How to Tell If a Phonograph Is a Real Victor Victrola

Determining the authenticity of an antique phonograph can be tricky.

A phonograph refers to an early form of record player; one of the leading makers of phonographs in America was a company called the "Victor Talking Machine Company," often referred to as the Victor Victrola company. Victor made phonographs during the beginning of the 20th century; those phonographs are now antiques and sought after by collectors. Because if this, fakes abound on the Internet and other marketplaces. However, there are certain checks you can perform to make sure you don't take home a fake.

Things You'll Need

• Phonograph in question
• Guidebook for Victor phonographs: "Look for the Dog: Illustrated Guide to Victor Talking Machines" by Bob Baumbach

Instructions

1. Run your fingers gently across the cabinet. The wood, which should be walnut or mahogany, should feel smooth and silky. The cabinet should have a glossy, glass-like appearance. A rough texture is a sign of a fake.

2. Walk around the cabinet and examine all of the cabinet panels. They should all be the exact same color and texture. Mismatched cabinet panels are a sign of a fake.

3. Walk around the cabinet while running your hands gently across it. Look and feel for drips, runs or specks of dirt in the finish. The Victor company had a fastidious record of control, so drips, runs or specks of dust indicate a bad copy.

4. Take a few steps away from the phonograph and examine the finish. It should look even and flawless.

5. Turn the phonograph around or lift or lower the lid. Look for the data plate. The plate should display the words "VICTOR TALKING MCH CO." There should be a picture of a small dog staring into a Gramophone. Check the scale of the images and the font of the text and compare them with an example of this plate from your guidebook. They should match precisely.

6. Find the model number and serial number from the data plate and look it up in your guidebook. Your guidebook should show you an illustration or give you a description of the phonograph in front of you -- if, of course, it is not a fake.

Tips & Warnings

• Walk around the phonograph, lift the lid, look underneath the bottom of the machine carefully and try to find the license sticker. This was a thin square of paper, often stuck on to the bottom of machines. The sticker should look simply like a small square that should be brown or yellow with age and have the word "NOTICE" at the top as well as the date of manufacture. They tore easily and fell off in humid weather. If you can't find the license sticker, that doesn't mean you're looking at a fake; however, if you do find it, it is a further indication of authenticity.

References

• Victor Victrola: Identification
• Victor Victrola: FAQ
• Victor Victrola: History
• "Look for the Dog: Illustrated Guide to Victor Talking Machines;" Bob Baumbach; 1999