Rca Tv Serial Number Search For Guns
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Note: To date and get an idea of rarity of a Victor Product, please read this page carefully, and then click the 'Product Information' link at the bottom of the page! If you have already read and understand this information, click here to skip this page.
Before the age, history and value of a Victor product can be determined, the phonograph must be correctly identified. Fortunately for collectors, the process of identifying a Victor phonograph is not difficult. The Victor Talking MachineCompany did an excellent job of providing model identification, along with aunique serial number for most models, which makes dating their phonographs arelatively easy task in most cases.
Every Victor phonograph has a metal dataplate affixed either on or near the motorboard (for machines with lids), onthe side of the phonograph (for most external horn and lidless models), or under the turntable(for low-priced and some portable models of the 20's). The turntable must be lifted straight up and off the motorboard to view some plates. Every dataplate contains both amodel identification (stamped on the left) and a serial number (on the right). Every model has an individual serialization.
Most dataplates will appearsimilar to the pictures below:
The model number is shown first, followed by a serial number. On the leftmost plate above, the model is a 'VV-XI' and the serial number is '836749'. 'VV' stands for Victor-Victrola. Some external horns have just a 'V' for Victor, and others use 'Type' or 'Style' to identify the model. Some machines use names rather than numeric model designations. Using thisinformation, the hobbyist can proceed to the next page (linked below) to determine specific details.
In some cases, the dataplate mayhave corroded over the years, and the small stamped serial numbers may be nearly impossible toread. It is usually possible to use a piece of very fine steel wool and GENTLYrub over the number so that it becomes visible. Too much pressure will damagethe plate and could remove the contrasting black paint on the plate. In other cases,cautious use of an exacto-knife can prove helpful.
Serialization of external horn Victors likely began around s/n 100. Accurately dating these very early external horn machines is difficult, as the serial numbers were reset in 1905 and some were reset again in 1909, and thus, there can be 2 (or more) identical serial numbers for a given model. In addition, factory records for the earliest machines are incomplete. In these cases some educated guessing is needed to accurately date a phonograph. This is only the case for external horn Victors..not for Victrolas.
Most Victrola (internal horn) phonographs started production at s/n 501, and ran consecutively until the model was discontinued. Each model has it's own serial number during the sequential production run. During production, large blocks of serial numbers were skipped in some instances, but since these 'skips' were well documented, we are still able to accurately date virtually all Victrolas. The exceptions to the '501' starting serial number for Victrolas occur on prototype models, and many of the Canadian-built and Export models, which can have serial numbers below 100.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The presence of decals, metal tags, etc.with a dealer logo (e.g 'Wurlitzer', 'Hudson's', 'Lyon and Healy', etc) are simply advertising applied by the selling dealer, and do NOT signify that the Victor product was made by these sellers.