VV-IX into VV XVI L Door

[Duchesne]

I was just curious. I have a VV-IX that needs a cabinet and I have a VV_XVI L-Door Cabinet that has no player. Is combining the two a possibility?

Cheers,

[brianu]

I was just curious. I have a VV-IX that needs a cabinet and I have a VV_XVI L-Door Cabinet that has no player. Is combining the two a possibility?

Cheers,

Anything is possible, but the pairing would be completely incorrect - those machines used different motors, different hardware, etc.

[Duchesne]

I was just curious. I have a VV-IX that needs a cabinet and I have a VV_XVI L-Door Cabinet that has no player. Is combining the two a possibility?

Cheers,

Anything is possible, but the pairing would be completely incorrect - those machines used different motors, different hardware, etc.

Uh, yeah... I was just coming to that. Cabinet has gold hardware, the horn is missing and the VV IX is chrome... And much smaller so no. Definitely not. I don't know WHAT I was thinking - Maybe I need another cup this morning...

Thanks for weighing in Brianu,

Cheers,

[gramophone78]

Uh, yeah... I was just coming to that. Cabinet has gold hardware, the horn is missing and the VV IX is chrome... And much smaller so no. Definitely not. I don't know WHAT I was thinking - Maybe I need another cup this morning...

Thanks for weighing in Brianu,

Cheers,

Not to be a stickler.....however, these machine were not chromed. They were nickel plated.... .

[Jerry B.]

The typical IX is a common machine but, in my opinion, the "L" door XVI is a historic machine. In its first form the "L" door was tagged as the "VTLA" and was the first Victrola. The Victor Talking Machine did not immediately anticipate additional models so they abbreviated Victrola to VTLA. When Victor realized sales success, they renamed the VTLA into the XVI and introduced additional Victrolas. I really like all the early Victrolas because each model is unique. The XII had the little skinny doors. The "Spider Leg" X (name assigned by modern collectors) is like no other Victrola. The early XIV had queen ann legs and a unique cabinet. A few years later Victor consolidated the basic design and each model looked related to the others.

My best collector advice is to be patient and find the correct parts for your XVI. It's worth the time and effort.

Jerry Blais

[Zeppy]

I'm going to post the practical response here, although it will be considered heresy by most...yes, it can be done. And most importantly, it can be done without cause harm to the L-door cabinet (provided you have the correct model IX). I purchased a VTLA, and it had the two spring motor with the Murray speed control that is found in many IX and Xs. It fit well enough that the crank lined up with the hole in the cabinet, and no harm was done to the cabinet (I have since put the proper motor in). So on a strictly technical basis, yes, it can be done, and it can be done without molesting the cabinet or causing any permanent damage to it.

Of course, ideally this would only be a temporary fix. The preference would be to get the right motor for something like an L-Door (which in reality isn’t all that rare to being with, but still a favorite of collectors). But on a practical side, the motor can cost you upwards of $400 (unless you get lucky on ebay…which has happened to me a couple of times). As others have said, the metal parts on the IX motor are nickel plated, and the XVI is gold plated. It will stick out (although a hit of gold paint could cover that, and I hate to say it, the metal parts on a IX are fairly common).

SO there you have it. Yes, it can be done…

[De Soto Frank]

I'm on-board with Zeppy; if the L-door in question is in really decent condition, I think it would be worth waiting to find the correct hardware / works.

Above-all, DO NOT modify the L-door to accept other parts; if you must "resto-mod", modify the "foreign" parts to fit the L-door.


That would be my recommendation.


I have a 1909 L-door, suffix C (stamped over B), and it is the pride of my collection.


I was re-reading Baumbach's "Look for the Dog" last night, and regarding the VTLA / VXI, the L-door model was produced up through 1912, and I have seen several just browsing through North-East Craig's list, though none that I would call "pristine", and none with their original record boxes / folders.

Good Luck !

De Soto Frank

[Duchesne]

Uh, yeah... I was just coming to that. Cabinet has gold hardware, the horn is missing and the VV IX is chrome... And much smaller so no. Definitely not. I don't know WHAT I was thinking - Maybe I need another cup this morning...

Thanks for weighing in Brianu,

Cheers,

Not to be a stickler.....however, these machine were not chromed. They were nickel plated.... .

Heheh No, I prefer the correction.

The typical IX is a common machine but, in my opinion, the "L" door XVI is a historic machine. In its first form the "L" door was tagged as the "VTLA" and was the first Victrola. The Victor Talking Machine did not immediately anticipate additional models so they abbreviated Victrola to VTLA. When Victor realized sales success, they renamed the VTLA into the XVI and introduced additional Victrolas. I really like all the early Victrolas because each model is unique. The XII had the little skinny doors. The "Spider Leg" X (name assigned by modern collectors) is like no other Victrola. The early XIV had queen ann legs and a unique cabinet. A few years later Victor consolidated the basic design and each model looked related to the others.

My best collector advice is to be patient and find the correct parts for your XVI. It's worth the time and effort.

Jerry Blais

Yeah. I've been leaning that way all week. Thank you for that Information. I learn something new here every day

I'm going to post the practical response here, although it will be considered heresy by most...yes, it can be done. And most importantly, it can be done without cause harm to the L-door cabinet (provided you have the correct model IX). I purchased a VTLA, and it had the two spring motor with the Murray speed control that is found in many IX and Xs. It fit well enough that the crank lined up with the hole in the cabinet, and no harm was done to the cabinet (I have since put the proper motor in). So on a strictly technical basis, yes, it can be done, and it can be done without molesting the cabinet or causing any permanent damage to it.

Of course, ideally this would only be a temporary fix. The preference would be to get the right motor for something like an L-Door (which in reality isn’t all that rare to being with, but still a favorite of collectors). But on a practical side, the motor can cost you upwards of $400 (unless you get lucky on ebay…which has happened to me a couple of times). As others have said, the metal parts on the IX motor are nickel plated, and the XVI is gold plated. It will stick out (although a hit of gold paint could cover that, and I hate to say it, the metal parts on a IX are fairly common).

SO there you have it. Yes, it can be done…

I'm mechanically inclined ( well who isn't on here ), but I don' t wish to risk starting doctoring this and then having to shelve it for a few years. I'm confident in my skills, but.....

I'm on-board with Zeppy; if the L-door in question is in really decent condition, I think it would be worth waiting to find the correct hardware / works.

Above-all, DO NOT modify the L-door to accept other parts; if you must "resto-mod", modify the "foreign" parts to fit the L-door.


That would be my recommendation.


I have a 1909 L-door, suffix C (stamped over B), and it is the pride of my collection.


I was re-reading Baumbach's "Look for the Dog" last night, and regarding the VTLA / VXI, the L-door model was produced up through 1912, and I have seen several just browsing through North-East Craig's list, though none that I would call "pristine", and none with their original record boxes / folders.

Good Luck !

De Soto Frank

Thanks Frank. The L-door cabinet does need to be restored. I've just finished a columbia and an orthophonic. Fall has brought harvest time and seasonal wrap up. I'll be leaving this one until further notice. I have the "patience of Jobe" so, I'll just wait and wait until the right parts come and do the job properly. This thing has lasted so long without my interfering, I'd hate to bring about its demise ...

Thanks for your feedback Guys - much appreciated - sorry about the long wait... Hosted a staff party last Friday and was in prep all week as work was one person short. No time for TMI