I inherited an old console record player from my grandfather and am
having difficulty finding any information about it online.  I would
like to find out where I could order replace parts (new needle, etc.)
as well as whether there are service facilities that could repair it. 
The markings on the back of the player have the following information:
 Victrola, RCA Victor, Model VFT 26 W, 150W.  I'm uncertain of the
year it was manufactured.  So far my search for Victrola or RCA Victor
turn up sellers of gramaphone-type record players, such as the one at
this link: http://www.audiobuys.net/RCA/1729.htm

The player from my grandfather looks nothing like this and I have yet
to find even a picture of one similar to my grandfather's.  It is
approximately 2.5 feet high x 1.5 feet deep x 5 feet wide.  It has two
sliding doors on the top of the cabinet for access to the record
player/controls and record storage.  Cloth covered speakers are on the
front and sides of the console.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 12 Aug 2005 16:40 PDT

Thanks for the links. Your model is "defintely" much later than the
ones I surmised it might be. The links you offered worked for a while
but they're not working now. Please get them back on line as soon as
possible so I can refer them to some experts.

tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 12 Aug 2005 16:47 PDT

FYI - The pics are back online.

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Clarification of Question by don216-ga on 13 Aug 2005 07:28 PDT

I uploaded the pics to my work server and some network maintenance was
being performed this weekend.

Anyway, it definitely must have tubes because it takes it a short
while to warm up and start making sound.  I have not played a record
on it yet, only heard the radio tuner, because of the missing needle. 
But as soon as you turn it on there's quite a buzz or hum sound.  I
don't know if this is because of bad tubes or what (my knowledge of
electronics is minimal).  There is also quite a bit of noise, like
sort of a popping, that I'm not sure if it is from the speakers; which
could obviously be easily replaced.  I should probably upload an audio
clip to the server too to help describe the poor sound quality.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 13 Aug 2005 08:15 PDT

I don't think a clip would be worth the bother. I've sent your
infromation to some pretty knowledgeable people and I'm waiting for
replies.

tutuzdad-ga

Dear don216-ga;

What you have there is called a Credenza Phonograph; a top-of-
the-line record player that doubled as a piece of fine furniture.
There was a four-door design - two doors for record storage and two
for volume control - and a simpler two-door design too. Yours, like
this 1923 example, is probably a product of Victor Talking Machine
Company, Camden New Jersey.

VICTOR VICTROLA CRENDENZA PHONOGRAPH
http://www.kynd.net/~bcove/1923Records.jpg

Here are some other examples:

GOOGLE IMAGES: CRENDENZA VICTOR
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=credenza+victor&btnG=Search


You can pick up a brief history on the company here:

VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY
http://www.anoca.org/records/johnson/victor_talking_machine_company.html

These fabulous record players were made in many styles, shapes and sizes. 

ROSE & GRACY?S ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPHS
http://www.talkingmachines.com/830.html

Some came complete with a horn and some did not. Other has what was
known as an Orthophonic Reproducer, a kind of primitive speaker on the
needle arm that aided amplification.

Now that you know what you have and how to search for more information
about it, you might want to visit PHONOGRAPH COMPANION. Here you can
find others who have, or are looking for, parts for their players.
It?s a sort of classifieds for phonograph parts.
http://www.phonographcompanion.com/phonographsales.html

As for who might work on your machine, I?d highly recommend you
consult a local antique dealer or someone who restores this particular
type of antique rather than an average tinker. However, if you plan to
do some of it yourself the instructions are fairly universal in these
early years:

VICTOR'S ORTHOPHONIC CREDENZA - THE KING OF MACHINES?
http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/credenza.htm

R J Wakeman, who appears to be somewhat of an expert on the credenza,
is the host of this aforementioned site. He welcomes anyone who wants
to ask a question about his or her phonograph to contact him:

R J Wakeman
rjwakeman@ucdavis.edu

Perhaps you should also contact the ONLINE ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH GALLERY
who might be able to tell you exactly what your phonograph is.
http://www.inkyfingers.com/RECORD/Submissions.html


You will find more helpful information here:

TIM GRACYK'S HOME PAGE
http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/

So, the bottom line here is that I don?t know if I?ve answered your
question or not. I did not find a model VFT but I did manage to tell
you what the contraption is ? it is a credenza phonograph.

Let me know if this information is acceptable as an answer.

Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

That's similar to what I've been finding.  I think all of those must
be much older than what I've got.  I can't seem to find anything that
even looks like what I have.  I uploaded some pics so you can see what
I have.

Front view
http://www.tranzonic.com/eb/frontview.gif

Rear Markings
http://www.tranzonic.com/eb/rearmarkings.gif

Top view of controls inside one of the top sliding doors
http://www.tranzonic.com/eb/controls.gif

Serial Number Marking
http://www.tranzonic.com/eb/serialnumber.gif

Looks definitely like something from the early sixties.  (A picture is
worth a 1000 words)  Standard hifi needle should be a minimal problem.
What else ails it?  It probably still has radio tubes, but I think
there are sources for them  - but don't ask me ...