Larry,
Are you talking about the #4 reproducer? The #4
wasand is an improvement over the #2. It was designed to play electrics on machines not able to be fitted with an ortho reproducer. Perhaps you haven't heard a properly rebuilt one, they sound fantastic. I prefer playing my acoustics from 1918-on with a #2 (rebuilt, of course) on one of my VV-130s, it will BLOW you out of the water. The #4 is a great choice for early electrics on any similar machine, really, to my ears anyway. Acoustics don't sound that much different using a #4 over a #2. I tend to play pre-1918 acoustics on my Schoolhouse using an Exhibition. It's really a matter of what sounds good to you, though.
As far as Brunswicks go, well, you know I love my Brunswick machine. It hasn't got the volume anywhere near any Victor machine, though. That's just fine when you're interested in a nice mellow sound, but when I'm out for making my ears bleed, it's Victor all the way!
My $.01
Sean