Victor Orthophonic VV 2-55

[Edisonh19]

I acquired a portable Orthophonic several years ago. I've tinkered with the soundbox/reproducer a bit and the sound has improved, but I'm certain that it isn't as "brilliant" as it should be. I'm sure that it needs to be rebuilt. Does anyone have experience with rebuilding these? Is this something that can be accomplished by a person who has basic understanding of a phonograph reproducer?

Also, I'm wondering if it is okay to play standard Victor recordings with an Orthophonic reproducer? I assume that it is alright since it uses the same needle... but I wasn't sure if there was any damaging vibration that might come back from the soundbox that could damage the older recordings.

I've included a short sound clip of my machine playing "Let's Misbehave" by Irving Aaronson. Most notably, I notice some vibration noise as well as missing lower tones. What causes this type of vibration/sound loss? Any ideas?

Thank you!
Ed

[daverob]

I think the quality of the sound is limited to the size of the horn... Very small.
Old records should be safe as long as you are changing the needle or using a tungstone one. (i know that's obvious... So much so it might be offensive lol) anyways, i believe there's good instruction on optimizing the sound box in the compleat talking machine, and probably better in the look for the dog book. I recommend having a few spare parts or even another orthophonic reproducer on hand cuz those tiny dirty bearings want to run for freedom.

I dunno what that extra wavering is in the song... Maybe the record's not turning with enough power and the reproducer is making the speed change. Maybe oiling the governor would help.

[Edisonh19]

Thank you for the response! I hadn't noticed the other distortion until you mentioned it. I don't have any extra parts unfortunately, so I guess I'm probably just going to have to dig in. I found what seems to be a pretty thorough tutorial online. I'm also planning to check out the books you mentioned. Maybe I can tune up my Victor Exhibition too!

[daverob]

Overall, really, the sound is very clear. It's just missing the lows of a large horn.

And see this...

http://m.ebay.com/itm/380960347616?nav=SEARCH

Good luck
-Dave

Wd40 helps too

[Uncle Vanya]

Actually, the 2-55 can sound MUCH better than this one does. The instructions for the repair of an Orthophonic reproducer are not included in "Compleate Talking Machine". It differs from the earlier reproducers that Reiss so ably discusses in important respects. It sounds to me as if your pivot bearings are tight. Order a new set of ball bearings and replace the perished rubber compression washers and that should correct the problem. Then again, your rubber isolator, the fitting between the reproducer body and the tone arm, is hard as a rock. It is absolutely imperative that this be replaced with soft rubber. The replacements offered b most of the phonograph suppliers will simply not do, and they are entirely too hard for the purpose.

[daverob]

Hmm. The chapter on reproducers in my Reiss has a fair amount of stuff on orthophonics if you already own it. It is, by no means, exhaustive or comprehensive... But a fair place to start, IMHO.

[Edisonh19]

Thanks again! I notice that it appears that something has been shoved in the openings where the ball bearings are located, like a clay maybe? I assume this might have been to stop vibration at some point. I'll have to dig that out and try to clean out the area where the bearings go. I guess that's perhaps why the sound is a little odd. I've noticed that vocals tend to be quiet. In person you can hear some of the lower tones, but there's vibration... like a humming, buzzing kind of noise on the lower and fuller tones. Guess I'll buy one of those bearing/washer kits on ebay!
Thanks!
Ed.

[De Soto Frank]

That "clay" was once very pliable rubber tubing.

[Edisonh19]

It was also packed around the needle bar, so I think it's actually some sort of modeling clay. I cleaned the stuff out from around the needle bar, and now the tones are much warmer and the high tones are more brilliant (and is it just me, or can I hear more of the background music coming through?), however, the needle bar has so much movement back and forth that it can touch the housing of the reproducer ( I placed a small piece of tissue between the two to minimize the vibration it was causing... I assume this free movement is caused by the fact that the ball bearings aren't supporting it like they should be. Here's a new sound clip of the same passage of the same record with the few alterations I've made to the reproducer. I need to hold the recorder closer to the speaker than the reproducer next time! Sorry about all the record noise! Note to self... get a better copy of this record!
Ed.

[De Soto Frank]

There are supposed to be rubber "donuts" between the bearing balls and the cover ( one on each side): these provide a tiny bit of pre-load, causing the bearing balls to seat snugly between the tapered bearing bar and the outer sleeve, and also prevent the balls from rattling / buzzing.

Some Orthophonic sound boxes have a small flat-washer between the rubber and the balls.


When all is right with it, there should not be enough axial-play in the needle bar pivot for the needle-bar to contact either side of the case.

I think you have more work to do.

Take a look at the following link on rebuilding the Orthophonic reproducer, by forum member Mica Monster... lots of good info.


http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/rebuild-orthophonic.html