VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
- Django
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:31 pm
- Location: New Hampshire’s West Coast
VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
I found this machine on Facebook Marketplace, (I should stay off of Facebook). Fortunately, the reproducer is not pot metal, but needs a rebuild. The machine is unmolested and has been in the same family since new.
- PeterF
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1913
- Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Congratulations! One of the best all round orthophonics.
The reproducer that shipped with it was indeed pot metal. Count the number of holes, which is the giveaway. If this is all-original and from the family that owned it since new, it would have a pot metal bodied reproducer, in that late-20s burnished looking finish rather than nickel or gold - matching the finish of the tonearm.
Sounds like your reproducer is free of cracks or crazing, and that has led you to conclude it isn’t pot metal. Actually this just indicates that it has not experienced many temperature extremes (repeated hot/cold cycles promote the materials changes that lead to cracking) and/or merely has the luck to come from a good batch of pot metal. This tracks with its well kept appearance, likely always residing in a temperature controlled home.
In any case, send it to Wyatt Markus (mica monster on this forum) for a rebuild so you can enjoy the full experience of that horn!
The reproducer that shipped with it was indeed pot metal. Count the number of holes, which is the giveaway. If this is all-original and from the family that owned it since new, it would have a pot metal bodied reproducer, in that late-20s burnished looking finish rather than nickel or gold - matching the finish of the tonearm.
Sounds like your reproducer is free of cracks or crazing, and that has led you to conclude it isn’t pot metal. Actually this just indicates that it has not experienced many temperature extremes (repeated hot/cold cycles promote the materials changes that lead to cracking) and/or merely has the luck to come from a good batch of pot metal. This tracks with its well kept appearance, likely always residing in a temperature controlled home.
In any case, send it to Wyatt Markus (mica monster on this forum) for a rebuild so you can enjoy the full experience of that horn!
- Phono-Phan
- Victor V
- Posts: 2465
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:38 pm
- Location: Plover, WI
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Beautiful!!!! Congrats!!! I had one years ago and it sounded great. Enjoy!!!
- barnettrp21122
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1600
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:19 pm
- Personal Text: "Did you ever stop to think that pleasure is a duty?" (Victor sales pamphlet)
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Really nice! I recently found an 8-9 myself and like the tall narrow look and metal orthophonic horn.
Your pictures rotated below.
Thanks for posting!
Bob
Your pictures rotated below.
Thanks for posting!
Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt
His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo
His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo
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- Victor VI
- Posts: 3745
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:54 pm
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Wow, that looks really clean and well preserved! Congrats!
I concur with PeterF about the reproducer. I'm quite sure this model was never shipped with a brass reproducer. Spend the money to get your reproducer rebuilt, then play some decent early electrics on it and your jaw will hit the floor!
I concur with PeterF about the reproducer. I'm quite sure this model was never shipped with a brass reproducer. Spend the money to get your reproducer rebuilt, then play some decent early electrics on it and your jaw will hit the floor!
- ChesterCheetah18
- Victor II
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2020 7:16 pm
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
My 8-9 is 100% original, and all of the metal parts are gold plated.PeterF wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 5:30 pm Congratulations! One of the best all round orthophonics.
The reproducer that shipped with it was indeed pot metal. Count the number of holes, which is the giveaway. If this is all-original and from the family that owned it since new, it would have a pot metal bodied reproducer, in that late-20s burnished looking finish rather than nickel or gold - matching the finish of the tonearm.
Sounds like your reproducer is free of cracks or crazing, and that has led you to conclude it isn’t pot metal. Actually this just indicates that it has not experienced many temperature extremes (repeated hot/cold cycles promote the materials changes that lead to cracking) and/or merely has the luck to come from a good batch of pot metal. This tracks with its well kept appearance, likely always residing in a temperature controlled home.
In any case, send it to Wyatt Markus (mica monster on this forum) for a rebuild so you can enjoy the full experience of that horn!
- Django
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1691
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2017 7:31 pm
- Location: New Hampshire’s West Coast
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
This one has gold plated hardware as well.
- PeterF
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1913
- Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:06 pm
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Interesting! Let’s get the serial numbers please?
We may be able to detect when the switch was made. I don’t have mine anymore and don’t know the s/n.
Baumbach’s Victor Data Book says there were a little over 9000 shipped (8143 spring plus 994 electric), with the serial #s starting at 501. They would likely have shared a s/n series across the two types of motor. Looks like they sold most in 1928, then closed out remaining stock in late 1930 after declining 1929 sales.
So let’s see whether hardware finishes track across early/late numbers. Estimated s/n at the end of 1928 would be around 6030 (5530 shipped through 4Q28, plus the 500 start point).
These were marketed as trendy and fashionable, with the colors supposedly holding extra appeal for “the American buyer of foreign extraction.”
Hard to say whether a trim change is a cost measure or further such marketing.
Also let us know if the needle cups and tungstone tin holders are in a matching gold finish or something else.
We may be able to detect when the switch was made. I don’t have mine anymore and don’t know the s/n.
Baumbach’s Victor Data Book says there were a little over 9000 shipped (8143 spring plus 994 electric), with the serial #s starting at 501. They would likely have shared a s/n series across the two types of motor. Looks like they sold most in 1928, then closed out remaining stock in late 1930 after declining 1929 sales.
So let’s see whether hardware finishes track across early/late numbers. Estimated s/n at the end of 1928 would be around 6030 (5530 shipped through 4Q28, plus the 500 start point).
These were marketed as trendy and fashionable, with the colors supposedly holding extra appeal for “the American buyer of foreign extraction.”
Hard to say whether a trim change is a cost measure or further such marketing.
Also let us know if the needle cups and tungstone tin holders are in a matching gold finish or something else.
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- Victor VI
- Posts: 3745
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:54 pm
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
Here are pics of my very late example. Everything on it is golden.PeterF wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 9:28 pm Interesting! Let’s get the serial numbers please?
We may be able to detect when the switch was made. I don’t have mine anymore and don’t know the s/n.
Baumbach’s Victor Data Book says there were a little over 9000 shipped (8143 spring plus 994 electric), with the serial #s starting at 501. They would likely have shared a s/n series across the two types of motor. Looks like they sold most in 1928, then closed out remaining stock in late 1930 after declining 1929 sales.
So let’s see whether hardware finishes track across early/late numbers. Estimated s/n at the end of 1928 would be around 6030 (5530 shipped through 4Q28, plus the 500 start point).
These were marketed as trendy and fashionable, with the colors supposedly holding extra appeal for “the American buyer of foreign extraction.”
Hard to say whether a trim change is a cost measure or further such marketing.
Also let us know if the needle cups and tungstone tin holders are in a matching gold finish or something else.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41675&hilit=orthophonic
Last edited by 52089 on Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Skihawx
- Victor III
- Posts: 968
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:48 am
- Location: New Hampshire
Re: VV8-9 Found on Facebook Marketplace
I thought all 8-9's have gold painted, not plated, hardware. I thought the gold plating baths were turned off by 1928. Mine is gold painted and original. The one on Facebook looked painted as well.