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V-XXV / VV-XXV / "Schoolhouse"

RARITY: ¤¤   VALUE:  ¤¤¤ 

The Victor XXV was a large floor-model external-horn phonograph, intended for use in schools or other public institutions where it could withstand rough use and be moved around conveniently. It was introduced in the Spring of 1913 and sold at a list price of $60.00, which equates to about $1,600.00 in today's money. Most public schools were given a discounted pricing schedule, as these machines certainly served to promote Victor products to a broad audience of young listeners (and future phonograph buyers!). Made of basic oak, a lockable lid was provided to keep small hands from damaging the turntable and tonearm components. A pull-out shelf allowed a temporary location to store records. Casters allowed easy movement from room-to-room.
The earliest versions of the XXV had a non-removable lid, but the design was soon updated so that the lid could be removed and hung from the back of the machine to keep it out of the way while playing records. The cabinet was slightly enlarged at the same time, and now included a support bracket so that the horn could be removed from the elbow and attached safely underneath the machine for safe storage; a hinge was also added to the bottom storage shelf, allowing it to be swung out of the way of the suspended horn.  An estimated total of 18,500 XXV machines were sold until the model was discontinued in 1925. By that time, the base price had risen to $115.00. A number of small improvements were made to the XXV during the 12 year production run, including changes to the motor, tonearm and soundbox. Serialization of the XXV began at 501 and ran consecutively from that point.
Surviving XXV's are relatively scarce, so collector interest in these models remains strong, but has waned somewhat in recent years.

The following guidelines provide some clues as to the manufacture date of this model:
 - Machines without a detachable lid were made from 1913-1914
 - Machines designated as "V-XXV" were produced from 1913-1917
 - Machines designated as "VV-XXV" were produced from 1917-1925

The current survival database shows the earliest existent Victor XXV to be S/N 597 and the latest to be S/N 19094.

Do you own a Victor XXV? Please take a moment and enter some basic information about your machine into the collector's database by clicking here. No personal information is required.