Antique Victor III Superior Gramophone-Phonograph. Wooden Horn. USA, C. 1912

Wonderful Antique Victor III Superior gramophone or phonograph with wooden horn, made in USA circa 1912 and entirely original from the time. The gramophone boasts a really amazing condition, especially considering that no piece or component part has ever been replaced. Even the felt covering of the turntable is the original one it is slightly worn but has been preserved because of its authenticity. The gramophone mounts a double-spring motor; though Victor III models usually had single-spring motors, the Victor III Superior included this improvement (which is actually usual in Victor IV gramophones). This was a special purposely-made series. In fact, inside the box we can see a label which indicates that the motor can be mounted in Victor III and Victor IV gramophones. In this piece, it has been greased and fine-tuned in order to guarantee an optimal performance. The box and the horn are made of solid oak wood. The wood boasts a fine dark color with deep veneers and light-golden marks. The box has corner columns which have been carved by hand to provide it with a fine neo-classic style. The base and the top bear molded edges too. One of the boxs sides has a riveted metal plate with the brand name Victor, the logo, the model (Vic III) and the serial number 40757. The other side has another metal plate, in this case with the name of the distributor: E. Lepage & Cia. From Buenos Aires, Argentina. This company is very renowned among collectors, as it was a pioneer in importing gramophones to Argentina and became the most important business in the field. They only worked with high-quality items. The black metal elbow that supports the arm and the horn preserves the original hand-painted Golden decoration in very good condition. The reproducer is the original one and the horn stands out for its imposing presence and striking condition. This wonderful Antique Victor III Superior gramophone with wooden horn is bound to preside an awesome dining room or an elegant music room. Dimensions: Box: Side: 14.17 in / 36 cm. Height: 7.5 in / 19 cm. Horn: Length: 26 in / 66 cm. Mouths Width: 21.65 in / 55 cm.Victor Talking Machine Co. - History The Victor Talking Machine Company was founded in 1902 by Eldridge Johson, owner of a small machine shop in New Jersey (USA) after the proposal made by Emile Berliner to produce a low-cost spring motor to build a phonograph for his records. In the late 1880s, Berliner had invented a flat phonograph record that could be mass-produced. At the same time Edison had designed the cylinder phonograph, but the cylinders could not be mass-produced. After a complicated series of patent infringements and lawsuits, Berliner was restricted from selling his products in the USA so he moved to Canada. It was then when the Victor Talking Machine Company was founded; it was the beginning of a history of success. In 1906 the company launched the Victrola, a gramophone hidden into a piece of furniture which become a real success. During World War I the business declined but sales rose again after the content. In 1925 they produced the Ortophonic Victrola with an improved quality sound. At the late 1920s Johnson sold the company to RCA and it was renamed RCA-Victor.