construction of orthophonic tone chamber

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curtis bartell
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construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by curtis bartell »

I am restoring a family heirloom VV4-40 which was gutted many years ago to be used as a cabinet. I have located and purchased all the parts for an authentic restoration except the internal horn and tone chamber. I have a functioning VE4-40 which I can use to make the horn and get the external dimensions of the tone chamber, but I can't see inside the chamber to derive the details of the internals. I haven't had any luck trying to locate a chamber which might have survived the years in a box under someones work bench, so I've decided the only solution is to construct a new one. I have a few crude drawings taken from factory literature, but their focus is not on internal details. Are there any good drawings or blueprints which show multiple views and dimensions available?

Thanks

Curt
Last edited by curtis bartell on Wed Feb 01, 2017 11:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Oceangoer1
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Re: construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by Oceangoer1 »

I also have a VE 4-40 and I know you'll need the cast iron horn connector that connects the tonearm to the horn. Here is part of one on eBay that you should probably buy because it will help you make the back opening of the horn. AND the little pot metal flange on this one seems to be in really good condition.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victor-Victrola ... Swi0RX0AdC

-Connor

JerryVan
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Re: construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by JerryVan »

I spotted an orthophonic horn on eBay a day or two ago, about the right size for a 4-40. Sorry, can't find it now or remember how the auction was titled. Do a search of the "antique phonographs" category and search by newly listed first.

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gramophone-georg
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Re: construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by gramophone-georg »

JerryVan wrote:I spotted an orthophonic horn on eBay a day or two ago, about the right size for a 4-40. Sorry, can't find it now or remember how the auction was titled. Do a search of the "antique phonographs" category and search by newly listed first.
Found it!:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victrola-Orthop ... Sw4DJYjl0W

Curt, glad to see you making progress. You'll probably have this thing done before I get my two or three projects that I already have the parts for done at this rate.
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

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Oceangoer1
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Re: construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by Oceangoer1 »

That is not the correct horn for a 4-40, but it may fit if it was altered. Someone could fabricate the wooden column that is meant to connect it to the tonearm. The one on eBay is the type of Orthophonic (folded type) horn that came on the 4-7, 7-3, maybe the 8-4 and the Granada too. I think all the Orthophonic machines made in 1926 (besides the Credenza) had this type of horn.

The correct one for a 4-40 (if we are talking about a later one) looks exactly like a mini Credenza horn and has a metal connector to the tonearm and a metal inner chamber. Here is a pic of mine, sorry it's sideways but if you click on it, it comes up right.
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EarlH
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Re: construction of orthophonic tone chamber

Post by EarlH »

I have a horn out of a 7-3 that you could just have for the shipping, but it's the wrong way as well. I see from Connor's post that it wouldn't work either. One will turn up eventually if you keep beating the bushes.

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