Featured Phonograph № 122 - Tabletop VV-X Type A
Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2015 6:29 pm
Make: Victor Talking Machine Co.
Model: Tabletop Victor Victrola X Type A (VV-X Type A)
Serial #: 11565 A
Year(s) Made: early 1912
Original Cost: $75
Case/Cabinet Size: 15 ⅜" x 18 ½" x 22 ½" Mahogany
Turntable/Mandrel: 12" Pressed Steel
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Exhibition
Motor: Victor 2-spring (spiral double cut)
Horn Dimensions: non-floating horn
Reproduction Parts: governor weights and springs
Current Value: ?
Interesting Facts:
This is the second iteration of the VV-X tabletop models and the only difference to the first iteration is the type of brake used. The first model used the Victor bullet brake (#561), while this one uses the relatively unusual and short lived friction brake #1918. The tabletop VV-X was not very successful in the market, originally introduced in August 1910 and replaced by the also short-lived "spider leg" VV-X Type C in July 1912. The VV-X Type A was only on the market for 8 months. As can be seen in the pictures, it still had no "real" horn, just two wooden boards to guide the sound waves. Very similar to the VV-IV this leads to the motor hanging into the horn, causing obstruction of the free flow of sound waves and more audible motor noise.
I acquired this Victrola from forum member flashpanblue - thanks Pete - and picked it up at the Wayne show in September. It had a few issues, the springs didn't hold tension, the governor had some creative repair, some water damage and peeling veneer at the doors, missing crank escutcheon, and general maintenance work. The outside finish had quite some alligatoring and it seems that someone tried to re-amalgamate parts of it. It turned out that the spring problem was just a sheared off tapered pin, so I only needed new governor weights and springs from Ron Sitko and a new escutcheon from George Vollema. Then a lot of cleaning and proper lubrication and it was singing again. Also had to recreate that small strip of veneer that was missing from the right door. Now it is complete and works like a charm.
What I really like with this machine is the decorative strip of molding around the upper rim and the fact that it is an example of the time when Victor was still trying to figure it out. Later Victrolas have a much better sound quality of course, but to me the earlier imperfect machines are much more interesting.
Here a few "before" pictures:
Model: Tabletop Victor Victrola X Type A (VV-X Type A)
Serial #: 11565 A
Year(s) Made: early 1912
Original Cost: $75
Case/Cabinet Size: 15 ⅜" x 18 ½" x 22 ½" Mahogany
Turntable/Mandrel: 12" Pressed Steel
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Exhibition
Motor: Victor 2-spring (spiral double cut)
Horn Dimensions: non-floating horn
Reproduction Parts: governor weights and springs
Current Value: ?
Interesting Facts:
This is the second iteration of the VV-X tabletop models and the only difference to the first iteration is the type of brake used. The first model used the Victor bullet brake (#561), while this one uses the relatively unusual and short lived friction brake #1918. The tabletop VV-X was not very successful in the market, originally introduced in August 1910 and replaced by the also short-lived "spider leg" VV-X Type C in July 1912. The VV-X Type A was only on the market for 8 months. As can be seen in the pictures, it still had no "real" horn, just two wooden boards to guide the sound waves. Very similar to the VV-IV this leads to the motor hanging into the horn, causing obstruction of the free flow of sound waves and more audible motor noise.
I acquired this Victrola from forum member flashpanblue - thanks Pete - and picked it up at the Wayne show in September. It had a few issues, the springs didn't hold tension, the governor had some creative repair, some water damage and peeling veneer at the doors, missing crank escutcheon, and general maintenance work. The outside finish had quite some alligatoring and it seems that someone tried to re-amalgamate parts of it. It turned out that the spring problem was just a sheared off tapered pin, so I only needed new governor weights and springs from Ron Sitko and a new escutcheon from George Vollema. Then a lot of cleaning and proper lubrication and it was singing again. Also had to recreate that small strip of veneer that was missing from the right door. Now it is complete and works like a charm.
What I really like with this machine is the decorative strip of molding around the upper rim and the fact that it is an example of the time when Victor was still trying to figure it out. Later Victrolas have a much better sound quality of course, but to me the earlier imperfect machines are much more interesting.
Here a few "before" pictures: