Anyone have a victrola

I have one that was passed down through the family. I have a couple of boxes of the old thick 78s with it.

It's a fun unit and it has a lot of sentimental value.

I have two - one a table top (that is in MINT original condition) and the other a console model that I paid an expert to recondition the spring, reproducer and felt. The wood is not in quite as good of condition as my table top model but I have chosen to leave it in original condition.

I always get a kick out of the fact that I have a high-end system worth a crapload of money yet when my wife and I have company (other than my audio buddies), the only "audio" component I ever play for them is one of these Victrolas because it's such a hoot and is so appreciated.

I didn't buy them as an investment (which for the most part the large majority of these old Victrolas are not) but just because I love how they look and I am always amazed by both Edison and his genius and that something over 100 years old with no electric parts still plays so reliably (when my multi-kilobuck high-end gear seems to break down if I even look at it crooked!).

Finally, there is nothing quite like hearing the big band era music on an old phonograph to transport one back to simpler days gone by. Days when your imagination was something you actually used!

I guess I am just getting old!

" I love how they look and I am always amazed by both Edison and his genius and that something over 100 years old with no electric parts still plays so reliably"

I'm in that camp as well.

I remember Quentin Collins playing his soothing music on his ornate Victrola in the 1890's sequence back on the old daytime soap "Dark Shadows" when I was a kid. I think I"ve always been fascinated by them (and audio equipment in general) ever since.

Yes I own a 1916 model VV-VI. It is all original and still works great (yes we can make quality equipment here in America). This is a table-top model made with solid mohagany. I have 200 needles, you are supposed to change the needle after each record (sure glad I don't have to do that with my dynavector 17D2 on my main system). I also have about 12 records from the time period 1909-1920 (smile and the world smiles with you from 1909 sounds good on this machine). So when the power goes out I play a few pieces of nearly 100 year old vinyl and am amazed every time with the fact that the unit still works as designed and sounds remarkably good for what it is. Anyone looking for info on Victola can visit the Victor-Victrola page on the net.