My new to me VE 4-20X

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
MarkELynch
Victor II
Posts: 322
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Silver Spring, MD

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by MarkELynch »

Hi Jeff, I though you had at least one of everything! Ha!

The Victor meeting notes at Hagley show spring motor 4-20’s being produced in batch’s of 10,000 in early to mid 1928. Very few 4-20 electric models were on the schedule. Perhaps the thinking was that the extra cost for the motor in a low end machine wouldn’t find many customers.

Here is a Victor distributor letter in my archives announcing the availability of the new 4-20 and also the 8-12 with the satin finish. Documentation shows that there was a substantial manufacturing cost savings with the open grain satin finish. The normal glossy finishes were referred to in Victor parlance as “Full Body Finish”.

Mark
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OrthoFan
Victor V
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Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by OrthoFan »

Skihawx wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 8:54 pm I never really saw a VV / VE 4-20 up close. I am surprised it only has the horn of a VV 4-7. I thought the cabinet would have been bigger.
The 4-20 is quite compact -- 25.5 inches wide/ 18 inches deep / 36.5 inches high -- and the grille is larger than the horn's mouth. When I first saw this model, I had assumed that Victor had installed the medium-small sized horn used on the 4-40, which like the Credenza's horn is divided into four chambers. I was amazed, when I saw the photo of the 4-20's horn, that the bifurcated horn installed in the 4-7 was used, and as noted, turned sideways. But thinking about it, it makes sense that Victor would have used up parts installed in previous models.

OrthoFan

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Skihawx
Victor III
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Location: New Hampshire

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by Skihawx »

I realized the grill was larger than the horn when I saw the records compartments inside. I would guess the model was introduced to use up parts. I have not seen that many 4-20's around.

the padre304
Victor Jr
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:19 pm

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by the padre304 »

I own a 7-25 which has a RCA radio with it. I also own a 4-7. Same horn but turned upside down from the 4-7. The 7-25 has a metal valve to shift between radio and phono that mates with the tone arm but then it is wood block to the horn, similar to the 4-7. I always say that when you cross a 4-20 with the Victor R-20 you get a 7-25. I think the R-20 had the same horn. My 7-25 has a very low serial number, I think 515. It is over at my office so I will have to look tomorrow.

MarkELynch
Victor II
Posts: 322
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Silver Spring, MD

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by MarkELynch »

A very interesting discussion and an astute observation about the marrying of the Victor R-20 (Radiola only) with the VV-4-7 although the R-20 uses an earlier type radio.

For those of you not familiar with the 7-25 Here are some photos of a decrepit 7-25 available locally in the DC area which picture some of the things Padre is describing. Let me know if you want the contact information. The large gold lever in the playing compartment is connected via a link to a plunger type valve which is pictured above the wooden horn block. The valve directs the sound to the horn either from the soundbox or from the horseshoe shaped driver which is connected to the radio.

Mark

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Dischoard
Victor II
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Personal Text: Born in the wrong century...
Location: St. Albans, Vermont

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by Dischoard »

Ah, I see it now! Well I do hope someone can salvage that poor machine...

MarkELynch
Victor II
Posts: 322
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Silver Spring, MD

Re: My new to me VE 4-20X

Post by MarkELynch »

From the Victor papers at Hagley here is evidence that the third batch of 7000 spring motor 4-20’s have a wooden horn elbow, it doesn’t appear that the expected cost savings was realized.


Mark
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