Novice question on Victrola reproducers
- mick_vt
- Victor I
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Novice question on Victrola reproducers
I have a 1913 XVI with an exhibition reproducer, will a #2 reproducer fit my arm, and if it does would it sound different? Inquisitive mind looking to be educated
Last edited by mick_vt on Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Victor V
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Re: Novice question on Victorola reproducers
Yes it certainly will! I don’t have a exhibition reproducer to compare but I think a #2 would have more volume.mick_vt wrote:I have a 1913 XVI with an exhibition reproducer, will a #2 reproducer fit my arm, and if it does would it sound different? Inquisitive mind looking to be educated
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- Victor II
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Re: Novice question on Victorola reproducers
A #2 will work, though it will no longer be "authentic" That said, I've seen a few Exhibition era machines over the years where the owners had upgraded their reproducer.
- mick_vt
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Re: Novice question on Victorola reproducers
Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?
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- Victor VI
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Re: Novice question on Victorola reproducers
Any tonearm that accepts an Exhibition also accepts a No. 2. The inner diameters on both flanges is identical.mick_vt wrote:Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?
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- Victor VI
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Re: Novice question on Victorola reproducers
In order to achieve a proper comparison, you would also have to rebuild the #2. There are always many on Ebay for sale. A couple hours ago one was a BIN for $38 with box. The reproducer was nickel and the box was for a gold finish. Still, a very good deal and sold fast.mick_vt wrote:Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?
- jmad7474
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Re: Novice question on Victrola reproducers
As the other posters have said, a No. 2 will fit on the tonearm as they both have the same rear flange opening despite having the diaphragms of different sizes. However, if you have a lot of 78 rpm discs recorded in the electrical era (after 1925), I would advise getting a rebuilt Victrola #4 reproducer and using that instead of a #2 reproducer. This way, you have the Exhibition reproducer (which is original to the machine) but can swap it out for the #4 reproducer as needed, since it plays both acoustic and electric records safely and is less heavy on the records than a #2.
- mick_vt
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Re: Novice question on Victrola reproducers
Cool - thanks I will keep an eye out for one
- AZ*
- Victor IV
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Re: Novice question on Victrola reproducers
Just be careful. Try to find a Victrola #4, and not a #4A. The #4A is made from pot metal, and many have swollen and cracked -- much like the pot metal Orthophonics, so they are not easily overhauled. Unfortunately, the #4As are much more common than the brass #4s.mick_vt wrote:Cool - thanks I will keep an eye out for one
Best regards ... AZ*