The Victrola No.4 A sound box from 1926

[OrthoFan]

Well, the seller never mentioned if the gaskets were replaced?

It looks like some work was done. Clear caulk or glue (?) has been used to seal the needle-bar's foot to the diaphragm. You can see if the gasket is soft by CAREFULLY poking it with a toothpick or similar. Also, I can't quite tell, but it looks like the front plate was painted with gray/silver paint.

OrthoFan

[Edisonfan]

Well, the seller never mentioned if the gaskets were replaced?

It looks like some work was done. Clear caulk or glue (?) has been used to seal the needle-bar's foot to the diaphragm. You can see if the gasket is soft by CAREFULLY poking it with a toothpick or similar. Also, I can't quite tell, but it looks like the front plate was painted with gray/silver paint.

OrthoFan

It looks like silver paint.

Thank you for your help!

[Edisonfan]

Well, the seller never mentioned if the gaskets were replaced?

It looks like some work was done. Clear caulk or glue (?) has been used to seal the needle-bar's foot to the diaphragm. You can see if the gasket is soft by CAREFULLY poking it with a toothpick or similar. Also, I can't quite tell, but it looks like the front plate was painted with gray/silver paint.

OrthoFan

The gaskets are soft.

[MarkELynch]

You’ll find Service Bulletin for the No. 4 Soundbox is in the Archives, I posted it here several years ago. Notice in the parts diagram that the rubber mount is called an “insulator”, somehow the word “isolator” has crept into the hobby lexicon.

viewtopic.php?t=52902

Here is an interesting entry in the Victor meeting notes regarding the No. 4 Soundbox. The company obviously wanted to improve the sound of the new electrical recordings when played on an old Victrola but they didn’t want the customer to lose sight of how much better an actual Orthophonic Victrola would sound. A later note about the selling price differentiated the cost between the nickel and gold plated soundboxes. (Victor was always careful to always call them a “Sound Box”, never “reproducer”)

Mark

[OrthoFan]

The gaskets are soft.

That's good news! If it rattles or buzzes while playing, check to see that the needle-bar pivot is adjusted properly. There should be no sideways movement or "shake". It should only move in the direction required to move the diaphragm in and out. An easy way to readjust this is to unscrew the "end caps" a few turns and then apply equal pressure with your thumb and fore-finger towards the center (needle-bar). That will move the lugs. Once this is done, carefully tighten the tiny lock-nuts on both sides of the needle bar's pivot, then re-tighten the end caps. (It often takes several tries to get it just right.)

OrthoFan

[Edisonfan]

The gaskets are soft.

That's good news! If it rattles or buzzes while playing, check to see that the needle-bar pivot is adjusted properly. There should be no sideways movement or "shake". It should only move in the direction required to move the diaphragm in and out. An easy way to readjust this is to unscrew the "end caps" a few turns and then apply equal pressure with your thumb and fore-finger towards the center (needle-bar). That will move the lugs. Once this is done, carefully tighten the tiny lock-nuts on both sides of the needle bar's pivot, then re-tighten the end caps. (It often takes several tries to get it just right.)

OrthoFan

I was noticing that as well! I don’t know if you saw in the photo, but the thumb screw tends to lean more to the right instead of the center?

[Edisonfan]

You’ll find Service Bulletin for the No. 4 Soundbox is in the Archives, I posted it here several years ago. Notice in the parts diagram that the rubber mount is called an “insulator”, somehow the word “isolator” has crept into the hobby lexicon.

viewtopic.php?t=52902

Here is an interesting entry in the Victor meeting notes regarding the No. 4 Soundbox. The company obviously wanted to improve the sound of the new electrical recordings when played on an old Victrola but they didn’t want the customer to lose sight of how much better an actual Orthophonic Victrola would sound. A later note about the selling price differentiated the cost between the nickel and gold plated soundboxes. (Victor was always careful to always call them a “Sound Box”, never “reproducer”)

Mark

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Is there a difference between the 4 and the 4A?

[OrthoFan]

I was noticing that as well! I don’t know if you saw in the photo, but the thumb screw tends to lean more to the right instead of the center?

I can't see the thumbscrew in the photo you posted, even when enlarged. I DO see that the needle-bar, itself, seems positioned slightly sideways, and the bottom is not on center with the "groove" cut in the face-plate. That shouldn't matter so long as the needle-bar does not touch the face plate.

OrthoFan

[Edisonfan]

Here are two better photos of the soundbox.

[OrthoFan]

Here are two better photos of the soundbox.

Yes that's normal, as you can see in this video of various No. 4 sound boxes -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68-PNRk9a4Q -- On my later model HMV No. 4, the thumbscrew is positioned in the same way. The same is true for my Victor Orthophonic sound box.

I think that was done to relieve direct pressure or force on the diaphragm when tightening the needle.

OrthoFan