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Victor Type MS ("Monarch Special")

RARITY: ¤¤   VALUE:  ¤¤¤¤  

Given the remarkable success of the upscale Victor M in 1901, Eldridge Johnson decided to produce an even more advanced machine the following year. Thus, the Victor MS (advertised as the Monarch Special) was introduced in 1902 as the company's latest high-performance model. It sold new for $45.00, which equates to more than $1550.00 in today's money. The MS initially featured a robust cast-iron 10" turntable and a very advanced 3-spring motor, placing its performance far above the other products in the Victor lineup. Like most machines from this timeframe, the cabinet was made of quarter-sawn oak, but unlike other machines, the MS cabinet was highly decorated with ornate carvings.  As was the case with the Victor M, the MS also underwent several cabinet and component design upgrades during its 3-year production run. The earliest examples used an integral horn and tonearm ("front-mount") configuration (left) and a threaded record hold-down knob on the spindle.  The machine was later offered with an optional rigid-arm design (1902), and in 1903, the taper-arm design (right) became available. In late 1903, when the MS was overtaken by the new Victor D as the company's premium product, the MS motor reverted to a smaller 2-spring design. The price was also raised by $5.00 at that time. A variety of horn options were available, ranging from a simple stamped-steel horn to various flower and solid wood horns. In 1903 when Victor began the use of Roman numerals for their model line-up, those MS machines which were fitted with either rigid-arms or tapered arms were advertised as "Victor IV" models (while still using "MS" stamped on the dataplates), and the older front-mount horn design were promoted in advertisements and catalogs as the "MS".  In 1905, the "MS" nomenclature was totally discontinued, and this model became the Victor IV.

Some late-production versions (beginning around serial number 13,000) of the MS offered a preview of the forthcoming and less-ornate Victor IV cabinet, although these were still badged as MS machines (picture left). Note that the "gingerbread" trim was removed, and a more modern turntable brake was added. These "pre-IV cabinets" are relatively rare finds, and are prized by collectors today. These cabinets were available in both oak and mahogany wood.

At present, there is not a good correlation between serial number and production date for this model. However, based on surviving examples, serial numbers below 5,000 were produced in 1902. The current "best estimate" of total production volumes is 19,500 units. Serialization of the Victor IV picked-up where the MS left off, at around 19,500. The earliest versions use a 'pre-dog' dataplate. Later versions use the standard rectangular dataplate with the designation "Type MS"

The current survival database shows the earliest existent Victor MS to be S/N 40 and the latest to be S/N 19515. Examples with serial numbers well above 20,000 have been reported, but are not verified.

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