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Victor Type C

RARITY: ¤¤¤   VALUE:  ¤¤¤¤ 

Emile Berliner, the inventor of the flat phonograph disc, designed and marketed a few early disc phonographs as early as 1896. Eldridge Johnson had been contracted by Berliner to manufacture some components for Berliner's phonographs, and they briefly partnered under the name "Consolidated Talking Machine Company". Berliner eventually sold the business to Johnson in October, 1901, and he named his new enterprise "The Victor Talking Machine Company". Johnson continued producing Berliner's previous product line while making a few improvements to the machines along the way. The Victor C (or "Type C") was the company's "top-of-the-line" model when introduced in the fall of 1901, and represented Johnson's first "all new" product for Victor. It as a vast improvement over the earlier Type A and Type B machines. The crank was mounted on the side of the machine, allowing larger records to be played; plus the crank could be wound while operating. Earlier models had a vertical crank that had to be removed before playing a record. The Type C oak cabinet was far more detailed than others, appearing much more elegant than the previous machines. The Type C sold new for $25.00, which equates to about $775.00 in today's money.  A brass and painted horn was standard along with a single spring motor and "Standard" Soundbox, and a 7-inch turntable.  Exact production numbers are unknown, but based on the serial numbers of surviving examples, is estimated to be approximately 7,000 units. Interestingly, it appears that serial numbers for this model started at approximately s/n 5000 and proceeded upward from there. The earliest examples will not have the "Nipper" logo on the dataplate. When first introduced, disc phonographs were considered to be more of a novelty or conversation piece than an audio playback system for the serious music-lover. In addition, these machines became totally obsolete within just a few years, and many were likely trashed in favor of newer models, which by 1905 could provide much more volume and fidelity. These early Victors are highly prized by collectors today. The Type C's advanced features and performance foreshadowed the future of talking machines; within just a few years, Victor's phonographs would became a common commodity in many homes around the world.

The current survival database shows the earliest existent Victor C to be S/N 5539 and the latest to be S/N 11799.    

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