First Victrola playing In My Merry Oldsmobile

The very first Victrola, introduced in August 1906 by the Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden New Jersey. The Victrola differed from the earlier talking machines by combining all of the mechanism, including the horn, inside the cabinet. This style of machine went on to dominate the industry within just a few years.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Victrola
• Victor
• Talking
• Machine
• Oldsmobile
• antique
• phonograph
• early
• entertainment

[zeb1912]

recordchangerman when you mean first victrola you mean first FLOOR MODEL dont you victor DID make the external horn victrolas prior to 1906

[recordchangerman]

@zeb1912 Victrola was Victor's trademarked name for their talking machine with the concealed horn, and this was the first model. The machines with the external horns were called "Victors". The Victor name was first applied to their talking machines in 1900, but prior to that they were called Gramophones. A court ruling prevented the company from using that name, however.

[rivest266]

Did GM give these "My Marry Oldsmoble" records away?

[recordchangerman]

This particular record dates from 1905, three years before GM was formed. It was quite a popular song at the time, and I imagine that eventually GM did give away copies of it. I seem to recall that in the 1950s Oldsmobile dealers had promotional copies.

[footinmouthindustrys]

use each needle only once? are they hard to find nowadays?

[recordchangerman]

The disc record was purposely made with an abrasive to wear down the needle. This was to make the needle fit the groove better, but of course it also wore a flat spot in the needle. It was always recommended to change the needle with each record. In those days a package of 100 needles was perhaps 10¢, so it wasn't much of a hardship. The needles are still being made, but today a package of 100 needles is about $5, still relatively modest.

[GennettRecords]

@recordchangerman

The version by Jean Goldkette & His Orchestra was definitely given away with their 1927 range.

[luvebug21]

ty for this review

[saintmart]

AWESOME!!!!!!

Very nice!!!!!!!

[tallfuzzyone]

i just bought one of these yesterday for $200, how much do you think one is worth? i saw it when it came into a thrift store and jumped on it immediatly, still works as good as the day it was made over 100 years ago!

[2agray]

Yes. Only once and do not EVER play any 78's of value on a steel needle machine. The reproducer is very heavy and it will wear the record out. Most phonographs these days have not been refurbished and balanced creating drag on the needle causing more wear. Steel needles wear out before the record is finished causing heavy wear in the last inch of the record. Jewel tipped needles can last longer but the weight of the reproducer wears them too after a while.