Victor Talking Machine (Victrola)

In for repair is a Victrola tabletop model VV-IV serial 302,899E. According to the serial number, this unit was made in 1917 during the Great War (WWI). More information about the Victrola company. More than 8,000,000 Victors and Victrolas were produced between 1906 and 1929, and it has been estimated (based on a statistical analysis of surviving examples) that well over 600,000 are still around in 2020.

The motor on this unit is a single spring motor. Other floor models had a longer running time and had a 2 spring motor. This tabletop model was very popular in its day and sold for $15-$25. The case is solid oak. All in all the unit was is rather good shape for 100+ years old although there is significant rust on the steal trim, record table, and crank and the felt record table is badly damaged but original.

Below is an image of the unit as it was delivered:

This “Victor Talking Machine” had to be made immediately after WWI. During the war, there were no wooden flaps and the wooden trim both on the top of the wooden case and bottom were rather plain. The image below shows the wooden slits but the trim is rather simple:

Doors below are opened for a louder crisper sound:

Pictures of the grime on the mainspring, click, and regulator. This old grease is over 100 years old and it looks it. The grease has hardened into a sticky paste.

The winding crank was removed along with the rheostat. It was unfortunate the record table was rusted so bad that it could not be removed. Since the record table could not be removed, a cursory cleaning was done using a wire brush and a cotton cloth. Unfortunately, the mainspring and mainspring barrel could not be removed and cleaned. It did come out looking nicely.

The bellow chamber was cleared of old debris

The case was cleaned and oiled. Here is the finished product. The right front door in the picture above shows some discoloration. This was corrected and now the front doors all match.

The underside of the unit had two interesting labels. Considering the unit is 100+ years old these were in fair condition. The suspicion is that this Victrola did not move from a dresser for many many years.