I have a Victrola XIV faintly autographed on the motorbord in white ink dated 1921 by Luisa Tetrazzini. Always assumed she signed this at some Victor dealer's. Its in storage now, so I can't quote exactly what was written.
Some years ago Fred McCole offered me what he jokingly called an "Amberola II" - a I-A mechanism installed in a III case. (I think he may have intimated that he sold the original III mechanism to someone who was turning them into Operas. Jim Cartwright Immortal Performances [email protected] > [Original Message] > From: DeeDee Blais <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 11-Jan-2011 11:00:37 PM > Subject: [Phono-L] Human nature... > > Years ago I purchased a Victrola that was autographed by Louisa Tetrazzini. > Next to the turntable, handwritten in white ink was "Souvenir from Louisa > Tetrazzini, April, 1923". Over the years I acquired other Tetrazzini items that > were signed with the same signature and I'm reasonably sure that the Victrola > autograph is genuine. But why did she sign the Victrola? I developed a romantic > theory that she was in Portland, Oregon for a performance and instead of staying > in one of the hotels, she stayed with a wealthy Portland family. As a courtesy > for their hospitality, she signed their Victrola. I really wanted to believe my > theory, right up to the moment that I saw another Victrola with the same > inscription and same date! I had to face the fact that she must have signed > several Victrolas, probably at a Victrola sales promotion for a large dealer. I > really wanted to believe that my Victrola XVI was the only "Tetrazzini" > Victrola. Then I saw a second and it was a XVII! > * > I know strange things happened but they were the exception. I've personally > seen a Vernis Martin Victrola with an upside down decal. I was dumbfounded! > With that said, I still think 99.99% (or more) of the big Amberolas left the > factory with matching numbers. Those numbers were there for a reason. When an > Edison was traded in, the number was recorded by the dealer. Stolen machines > were identified by the serial numbers. I would not expect a dealer to swap a > mechanism from one new machine to another but it was possible. Those machines > are a century old and the original owners a long gone. Even a machine that has > been in one family has gone through several family members and probably repairs. > When those same machines started to be collectable I suspect first generation > collectors upgraded mechanisms and cabinets until they were pleased and gave no > thought to the serial numbers. I remember reading a modern collector statement > that he was against swapping any mechanism or cabinet. I immediately realized > that I had violated his ethical position by swapping out a very ordinary and > dull works for a nicer one in my mahogany Edison Standard B. Even though the > replacement mechanism was period correct, I had not even considered for one > moment what I was doing something wrong. > * > I recently bought a NOS 1968 Sting-Ray Run-A-Bout from a man that was a dealer > in the 60's and 70's. The bike was never sold until I bought it. I asked the > seller if he would write a note on his old letterhead with a brief history of > that bike. I was with my son, Tyler, and grandson, Wyatt. Tyler inquired why I > asked for the note and I replied that "providence" of the bike was important. > Wyatt asked what that meant and I replied that the note would show the history > of the bike from the Schwinn factory to me. > * > If I were buying a big Amberola and questioned the seller why the numbers didn't > match and his reply was "it's always been that way... my grandfather bought it > new...", that's really not providence. Too many things could have happened. I > may really really want to believe it but my better judgement says otherwise. > * > I'll stop now or I'll need to get a title for this book. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
