The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Zeppy wrote:
There are actually all brass Victor No. 4 reproducers (I have 2). I don't know if the ones supplied on machines ever came in brass, but they did sell some (most obvious way to tell...besides the lack of crack, and saying 4A on the back, is the pot metal ones have raised lettering on the face of the reproducer, and the brass ones only have it painted).

I'll take your word for that- but they must be pretty scarce.

estott wrote:

Zeppy wrote:
There are actually all brass Victor No. 4 reproducers (I have 2). I don't know if the ones supplied on machines ever came in brass, but they did sell some (most obvious way to tell...besides the lack of crack, and saying 4A on the back, is the pot metal ones have raised lettering on the face of the reproducer, and the brass ones only have it painted).

I'll take your word for that- but they must be pretty scarce.

Well, they certainly weren't cheap!

And another little note....I have never seen a gold coloured brass No. 4. I'm pretty sure they never made brass ones in gold.

Zeppy wrote: There are actually all brass Victor No. 4 reproducers (I have 2). I don't know if the ones supplied on machines ever came in brass, but they did sell some (most obvious way to tell...besides the lack of crack, and saying 4A on the back, is the pot metal ones have raised lettering on the face of the reproducer, and the brass ones only have it painted).

I have two #4 reproducers that are brass front & back. Mine do have the painted lettering on the face as well.

The no 4s are the only ones that faithfully reproduce both acoustic and electric records. That's why HMV kept using them.

estott wrote:

Zeppy wrote:
There are actually all brass Victor No. 4 reproducers (I have 2). I don't know if the ones supplied on machines ever came in brass, but they did sell some (most obvious way to tell...besides the lack of crack, and saying 4A on the back, is the pot metal ones have raised lettering on the face of the reproducer, and the brass ones only have it painted).

I'll take your word for that- but they must be pretty scarce.

They are. They for the most part came on the early 1-5 and 1-6 (I think) portables. I have a 1-5 with brass No. 4.

By the way, Bob Baumbach was quite dismissive of the No. 4 in "Look For The Dog", saying something like "Since it was called the No. 4, it was obviously twice as good as the No. 2". If he had heard one properly restored, he wouldn't have been so snide. It's actually three times as good!

The Victrola No.4s and HMV No.4s are mechanically identical, yes? I have an HMV 101, and while I know you are "supposed" to get one that matches the vintage and make of your machine, I'd be content to get a brass one of any branding that can be made to work well.

Steve E. wrote:The Victrola No.4s and HMV No.4s are mechanically identical, yes? I have an HMV 101, and while I know you are "supposed" to get one that matches the vintage and make of your machine, I'd be content to get a brass one of any branding that can be made to work well.

The opening inside the throat is smaller on the HMV to match the diameter of the HMV tone arm tube.

Allow me to clarify the mounting isolator is the same. I'm looking now at my Electrola #4. I have a HMV 4 around her someplace, I just can't seem to locate it at the moment.

No, it isn't. UK and US #4s will fir on any Victor machine. I use my two HMV #4s on my outside horn Victor machines all the time.

Sean