Keep a Columbia Grafonola or a VV-VI

[ImperialGuardsman]

Hi everyone,

I am but a college student which means that I still live at home with my parents. I have a rather small collection, but I really should keep the numbers low before I have my own place.

Anyhoo, I don't know whether I should sell my columbia grafonola table top (with lid) or my VV-VI. What do you think? Some notes: the victor has a small two spring motor and the Columbia has a one spring motor. The Victor has the ID plate of a VV-XI and an off-kilter turntable. The Columbia has some finnish issues, a brake that likes to let off if you don't firly engage it, and the horn has fallen way from the tone arm (but I have secured it via screws, washers, and nuts so it hangs right where it should; no permanent alterations).

And one last question: do Columbias wear records much more than Victors? The tone arm is quite free and the reproducer has been professionaly rebuilt.

Sorry about the length.

[EdiBrunsVic]

If it were my choice, it would be to sell the Columbia.

[De Soto Frank]

Which one plays better ?

I'm at a point in my life / collecting where I'm not particularly interested in "another Victor/ola", unless it's a nice external-horn machine.

I'm more interested in Columbia, Brunswick, and other well-made, but less-common machines...

Victors will always be around and available.

Think about it a little bit... if you're only going to keep one, make sure it plays well...

[Le0]

I'm in a similar situation... but honestly I'd try to keep both even if you can't properly display them; you could put the Victor on top of the Columbia with a towel in between to protect the lid.
eventually you'll have the room and you'll be glad you kept the two machines.

[mattrx]

If you absolutely must sell a machine I would lean toward selling the victor. I love victor's and most of my machines are victor. I sold the one columbia I had. But, your columbia is not hobbles together and the victor is. If it were a rare victor, them mabye keep it. But if not, keep the nicer playin more original machine. I will sell you a victor later....XVI, VI, XVII, VV 50, VV 2-55, or VTLA when you move out. Heck, even an HMV 102 in red.....Just keep the nicer machine and replace it later when you can better afford a nicer completely original......my 2 cents.

[rgordon939]

I agree with most of the posts in that I would keep the one that sounds best. When I compare my Columbia Grafonola to my Victor VI, I would keep the Columbia. It has a deep clear sound that is superior to my Victor VI. Also as everyone has said you will always be able to replace the Victor if you want to.

Rich Gordon

[ImperialGuardsman]

Thanks for the input everyone. I suppose that even though the columbia has a few of its own issues, you do tned to see more Victors. Would you say that the record wear between the two is similar?

Thanks.

[OrthoSean]

My experience has always been that Columbia machines are far harder on records than Victor machines.

Sean

[ImperialGuardsman]

My experience has always been that Columbia machines are far harder on records than Victor machines.

Sean

Would you say that the cause is the weight of the reproducer and tone arm, mistracking, lack of ball bearings, or lack of rubbr isolator? Or a combination? I'm always interested in the pros and cons of various designs.

[OrthoSean]

Well, all the tonearm design certainly matters. A Grafonola playing a record has basically the entire mass of the tonearm riding on the groove and no bearing arrangement to help things along. It most certainly creates for drag and friction, even with proper lubrication and freely moving parts, you've got a lot higher tracking force going on. No rubber isolators would also add to record wear, yes. I own exactly one Columbia disc machine now (an external horn BD) which I will never get rid of, it's a handsome top of the line machine with a monster motor, oversize nickel plated brass horn and even an in-the-tonearm volume control which is pretty cool. It sounds wonderful, but after just a few plays (with a new needle each time, of course) I could see record wear. Not a daily driver for me. If somebody wants to hear it, I play a Henry Burr Columbia on it

Victor had it all, ball bearings in the tonearm base (most, anyway), rubber isolators and a much lower mass against the record while playing. This is what made me partial to Victors many years ago. They're better built and, from my experience anyway, much gentler to records.

Sean