Which Victrolas use the 3 bolt mount 4 spring motor?

[Victrola-Monkey]

I have six spare 4 spring motors and the four use 4 mounting bolts, but two of them uses a 3 bolt mount. Does anyone know which machines use the 3 bolt mount? One 3 bolt motor has the speed indicator hardware and one has none, not even holes for it.

I do know that the Credenzas/8-30s, my 1918 VV-XVI, and my 1922 VV-330 uses a 4 bolt 4 spring.

I should mention that the 3 bolt mount uses barrels that are not completely round like the 4 bolt mount does.

In the photos below, the 3 bolt mount is identified as motor #1 and the 4 bolt mount as #2.

[De Soto Frank]

I'm not certain, but I believe the VV 8-12 might have used a four-spring / three-bolt mount.

If so, I might be interested in one, if you're looking to find a home for one.


Will have to check my photo-morgue.

[De Soto Frank]

Here are some photos of the four-spring from my great-grandmother's 8-12.

(Yes, there are extra holes in the motorboard. It left Camden as a VE, with an induction motor. By the time she bought it new in rural Virginia, it had been re-motored with a four-spring motor, presumably by a Victor dealer.)

[Victrola-Monkey]

Thanks De Soto Frank for the the info and pictures regarding the VV 8-12 using the 3 bolt motor. I had assumed the 3 bolt was the earliest 4 spring motor and it turns out to be the latest. What else is interesting is that the 3 bolt motor is bigger (10.25”x7” versus 9.75”x7”) and a lot heavier (17 lbs 3 oz versus 15 lbs 10 oz). Both have 17’ long springs though.

I know I didn’t gets this or my other 3 bolt motor from an 8-12. However. I had 5 very nice ones and sold them all. (I had posted a cool picture of them all lined up awhile back). Now that I know this is a late 4 spring, perhaps this one was from a rough VV 8-35 I sold as an empty cabinet to another TMF member (who reworked the wood and brought the machine back to its original glory). I have 4 nice 8-35s and I will be selling 3 of those later this year and keeping one. My 9-40s are blocking their access in my living room right now. My other spare 3 bolt motor has the speed indicator unlike the 3 bolt pictured and discussed here.

Do you know or does anyone else know what late model 3-bolt 4-spring Victrola would have the speed indicator hardware? The 8-12 nor the 8-35 has a speed indicator, from what I’ve seen. Just a speed control Knob.

(I’ll PM you regarding selling one of my 3-bolt motors.)

[De Soto Frank]

Just as a "for what it's worth", my great-grandmother's 8-12 has a license-label dating from Sept. 1927, has a two-screw crank escutcheon, antique bronze (dark, almost black) hardware, and a bright nickel Orthophonic soundbox.


I have never observed an Orthophonic Victrola with any kind of speed indicator. Not saying they might not exist, but I have not seen one. Spring-motors had the oval plate & thumbscrew, like the one in my photo, electric motors had an oval plate with a flush, slotted-screw for screw-driver adjustment only.

[Victrola-Monkey]

I’ve sold off all my 2 and 4 door Credenzas which I recall having speed indicators (and 4 bolts) Not sure about the 8-30s (but I’m sure they were 4 bolt motors). Kept my 8-60s but can’t access them but those are VEs.

Behold... Pictured below is a Credenza X motor board that I have recently sold that has a speed indicator. My 4 spare 4 bolt motors all have the speed indicator hardware which came from diseased Credenzas and pictured below is the 3 bolt motor with speed indicator hardware.