Run your fingers gently across the cabinet. The wood, which should be walnut or mahogany, should feel smooth and silky. The cabinet should have a glossy, glass-like appearance. A rough texture is a sign of a fake.
Walk around the cabinet and examine all of the cabinet panels. They should all be the exact same color and texture. Mismatched cabinet panels are a sign of a fake.
Walk around the cabinet while running your hands gently across it. Look and feel for drips, runs or specks of dirt in the finish. The Victor company had a fastidious record of control, so drips, runs or specks of dust indicate a bad copy.
Take a few steps away from the phonograph and examine the finish. It should look even and flawless.
Turn the phonograph around or lift or lower the lid. Look for the data plate. The plate should display the words "VICTOR TALKING MCH CO." There should be a picture of a small dog staring into a Gramophone. Check the scale of the images and the font of the text and compare them with an example of this plate from your guidebook. They should match precisely.
Find the model number and serial number from the data plate and look it up in your guidebook. Your guidebook should show you an illustration or give you a description of the phonograph in front of you -- if, of course, it is not a fake.