VV-IV "steal of the day"
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:06 pm
My friend Rick brought me a little item this afternoon that he got for little money at a garage sale. Some of you may recall my friend Rick, who a year or so ago brought me a literal barn find of a 1909 VTLA which had a bit of lifted veneer & needed a winding key, needle cup, & 3 knobs. That one cost me $60, up from the $45 Rick paid for it. Here is a decent VV-IV, which according to Paul Edie's site was made in 1920. Rick paid $40 for it & I paid him $75. You can see the chip off the front right corner, the tonearm has a "dimple", & the knobs aren't right. Also there are two empty screw holes at the 9 & 3 o'clock positions on either side of the turntable. Anyone know what they're for? Obviously the Exhibition soundbox needs a rebuild, & I compare it here to a restored one I bought from Walt Sommers last year. Some clever owner put in a home-made cardboard "extension gasket" when the original rubber flange started drying out & buckling. Gotta admire that little trick! So I put on Walt's Exhibition & wound up the single spring motor, then played some Paul Whiteman, Lambert Murphy, & Fritz Kreisler. Runs fine as is, but at some point I will regrease the spring. I've seen these cute little VV-IVs & also the larger VV-VIs at antique malls, but never was compelled to bring one home at the $300-$400 they usually want for them. I could not turn this one away however, & now I consider it the content little runt of the litter in my collection. I should set it on a stand right next to the Credenza! P.S.-I've pretty much got Rick trained as to what to look for by now, & for a guy who collects mostly vintage bicycles he's developed a good eye 