long lol…

Almost a complete set! -1 small and -1 large. They are made with wood and multi-layered paperboard and covered with a special covering.

Several years ago my neighbor's son gave me this Edison phonograph after his father passed away. He was going to put it in the dumpster and I just couldn't let that happen! I thought I might restore it but never found the time and am ready to give up but I can't seem to find a home for it... I tried both FB Marketplace and Freecycle and no takers. I've contemplated harvesting the parts and using the cabinet as a plant stand, but that seems a shame.

I'd like to get up the courage to actually restore it but I feel like it needs a ton of work and I have ZERO experience. Restoring the wood is pretty straightforward. Any advice on how to properly clean up the metal and mechanical parts? I've no idea where to even start.

If you're in the tri-state area and want to come get it, it's all yours! NJ zip code 07930

I work in a apartment building. A tenat asked me to help her remove an old phonograph from her apartment.

There is no crank or springs as far as I can tell.

I hate throwing anything away. But this is so far out of my field. Any suggestions?