VV 8-7 Playing Outside

[Skihawx]

It was a beautiful day, low 70's, slight breeze and I was out on the back deck listening to the VV 8-7. I don't seem to find the time to do this often enough. I have had the machine a couple of years now. It was sort of restored before I purchased it and I only pulled it out on the deck a couple of times over the years. This time I noticed something I should have noticed sooner. This particular machine had escaped the tracking error upgrade of 1927. I knew very well how the tracking was off on the first Orthophonics and how Victor offered new tone arm crooks to correct the error. Luckily I had a tone arm from a junked VV 8-35. Here are the before and after pictures. The difference is really significant. I really need to get the bronze pot metal reproducer fixed up but the brass one works fine. I wish I hadn't sold a bronze brass reproducer I had many years ago. I am pretty sure the tracking is correct now.

[audiophile102]

You're oak 8-7 looks fantastic on you deck. I wish I owned a brass reproducer for my 8-12, but the price I paid for a reproducer off of a Orthophonic portable was hundreds less and it sounds good. I bought a Victrola IX so I could carry it out to my deck, but having an 8-7 that I could wheel outside would be ideal. Thanks for sharing.

[Detrbear]

Have you a link to a video of this playing outside? I'd love to hear it!

[Governor Flyball]

I am curious how you define tracking error? From the two photos I see both soundbox positions will introduce tracking error. The second photo with stylus tip hitting the center spindle will reduce inward or outward tracking forces.

The definition of tracking error is when the axis of lateral stylus movement is not at a right angle to the tangent of the stylus in the groove. To minimize tracking error which leads to tracking distortion, the stylus tip must sit forward of the spindle.

[Skihawx]

I wondered about the second photo on whether it was a little too far forward. But that what I've got.

[Governor Flyball]

No I think the second photo for the Orthophonic playback is ideal. The needle arc crossing the center spindle will ensure minimum lateral force of the stylus against the groove wall and is less likely to skip or repeat.

Modern turntables put the arc forward of the spindle with the phono cartridge on an angle to minimize tracking distortion that is to keep the lateral stylus axis at as close to a right angle to the tangent to the groove.. Putting the stylus forward means that there will be a tracking force against the inner groove wall which could cause the record to skip apart from additional groove wear. Hence an adjustable tracking force is applied in the opposite direction to neutralize the inward force.

Because of the tone arm placement in the Orthophonic Victrola, tracking distortion is inevitable but since the high frequency cutoff is about 4kHz, it would not be detectable.

[Skihawx]

So how did Victor ship Orthophonics for over a year with this problem? The needle placemen was big change from the before to after.
Were they trading sound performance at the expense of record wear, underestimating the wear that would occur?

[Governor Flyball]

Curious because setting the stylus arc behind the spindle would both increase tracking distortion and accelerate record wear. I think it likely factory staff using the wrong part!