The VV90's wrong tonearm?

[RCA_victrolaboy]

Greetings to those of the talking machine forum

I have been working on restoring a VV90 cabinet that I had gotten for free at a local record store; and I just had finished up the mainboard area of which was covered in Latex paint, sanding and staining as well as its overcoat. Don Montgomery, a very generous member of the forum, had sent me the motor and speed control that I had just installed this past weekend.

To my dismay, I have discovered that my tonearm may be slightly too long for this model. I was under the impression that it would fit as the screw holes and inlet opening match up perfectly, however the arm is slightly too long and unfortunately the autostop brake lever comes in contact with the platter before it can reach the center spindle. This had lead me to believe that I have purchased the wrong arm; and it is probably quite obvious when seen. I have attached some photos. Is there a certain dimensioning that the shorter, fatter arm requires? I believe this arm is likely for another machine and I will need to find another one - what should I look for?

Please excuse the wrong platter mat! I do have one coming in the mail, that rubber one was just for testing! I have also yet to install various components around the motorboard area.

Thank you all for reading & any help you can provide,
Will

[Inigo]

I see... I hope you'll get somebody to help you... You could trade tonearms, yours for the right one. I wish you luck!
The one you have seems to be for a larger machine...

[CharliePhono]

Hello and congrats on your VV-90. I think you can see from the two photos gleaned from the web that the 90 used the "fatter" tonearm, which was not as long a the one you currently have on your machine.

[Henry]

Looks to me like OP has the fat tone arm, and a no. 2 sound box on it. Take a close look at the second photo. The plot thickens. Comments?

[CharliePhono]

Looks to me like OP has the fat tone arm, and a no. 2 sound box on it. Take a close look at the second photo. The plot thickens. Comments?

All I can comment upon is that in both of the images of a VV-90 (two separate sources) I provided, they are fitted with the short and "fat" tonearm of the later Victor acoustic models. Also, the needle-tip-to-center-spindle ratio is dead on. Whatever the OP has is either a retrofit or just plain incorrect for his machine.

[Jerry B.]

It's always good, when considering any purchase, to swing the sound box towards the spindle. The needle should touch the spindle or come very very close.

Jerry B.

[OrthoFan]

I have discovered that my tonearm may be slightly too long for this model. I was under the impression that it would fit as the screw holes and inlet opening match up perfectly, however the arm is slightly too long and unfortunately the auto-stop brake lever comes in contact with the platter before it can reach the center spindle. This had lead me to believe that I have purchased the wrong arm; and it is probably quite obvious when seen.

Hi Will:

Yes, as noted, the tonearm you purchased was for a larger model. What you need now are the measurements of the correct tonearm--especially from the back pivot to where it is attached to the goose neck. (Can someone who owns a VV-90 help with this?)

OrthoFan

[RCA_victrolaboy]

Greetings and thanks to all for the help!

I purchased this arm online unfortunately so I did not really have much ability to check the dimensions that well - however before I did buy it, the one thing I had forgotten to check was the pivot length and the length of the autostop. Oh well - it is acceptable and at the very least, I got the soundbox I needed - and it didn't damage or eat into my budget for the installation of components too much. On the continuation of my search, there is a couple fatter ones of which look like they may fit but I haven't gotten measurements yet and also seem to have a slightly different auto stop mechanism.

Have a great evening to all,
Will

[Inigo]

In the op photos, it looks like there are holes around the tonearm base for a larger base...? Ah, as by the other photos it seems these holes are for the screws for attaching the horn mouth to the board...

[bearcat]

Seeing how the retrofitted tonearm is way too long, I would be hesitant to play anything but unwanted records. That geometry is wacked and will mess up some grooves.

bob stutz