Early Victor VV-IV compatibility question

[ChesterCheetah18]

Not long ago there was a very informative thread here regarding the compatibility of parts from the VV-XI tabletop machines and outside horn Victor models. This led me to wonder if any of the early VV-IV parts would be compatible with the smaller Victors (Victor I, etc.). All thoughts are appreciated.

Steve

[emerson]

I believe that there are different parts that interchange. I don't know which they are, but I have an early metal grill VV-IV and just found an O reproducer which was also used on another Victor model (which one?)---here is the kicker. I need a turntable for it and just picked-up another motor and turntable from an early wood slat model---the turntable isn't playing the game. Someone had told me that he believed I need a turntable off a Victor horn model??? Would like to see some "in the know" members chime in with their knowledge.

[Jerry B.]

The birth of the Victrola was the 1906 VTLA. Victrolas IV and VI were newcomers to the lineup in 1911 and by 1911 the entire range of Victrolas was standardized. The Victor Company hit it out of the ballpark with the Victrola. Sales of horn machines went in a tailspin. The most popular horn model, the Victor II, sold a total of 166,966 units from 1901 to 1928. But by 1914 to the end sales hovered around 1000 or fewer machines a year. In comparison the most popular Victrola upright was the XI which sold from from 1910 to 1925 selling over 850,000 units total. Yes, early model XIs were table models but sales were small. The highest annual sales of 192,273 for the Victrola XI was higher than the grand total for all Victor II sales.

The Victor Company must have been wildly delighted with the popularity of the Victrola. But you also wonder if there was a stockpile of parts for horn models when sales plummeted. You also wonder the percentage of horn machines that were made for export late in horn machine era.

I've seen some parts that were interchangeable between horn machines and Victrolas. The first sheet metal turntables, some tonearms, crank escutcheons, and the famous Exhibition sound box were interchangeable. But a great number of these parts were interchangeable before the introduction of the Victrola price leaders Victrola IV and VI.

Dates and sales figures are from Robert Baumbach's excellent Victor Data Book. Everyone should own a copy!

Jerry B.