Questions about Victor Victrola VV 2-55

[Orthophonix]

Hello, I am now owner of a VV 2-55, which is rare in Switzerland, and have two questions:

1. Is this red felt behind the soundbox front grill original?

2. Is there a replacement for the tone arm rest rubber part? Any tips for making one? As this seems to have been a very common machine in the US: are they being reproduced? Or does somebody happen to have one in a decent condition? Or a picture how it looked like when it was new?


Regards, Alex

[Jim_Cannon]

Hello, Alex! I have a VV 2-55 that I found in a flea market about 10 years ago. It looked all original when I got it.

My reproducer has a mesh screen that is painted the same gold color as the soundbox. See photo. The metal parts are painted green, the outer box cover material is a very dark green, almost black, vinyl. There might have been other variations, depending on year made. What is your serial number or estimated build date? Mine is 286868 (very late 1929).

What you see in the photo is the result of several thorough cleanings to remove decades of dirt and dust build up, followed by a mild automotive paint wax.

My black rubber resting block was in good shape. This seems like something that could have a silicone mold made of it, and then pour a black reproduction. My original feels like it is a solid formed rubber material.

Jim

[OrthoFan]

The "burnt orange" colored felt is, indeed, original. Here's a photo of another 2-55 culled from the internet:

The mesh cover was used in later production models.

OrthoFan

[Hoodoo]

Hi, check online/youtube for how to revitalize hardened rubber parts using oil of wintergreen and alcohol.
Cheers,
T

[Orthophonix]

Hello to you all, thanks for your replys.
I thought my post was not sent, as when I had it sent came the reply I was not allowed to post this, and that several times. So I wanted to make it again now and see that it had worked still...
There seem to be some friends of this machine out there! Mine is not here physically yet, but when it is here I will look for the number etc.

@Hoodoo: I have read about that wintergreen and glycerine, but had not found time for getting the ingredients yet. The wintergreen is also pretty expensive here, sold for several paramedical appliances, so: Have you tried this yourself? Does it really work?

I have only tried the boiling water yet. It makes totally hardened rubber seem as if it has been flexible once, the surface is softer afterwards and gets grey if you leave it some time longer, and it starts swelling a bit. But it does not make it like new rubber parts, or I do something wrong. I tried it some days ago again on a soundbox back insulator rubber on a late, chromed HMV No.4 soundbox with beginning pot metal decay, the rubber sits now tight in the soundbox back, but is not really elastic.
But maybe I could do it differently and get better results, I'm intersted in all methods to renew the old rubber parts.

[Orthophonix]

Hello to you all, thanks for your replys.
I thought my post was not sent, as when I had it sent came the reply I was not allowed to post this, and that several times. So I wanted to make it again now and see that it had worked still...
There seem to be some friends of this machine out there! Mine is not here physically yet, but when it is here I will look for the number etc.

@Hoodoo: I have read about that wintergreen and glycerine, but had not found time for getting the ingredients yet. The wintergreen is also pretty expensive here, sold for several paramedical appliances, so: Have you tried this yourself? Does it really work?

I have only tried the boiling water yet. It makes totally hardened rubber seem as if it has been flexible once, the surface is softer afterwards and gets grey if you leave it some time longer, and it starts swelling a bit. But it does not make it like new rubber parts, or I do something wrong. I tried it some days ago again on a soundbox back insulator rubber on a late, chromed HMV No.4 soundbox with beginning pot metal decay, the rubber sits now tight in the soundbox back, but is not really elastic.
But maybe I could do it differently and get better results, I'm intersted in all methods to renew the old rubber parts.

[JerryVan]

You've discovered that this website is glitchy. Some days are better than others.

The photo, above, showing a fairly good reproducer rest is about the best I've ever seen. I'm thinking that a 3D printing person could make nice reproductions of them using a rubbery compound. Unfortunately, I'm not that person.