Full Restoration - Victor Victrola Record Player from 1917

It's always fun when a machine I restore is from a friend or family member. This broken down record player from the early times of record players was my sister-in-law's grandfather's, purchased new in 1917 for $15 plus $4 more for records and needles.

It has sat unused for over 50 years. Someone couldn't get the handle out by reversing its direction, so they opened it up and removed a main gear instead. Then put all the parts back inside and left it.

At first glance, I thought it would be too difficult to restore - it looked half complete and not very special. But as you will see in the video, all of the parts are there. The only unuseable piece was the thick rubber gasket that attaches the playing arm to the reproducer (sound head).

Probably my biggest amazement was the availability of quality reproduction parts and supplies, such as that gasket, and needles by the hundred. Why by the hundreds? Who needs hundreds of needles? It turns out, the needles are just plain steel points that are meant to be discarded after one play (of one side of a record). Fortunately, they were about 3 cents each.

I like this model because although it was the cheapest in the Victor lineup, its sound is channeled through a cast iron passage and out the front, making it much more compact and portable.

A couple of other pleasant surprises showed up along the way that made it a pretty attractive little machine. Please enjoy watching the journey on what was one of my most satisfying restorations.

[hyacinthlynch]

I think I like this model better than the one with the large horn.
Great work!

[normmcrae]

The "Chrome" plating is NOT Chrome. - Chrome plating was not invented till the 1920's or 30's. That is NICKEL Plated. In truth - "Chrome" plating is actually nickel plated FIRST, then the chrome is applied OVER the nickel to protect the nickel. Personally, I think the bare Nickel has a beautiful warmth that chrome takes away. Any good chrome shop can do it.
Nice restoration - glad you didn't overdo it like so many do!

[pierreelliott]

The designs were so simplistic back then. Great restoration 👌

[pedanticsmith]

Put a sock in it! (Stuff one in the horn) - What the grown ups used to tell the kids when they were playing it too loud. Still in common parlance today in Britain.

[EngineVids]

I noticed you didnt fit the reproducer soundbox gaskets correctly, they need to be a excess tight fit before installing otherwise it will leak air and you get the bad rattley sound as heard here. Its usually a specialist job, it took me ages to get correctly myself. It would be good if you could revisit this and try new tighter fitting seals as you will be impressed with the sound quality😎.

[stevenbest]

Nice work! Hope you have a good supply of old records. Cheers from Texas.

[jbaptisteboulas]

Très belle restauration de cet ancien phonographe, le rendu final est parfait et il pourra durer encore longtemps la bonne qualité de ces appareils le permet.

[achut]

Amazing restoration and dedication. Keep it up. Bravo!

[ArgentumEssence]

Forgotten Hi-End technology. All natural. Perfect sound.

[ГретыйТумблерг]

Цвет морилки (вещество для обработки деревянных поверхностей) - фантастический !!! Я восхищён !!!

[jeffersongabler]

I glad for how you keep all the original parts and als osafes the marks from the old workers.

[markosterman]

Just want to point out that when that was made a dark paste filler was rubbed into the open grain and lightly sanded off to produce a flat surface and enhance the grain before an actual oil varnish was used. No filler and poly is the standard of modern crappy finishes on antiques made of oak.

[MartinSBrown-tpji]

I have this same unit and it still works fine. You did a great job restoring your phonograph, looks just like mine now.

[williamkuhns]

A large prickly pear cactus spine makes the best needle. It's softer than the 78 rpm records strong but flexible. On these phonographs the steel needles need to be replaced ideally every 1 to 3 plays. The 78s were made from shellac and clay and are harder than the steel needles so the needle tip grinds down and can damage the record grooves. Inside the case would be a little metal cup to store the extra needles.

[chrismayer]

I think it would be neat to have little ceramic band figurines in front of the reproducer horn so it looks like THEY are playing the music! 😋

[Sknives]

Parabéns, foi bom assistir o seu trabalho. Parabéns também pelo Tango no final do vídeo.

[fredivalle-jsgv]

The technology must be changing?...but you are an artist forever...tank you for you work

[ГретыйТумблерг]

СПАСИБО
В разобранном виде данное устройство увидеть где-либо практически невозможно.
Посмотрел с удовольствием.

[TheSchmed]

I have a Standard Model A Phonograph an Edison Cylinder player, both portable and in working condition, love them. Just need an original horn for the Edison. The reproducers are very hard to come by. I guess they used Bakelite back then, that tends to crack over t8me.

[rogerpessoa]

Hi excelente, está muy bien.
Thanks