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I recently bought a VV-80 at an auction mostly because it came with a brass Victor 4 reproducer. Would this have shipped with the 4, or was that a later addition? Does anyone know what machines, if any, would have the brass #4 from the factory?

The best way to find the "list" of machines that came with a #4 is to check "Look For The Dog". I think you will find the book very helpful. The "data" book is also a must. .

rizbone wrote:I recently bought a VV-80 at an auction mostly because it came with a brass Victor 4 reproducer. Would this have shipped with the 4, or was that a later addition? Does anyone know what machines, if any, would have the brass #4 from the factory?

>>>>>Look here<<<<< (near the bottom of the page).

Thanks, but I was wondering about the brass vs the pot metal. Is it just a matter of age, or did the brass come on some machines and the pot metal on others?

rizbone wrote:Thanks, but I was wondering about the brass vs the pot metal. Is it just a matter of age, or did the brass come on some machines and the pot metal on others?

The brass #4 was earlier than the pot metal version (known as the 4-A). Most examples I've seen are pot metal, I don't beleive the brass #4 was made for very long.

Sean

I believe that the #4 was not shipped with a VV-80; this would have shipped with a #2 Sound box. The #4's were sold to "update" older machines when the Orthophonics came out as the larger diaphragm could make the newer electrically recorded records sound better on the older machines. They were supplied with some smaller machines such as the 1-4, 1-5, 1-6,1-70,2-30,and 2-60. I cannot think of any others that came with a #4 other than these.

The HMV #4 was used on all their gramophones in the early electric years. HMV was going through a rough time and by using the #4 and their own horn design they could avoid the crippling license fees.
I actually quite like the #4. A well rebuilt one sounds every bit as good as a #5. Yes, the frequency range may be a bit more limited, but it has a warmth that the #5 completely misses. That is a bold, brash and particularly loud reproducer.

I will second the hearty recommendation to pick up copies of Baumbach's "Look for the Dog" and "Victor Data Book." Together they will give you just about all there is to know about Victor phonographs--including in the latter that the VV-80 came with the No. 2 soundbox and that "most" No. 4s had pot-metal bodies. So your brass No. 4 would be on the rare side. No idea of its value, but would be very surprised if it was nearly as valuable as a brass Orthophonic reproducer.

Clay

I figured it was kind of rare, which is why I bought the machine in the first place. I really don't have room for the machine, and will probably stick a number 2 on it and sell it. I only paid $140 including buyers premium and tax, so I figure I got a pretty good deal. There were also several packages of Victor fibre needles stuck in the record storage area behind the records. I guess I'll have to look for a VV-70 so I can display it properly.