The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I saw this cabinet for a VV 440 at a antique shop, the motor, motor board and tone arm and reproducer are missing.

The plate says VV 4-40.

The price is 87.00...What do you all think? It will need some cabinet restoration, and definitely all the parts.

Pass. Unless a machine is particularly rare or you just always wanted one, piecing machines together is seldom worthwhile from a cost or time point of view.

Pass. Maybe for $20 on Craigslist, but only if you wanted to make it into a bar or storage cabinet.

Pass. Even if it was free.

Peeeew, Stay away from this!! . To get all the parts will cost more than the machine is worth. Wait for a better, complete example.
Harvey Kravitz

Thank you fellow members.

I have passed on that. Like you have all said the time and money on parts will be more than its worth plus restoring the finish.

I am figuring this would be well over 300.00 in parts.

Tone arm and reproducer ....over 100.00
Motor board.....over 25.00
crank....over 25.00
Motor over 100.00
Turntable .... Over 20.00

Another vote for pass here.

The 4-40 is a really nice sounding, and sadly under-appreciated machine, but it is not a high dollar item. Heck if you are going to Union ( or are along my route to Union from Southern MIchigan) I have a 4-40 in really nice original condition, with an exceptionally good, fine finish, needing only the usual horn sealing and reproducer rebuild, that you could have for $250 delivered.

If you are looking for a bigger machine, I have a spare Credenza whichis quite presentable. Spring motor, nice cabinet which has had a decent refinishing, but is just a bit too light for my taste. This machine has already had the horn sealed and the motor serviced, and it would only be $350 with a decent reproducer that could benefit from a fresh isolator and ball bearings.

Then should you want a real rarity, I have a nice Revere, with a great finish which would only be a little more than the Credenza.

Can anyone tell that the Better a Half spent most of yesterday "Discussing " my phonograph accumulation?

Pass. Even if it was FREE (including shipping) and the owner had all the original parts and offered to restore it.

Steve wrote:Pass. Even if it was FREE (including shipping) and the owner had all the original parts and offered to restore it.

Now isn't that just a little harsh? The 4-40 is, when restored, a really nice sounding machine, rather better sounding that its predecessor the Granada/4-4. It wears records to a negligable extent, and is an all-around perfect basic machine for a record collector. It's styling, while not to everyone's taste, works well as part of the decoration of a room. It is a sort of vaguely English modern design which harmonizes well with most types of traditional furniture. The rather self-effacing character of the design of this machine makes it a less-than-perfect collector's specimen, however, for when surrounded by more flamboyant machines it does tend to look a bit dumpy.

I wonder if that 4-40 has it's grille cloth. Does anyone make available reproductions?

I like my 4-40. It is a good all round player for period appropriate records.