Victor Early Round Speed Control Dial - Accuracy

[Victrolacollector]

I have a VV-XI tabletop with the round dial. Do these really correspond with the speed? I have it set at 78, but when I turn it to 60 it is not actually 60, and when I turn it to 80ish it is not actually 80ish.

[alang]

They have to be setup/adjusted correctly at first to correspond with the speed. Depending on the machine you either adjust the dial or the governor. At least that's how I managed to adjust them.

Andreas

[Jerry B.]

I agree with Andreas. The speed control is adjustable on the underside. First find the speed you desire, say 78rpm. Then lift the motor board and note approximately where the arm coming off the governor is located. Now set the above pointer to 78 and adjust the lower portion of the speed control as close as possible to the priorly noted position of the governor arm. It may take a couple of adjustments but you'll dial it in. Jerry Blais

[Henry]

Depends on how early "early" is! My XI floor model (1917) has a slotted adjustment screw in the center of the pointer knob. Turning it one way or the other changes the speed of the turntable without moving the pointer. I set the pointer to the 78 mark on the dial, put the strobe disk on the table, and adjust the screw until the rotation is right on 78. To really refine the process, place a record on the tt, start the motor, lower the sound box, and then adjust to 78; this should compensate for the drag caused by the weight of the sound box and goose neck.

Let's not get into a discussion of correct recording and playback speeds for various records of the many companies over the years---please!

[edisonphonoworks]

Are you talking not about the ones with the window with celluloid numbers but the round, nickel dial. Get yourself a digital tachometer,or laser one, and adjust the governor position until 78, reads 78 on the digital rpm meter, and match that to the dial, and once that is done, it should be fairly accurate. As we know that is all you can say, fairly accurate, temperature changes humidity all effect how these machines (or any mechanical device) works.

[wjw]

Is the earlier knob style adjuster marked 78, 80, and 60?. If so, and you sync the indicator with actual 78 rpm, can you turn the dial to 80 and find the machine actually making 80 rpms?

[Jerry B.]

All table model XI's are early and have the round speed control like a Victor IV, V, and VI. That's the original subject of the thread. Jerry

[jeffdudley]

Pictures and instructions would surely help the new & novice
collectors. All your conflicting talk just confuses the new
collectors IMHO

[howardpgh]

This might help.
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ed+control

[Jerry B.]

Pictures and instructions would surely help the new & novice
collectors. All your conflicting talk just confuses the new
collectors IMHO

Good idea... This photo shows the underside of the speed control. With the top side dial pointing at 78, loosen the screw on the underside. Now you can move this portion of the assembly up or down to the desired 78rpm. It may take a few attempts to find the desired spot but you'll find it. Jerry Blais