Victrola VV-IX c.1912 - Is This Normal?

[De Soto Frank]

Cliff,


The presence of the tab-brake and "crescent" speed control seem right for the 1912-14 era, and from what I can see, the machine does not have "feet", which puts it earlier than 1913-14.


Where is the crank positioned on the side: in the middle ? To the front ? Back ?


The motor-board is intriguing, with the large square center opening, and the extra round holes near the speed control. The large square opening suggests this was originally to accommodate the large cup of the "yielding turntable" ?


I have an IX, with "feet", tab-brake, and speed control as your machine above, but it has the cast-iron horn neck and wooden louvre-box.

I'd say this is a transitional IX... is there a letter suffix to the serial number ?

The one that I have has the feet, it has the speed control with the glass window. I think mine dates to around 1918. By that time it seems they had everything worked out with motors, horns and hardware. I actually prefer the machines without the feet, and of course would have rather had a oak machine than mahogany.

What is interesting with machine, it came with a Victrola No. 2 reproducer, Victor Victrola database site says my serial number should have a Exhibition reproducer.

Does your machine have the "fat arm" or the earlier arm with the big end-plug screw in the gooseneck ?

[Victrolacollector]

Cliff,


The presence of the tab-brake and "crescent" speed control seem right for the 1912-14 era, and from what I can see, the machine does not have "feet", which puts it earlier than 1913-14.


Where is the crank positioned on the side: in the middle ? To the front ? Back ?


The motor-board is intriguing, with the large square center opening, and the extra round holes near the speed control. The large square opening suggests this was originally to accommodate the large cup of the "yielding turntable" ?


I have an IX, with "feet", tab-brake, and speed control as your machine above, but it has the cast-iron horn neck and wooden louvre-box.

I'd say this is a transitional IX... is there a letter suffix to the serial number ?

The one that I have has the feet, it has the speed control with the glass window. I think mine dates to around 1918. By that time it seems they had everything worked out with motors, horns and hardware. I actually prefer the machines without the feet, and of course would have rather had a oak machine than mahogany.

What is interesting with machine, it came with a Victrola No. 2 reproducer, Victor Victrola database site says my serial number should have a Exhibition reproducer.

Does your machine have the "fat arm" or the earlier arm with the big end-plug screw in the gooseneck ?

My machine has the "fat arm"

[Jerry B.]

An early IX should have a skinny tone arm and an Exhibitions reproducer. When you rotate the reproduce into a playing position and you swing it towards the spindle, does the needle touch the spindle? That's generally a good way to tell if you have the correct length of tone arm. Even if yours touches, it should be a skinny tone arm. I may have one in my attic if it helps you. Let me know. Jerry Blais

[De Soto Frank]

The one that I have has the feet, it has the speed control with the glass window. I think mine dates to around 1918. By that time it seems they had everything worked out with motors, horns and hardware. I actually prefer the machines without the feet, and of course would have rather had a oak machine than mahogany.

What is interesting with machine, it came with a Victrola No. 2 reproducer, Victor Victrola database site says my serial number should have a Exhibition reproducer.[/quote]


Does your machine have the "fat arm" or the earlier arm with the big end-plug screw in the gooseneck ?[/quote]

My machine has the "fat arm"[/quote]


I cannot say with absolute authority, but I believe most Victrolas with the "fat arm" and the window speed control also had a # 2 sound box. This is the case with my 1918 XI upright, which also has the first-generation auto-stop.

My 1914 "footed" IX has the skinny arm and Exhibition sound-box.

[CDBPDX]

Here is a picture of the motor & the 'horn' in this VV-IX. Never seen this is an IX before. The motor sits right in the middle of the horn, similar to the early VV-IV. Is this a "non-floating" horn?

Cliff

[De Soto Frank]

Can't say about the horn, but that is definitely a different motor than is in my 1914 IX.

Looks like a truly "transitional" machine...

[Phonofreak]

Cliff, This is a non-floating horn. The crank position is in the front. That is a dead give away of the earlier non-floating horn. The later machines have the crank in the center of the case. You will see a cast iron elbow that extends about ¾ to the front of the case. Attached to the elbow, you will see the more familiar wooden horn with the wider spacings in the baffles.
Harvey Kravitz

[De Soto Frank]

Harvey - with the "floating horn" of the later machines, is the wooden, baffled end attached to the cabinet, or does it "float" on some sort of felt cushions, or what ?

[estott]

Harvey - with the "floating horn" of the later machines, is the wooden, baffled end attached to the cabinet, or does it "float" on some sort of felt cushions, or what ?

No cushions- it just hangs in mid air off the cast iron portion- if you grasp the slats in a Victor you can usually shake the open end slightly

[De Soto Frank]

Harvey - with the "floating horn" of the later machines, is the wooden, baffled end attached to the cabinet, or does it "float" on some sort of felt cushions, or what ?

No cushions- it just hangs in mid air off the cast iron portion- if you grasp the slats in a Victor you can usually shake the open end slightly

Thank you !

I just tried this with my 1918 XI, and by golly, there was a little "wiggle" in the horn opening !


I never knew... I never had any occasion to disturb the horn in a Victrola.


I guess that explains why that horn elbow is such a beefy iron casting.