One Less VV 4-40 in the World...

[CDBPDX]

About a year ago, a fellow gave me a Victrola VV 4-40 from his barn. No motor or motor board, the cabinet was demolished, and the legs were gone, so tonight I 'disassembled' it.

Finally got to have a first hand look at the innards of a re-entrant horn. First, the sound goes down the cast iron tubes to the wooden part of the horn, then it splits and each split does a u-turn one to the left and the other to the right, then each of those split up and down, then the upper right and upper left meet and the lower right and lower left meet, and the sound comes out the top and bottom of the front.

Anyway, VV 4-40 serial number 120829 is no more. The grille is in very good condition and the metal parts are still useable, that's about all that's left.

Cliff

[Victrola-Monkey]

Here’s a 4-40 cabinet for $50 if you want to make it whole again:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3170564764

[Skihawx]

Unfortunately there are already too many VV 4-40s in the world.

[VanEpsFan1914]

Ah, dissection! At least a Victrola will not smell of formaldehyde and misery inside, (unless rats have set up a mortuary inside the record compartment). I've wanted to see what was in a re-entrant horn for a very long time.

Did you take some pictures of how the horn was constructed? I know working on a normal non-Orthophonic Victrola for the first time I had no idea what I was doing and very nearly dismantled the horn thinking it was removable--nope, it was wood, iron, and old beeswax, and I had no real business pulling it apart!

Perhaps photos and/or descriptions would help Orthophonic owners with fixing their own machines...

Unfortunately there are already too many VV 4-40s in the world.

Are you quite certain? --I don't have one yet!

[CDBPDX]

Ah, dissection! At least a Victrola will not smell of formaldehyde and misery inside, (unless rats have set up a mortuary inside the record compartment). I've wanted to see what was in a re-entrant horn for a very long time.

Did you take some pictures of how the horn was constructed? I know working on a normal non-Orthophonic Victrola for the first time I had no idea what I was doing and very nearly dismantled the horn thinking it was removable--nope, it was wood, iron, and old beeswax, and I had no real business pulling it apart!

Perhaps photos and/or descriptions would help Orthophonic owners with fixing their own machines...

Unfortunately there are already too many VV 4-40s in the world.

Are you quite certain? --I don't have one yet!

I made a real primitive video of the re-entrant horn assembly and posted to YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/fYrS2oLsJ3s

Hope this helps! Cliff

[barnettrp21122]

Ah, dissection! At least a Victrola will not smell of formaldehyde and misery inside, (unless rats have set up a mortuary inside the record compartment). I've wanted to see what was in a re-entrant horn for a very long time.

Did you take some pictures of how the horn was constructed? I know working on a normal non-Orthophonic Victrola for the first time I had no idea what I was doing and very nearly dismantled the horn thinking it was removable--nope, it was wood, iron, and old beeswax, and I had no real business pulling it apart!

Perhaps photos and/or descriptions would help Orthophonic owners with fixing their own machines...

Unfortunately there are already too many VV 4-40s in the world.

Are you quite certain? --I don't have one yet!

I made a real primitive video of the re-entrant horn assembly and posted to YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/fYrS2oLsJ3s

Hope this helps! Cliff

Is that the Pathé rooster crowing in the background?
Thanks for the video!
Bob

[OrthoFan]

I made a real primitive video of the re-entrant horn assembly and posted to YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/fYrS2oLsJ3s
Hope this helps! Cliff

Hi Cliff:

MANY THANKS for posting that. I've had my 4-40 for about 20 years now, and wondered about the innards of the horn. From what I've been told, it was the smallest re-entrant style (4-chamber) horn Victor made. The only online photos I've spotted have been like this one, showing the horn's mouth:

When I first got mine, I inspected the horn as best I could, checked for and repaired any possible leaks, etc., and have been generally pleased with the sound quality. What I call the upper range bass really comes through, and compared to other as-found models I've listened to, it sounds pretty good--far more Credenza-like than the other mid/small models such as the 4-7 or Consolette.

Some day, I hope to acquire another 4-40 in a pristine cabinet. (Mine's missing the leg stretcher and has been partially refinished). That will probably be the one to see me out.

OrthoFan