To determine the date of
manufacture and rarity of your Victrola, simply scroll down to the list below
and click on the model you are interested in exploring. Historical information
will be provided on each listing, including date of manufacture based on serial
numbers. Readers
are strongly encouraged to review the Identifying Victor
Products page before proceeding.
If you own a Victor
product, and would
like to contribute to the master database, please access the questionnaire below.
No names or addresses are necessary, only information relative to your
phonograph's serial number, design features, etc. are requested.
Models
are listed in alphabetical order. Due to the complexity of the name/number
combinations, it may take some time to locate your exact model, as there are
hundreds of models included herein. Be sure to carefully read your dataplate and click on the
model type, exactly as shown on the plate. Do not mistake the number "1" for the
letter "I". The term "Type" or "Style" may appear on the
dataplate before the model number. Some margin of error will no doubt occur in this reference
material, and work is ongoing to improve accuracy and detail specifics. For
most models, accuracy should be within one year of the specified date.
NOTE: If no
hyperlink is provided on the model you have selected, the page and information
on that model is not available at the present time. For general
information on how rarity and valuation is calculated on this website, as well
as for production summary tables, please refer to the "Rarity and Value
Analysis" page below.
Note
that the patent dates which appear on the metal dataplate, soundbox, or
elsewhere on the phonograph are not indicative of the build
date of a Victrola. These dates (often 1904, 1906 or similar) indicate the
date that a particular design was originally patented, not when the
machine was produced. The License Sticker date will also not
reflect the accurate production date of your Victor or Victrola machine.
Much of
this information is based on the large Victrola database that we have maintained
for many years, which includes design features and other information. In addition, company production estimates were tabulated by Mr. B.
L. Aldridge, a former Victor employee. Much additional information has been published in Robert Baumbach's excellent books,
Look
for the Dog and The Victor Data Book (see "Recommended Reading and Links").
We are also highly indebted to Mr. Baumbach for sharing information from
original Victor parts and shipping lists, which have helped to fill in some of
the gaps in the database. We also thank Mr. Rod Simpson, and Mr. Fabian Bersh of Ontario, Canada for assisting in supporting the
database and creating appropriate sorting algorithms. Readers
who wish to understand specific details on particular models (beyond what is
provided on this website) should procure copies of Mr. Baumbach's books.
