In a Nutshell
Victor's early top model 3-spring gramophone, every collector's dream

Introduction:
Introduced by Victor Talking Machine in 1901, the first Monarch Special MS had an ornate oak case with rope-twist top edge, egg and dart and ginger bread motifs, corner pilasters and honeysuckle plinth molding, triple-spring bevel-gear motor, a 1.9 kg heavy cast-iron 12” turntable, a Victor Exhibition soundbox, and a black painted flower or morning glory horn. Relatives are the earlier model M and later models D, Victor the I through VI and the Monarch Senior models. The horns of the upscale 3-spring machines could be upgraded to a 22" speartip oak horn with 22" bell diameter, for an extra $15 (1/3 of the machine's price). Later the Monarch MS' tonearm progressed from front-mount to rigid rear-mount and finally in 1903 to the tapered rear-mount version, like mine (serial number 16440). The platter was downsized to 10" and the motor reverted to two springs (see below). Mine is a transitional model with 10" platter and triple-spring all-brass motor. Unlike the larger model D, the MS still has the black back bracket with ornate blue-gold pin striping. Only about 20'000 MS were produced, compared with 58'000 M, or 158'000 Victor II (ref.1).

Additional information:
 ref.1: http://www.victor-victrola.com/Production%20Volumes.htm
 ref.2: https://archive.org/details/ModernGramophones1929
 ref.3: https://youtu.be/FwpxJSEzxgg
 ref.4: https://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio-Antiks_EMGinn_Expert.htm
 ref.5: https://www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadio-Antiks_HMV_Monarch.htm

About my gramophone:
My gramophone is in original (except for the reproduction horn elbow) and next to mint cosmetic and working condition. The finish is original, with very fine and desirable crazing. Speed control and bullet brake are original too. The correct black-brass data plaque with the then new dog logo shows type MS and serial number 16440. The back bracket's original pin striping is in magnificent condition. So, what is the "oomph"? Here are five oomphs:
 - The paper license sticker on bottom has hand-written matching serial number 16440 and price tag of $50, and is undamaged
 - Machine has a (damaged, but readable) distributor's decal on its left-side canvas saying "Sold by Eilers Piano House Portland Seattle" (see below)
 - Tonearm has a rare and perfectly working volume control integrated into its gooseneck. I did not find any reference for this modification, but Phonophan's Tim Fabrizio has shown me the same control from his collection, which proves that it is not a homebrew product.
 - Exhibition sound box with low serial number 100199 has a rare spring action lever needle tightener, instead of a thumbscrew (see below)
 - 22" oak speartip horn with original finish and Victor decal
The reproducer and the motor have been fully serviced. The triple spring bevel-gear motor can be fully wound up - and is very silent, as can be verified in a youtube video (ref.3 or click on pict.51). Please notice the substantial volume dependence on the positioning of the camera relative to the horn. The second record played exemplifies the distortions, in particular half way through the record, to be accepted when playing a 12" record on this machine. The record is made from shellac, though, and avoids to be harmed as much as a vinyl 78 rpm record would be. The sound of this Monarch Special still is impressive but inferior when compared with my EMG Expert Junior (ref.4) or my HMV Monarch Senior (ref.5). The records and many more are included in the sale, if wanted. I am also willing to sell the gramophone without the horn. Please e-mail me (Kris) for any questions or make me an offer; ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.

For the know-it-all's only:
  - 1. In 1902 Hy Eilers, A. H. Eilers, and S. J. McCormick incorporated their 1899 business under the name "Eilers Piano House", in Portland, Oregon. Originally a large retail store, the company concentrated on building and selling pianos and player pianos, but soon expanded to selling other music-related material like phonographs and records. Around 1908 Eilers changed their name to "Eilers Music House", and opened many branch stores along the Pacific coast, but finally between 1920 and 1930 suffered an agonizing bankruptcy death.
  - 2. The authentic and original Exhibition sound box has the low serial number 100199 (without a letter), the correct pre-1909 knurled needle bar nuts, and the round steel needle hole and therefore cannot play triangular fibre needles, that anyway were not available before 1909. The quick needle release lever is extremely rare and was only produced for a short time. It is also very helpful, when launching a needle touch-down.
  - 3. Why was in 1903 the turntable size of the MS reduced from 12" to 10", then the motor downsized to two springs, and a new model D, again with 12" turntable launched, that had a larger cabinet? Probably the Victor engineers convinced Eldridge Johnson that the MS cabinet was simply too small to play the then new 12" format without severe distortions. Twenty years before F. C. Moore, Percy Wilson and others (see ref.3) presented their theoretical studies about, and Michael Ginn started building EMG gramophones, it was known, that pivoting tonearms necessarily introduce distortions and even record wear. Tracking angle errors of more than 10° are encountered when playing a 12" record on an MS, ten times as large as for an EMG machine (see my discussion in ref.4). My youtube video (ref.3 or click on thumbnail 51) exemplifies the situation.

Here are the specifications:

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