The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just bought a basically clean VV-VI, albeit with a very beat up Exhibition reproducer, s/n in the 268xxxF range which puts it to early 1917. The odd thing abut this is that the reproducer and tube appear to be on the "wrong" side. That is, the reproducer U-tube is on the right side of the tonearm and the reproducer label faces left (see photo). This puts the notch in the tube at the more-or-less correct position for the reproducer.

I've never seen one like this and I'm wondering if this was ever set up this way at the factory. I do know that some restoration has been done on this in the past because there are governor parts in the cabinet. Could this tube be from some other machine?

Thanks,
Kevin

Interesting, I have never seen one on the right side before but I bet that is actually a better design than having it on the left. By being on the right the tracking angle is probably improved slightly, something Victor should have done in the first place. -It's possible somebody did that on purpose as an aftermarket improvement, though it’s no longer the factory setup.

Is there a pin in the flange on the back side of the reproducer? If not, I could see the U-tube being reassembled incorrectly allowing the reproducer to still function. If there is a pin and the reproducer was installed and locked into place, I think the needle would point up and away from the record. I suspect the machine was assembled incorrectly. Jerry

The flange may be bolted on to the reproducer upside down.

Get out the tools...

The U-tube (crook) was inserted into the tone arm from the wrong side, and the isolator was mounted 180 degrees from the correct position (or it does not have a pin as Jerry stated). Switch those two things and you will be back to normal factory specs.

I don't have the experience that a lot of guys here have, but my opinion is that someone took apart the arm to clean/grease and put it back on backwards. Then, they installed the back flange on the exhibition upside down to compensate. I have never seen one set up this way and other threads I have read seem to agree.

Matt

There is always a mark on the tone arm where the reproducer rests. Please check where the reproducer touches the tone arm. Is there a mark? Is there a corresponding mark on the other (normal) side? In a previous reply I asked if there was a pin in the flange. If the pin is still there and the U-tube was installed on the incorrect side of the arm, you could slide the Exhibition onto the U-tube but you could not turn it into the locked position. The result would be a needle that made contact with the record at a nearly vertical angle. Is that what I am seeing in the photo? Jerry

I bet Matt, Retrograde and Rizbone are correct... the flange was mounted 180 degrees off and the U-tube is on the wrong side. Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:I bet Matt, Retrograde and Rizbone are correct... the flange was mounted 180 degrees off and the U-tube is on the wrong side. Jerry

also, on rare occasions, someone uses a tonearm & crook from an outside horn machine in a flipped-upside-down orientation.

Jerry B. wrote:I bet Matt, Retrograde and Rizbone are correct... the flange was mounted 180 degrees off and the U-tube is on the wrong side. Jerry

And indeed that seems to be the case here. I've already removed the crook to put it back the correct way. The rubber isolator, unfortunately, is toast. Simply trying to remove the reproducer from the crook made 90% of the rubber shred right off the ring. The ring itself is very, very tight on the crook. I've already done 2 rounds of penetrating oil and have gotten it to budge slightly. Freezer is next, then more oil, then who knows

Thanks to everyone for the advice and comments!