The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I agree with Harvey. If it plays good leave it like you brought it as you have a unique machine. The only thing you might want to do is refresh the reproducer if needed. It is a variant of the VV -50 and you may have the only copy. Tom B

Phonofreak wrote:If it were my machine, I would leave it as-is. As long as it plays loud and clear, why change the history of it? I think the J-Tube(Gooseneck)have been with this machine since day 1.
Harvey Kravitz

I'm with Harvey... why try to change it to a more common machine?

Is it an optical illusion, or is that J tube slightly angled for better tracking?

No optical illusion Curt... with the modified J-Tube with no slot, the Rothphonic reproducer's diaphragm is parallel to the groove's tangent plane as described in Player-Tone's 7/4/13 posting. Though this doesn't matter, it plays incredibly quiet. Compared to my earlier VV-50 with the No. 2, which plays rediculousky loud. I would like my new late model play that loud.

It's not that that I'm not hip to keeping the history Harvey... I just want this machine to operate great, with a No 2. as it was designed AND with only one screw, I can have the option to swap out that with the reproducer and J-tube that the Chilean Dealer installed as an orthophonic upgrade. I would like to find out more about Rothophonic. Will someday open up this reproducer. It's got a solid metal (non-pleated diaphragm) and an unfortunate rattle.

I still would like to know if someone could confirm that on an original late model VV-50, if the J-tube is slightly bigger than the earlier model and thus are not interchangeable. Thanks in advance.

Picked up a VV-35 J-tube (and tonearm) for $22 on Ebay and installed it with a spare No. 2 reproducer on the tonearm on this Chilean late model VV-50. Sounds loud and clear. I see that the VV-35 incorporated the angle correction in the J-tube, which is good. Also picked up a set of handle holder hardware for $18, so still in it for less than $150 and still a great deal. Gonna move the ID plate back inside where it came from. As for the Chilean ortho reproducer and J-tube, that's wrapped and stuffed in the horn for now.

I'm glad you are keeping the original J-Tube and Chilean reproducer wrapped with the machine. That's part of the history of the machine. That way, if you ever to decide to sell or trade the machine, you have the original parts with it.
Harvey Kravitz

Does it look like the ID plate was moved??? Are there screw holes inside the cover where it should be ??? If not you may want to think about moving the plate to a ( NEW ) location >> If it has been moved then move it back if you want. If it has not then it may add to the uniqueness of the machine. Just my thought.... Tom B

There is evidence that the ID plate was moved... Meaning there are 4 little nail holes were the plate should be.

Tom and Harvey, I am hip to keeping the parts with the machine to go with the Chilean dealer plate on it, however it is very clear that these were just Chilean modifications made after production. Did you look closely at the Chilean J-tube, it has lots of drill holes and a big square hole cut into it. Looks like an amature mod to me and does not appear to be a Victor product.

Interesting that the late model VV-50 and the VV-35 J-tubes are interchangeable, but not with the early model VV-50. its just that the VV-35 J-tube has the corrective angle to it that supposedly reduces record wear and improves sound quality.