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Just by chance, I am working on 2 Victrola VV-50 motors. They are quite similar in the way they are set up with apparently identical spring barrels, governors, and spindles, but the motor plate is different and the winding gear is set up differently. On one, the winding gear is directly connected to the gear in the spring barrel, on the other, there is an extra gear between the winding gear and the gear on the spring barrel. The extra gear is secured by a screw with left hand threads. Took me a minute to figure that one out...

The serial number of the 2 gear setup is low 10000s, the other, I don't know. Just have the motor.

Which is the earlier version? 2 gear or 3 gear? I'm inclined to think the extra gear was earlier, but I don't know for sure.

More info - The 3 gear motor plate has an ID tag marked M102 and the bed plate is stamped 4. There is no ID tag on the 2 gear setup.

Thanks! Cliff

I wonder if this might be the difference between the front and side crank models?

I was wondering the same. I'm not home to check the Data Book, but it is likely detailed in that.

Sean

The 2 gear motor was from a front winding machine, the 3 gear, I don't know. Only have the motor. It came in a box of parts from a retired phono repair guy labeled VV-50 parts. Includes a bunch of tone arms and other stuff. Saw this motor in the box and just had to rebuild it. Needed a new spring, rebuild the governor, clean, adjust, and regrease everything else. It was fun!

Cliff

Well, the Victor Data Book indicates that the motor was changed in 1922 noting "new winding gears for easier wind". This was done when the motor was still a front wind machine. Whether the three gears design was later or earlier, I can't say without getting my two 50s out and checking. I'm inclined to say the three gears are later, though, but I can't check my machines right now. Perhaps winding each one would indicate which is which, I seem to remember either hearing or reading that the earliest 50s were rather tough to wind.

Sean

FWIW, my front wind, s/n 50xxx machine is a 2-gear.

Arm twisted (Ok, I was curious )

I grabbed my side wind 50 and it has three gears, so the three gears are the later ones. Mystery solved, I'm guessing!

At some point I'll check my front wind 50 as well, but I have to get back to weekend plans!

Sean

Also just checked a front wind and a side wind. The front wind has 2 gears, the side wind has 3. Like Sean said, 3 gears is later. Question is still open if all front wind are 2 gears and all side wind are 3, or if the change was made sometime within a model run.

Andreas

-Deleted

Here is the 1922 redesigned motor that Sean mentioned. They replace the smaller drive gear on the original motor design with the larger gear- which remained in use on the 3 gear version. These pictures were taken before the motor was cleaned.