The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everybody,
I was looking at a Victrola IV today and was considering getting it but one thing stuck out to me. Did the VV-IV ever have a Victrola No. 2 reproducer on it? This one has a Victrola No. 2 but I am worried that this is incorrect for the machine.

-Steve

My initial thought was they always came with the Exhibition but I make mistakes. Yesterday I was the guy that called the green cabinets that came with many of Edison's Model A machines the "New Century" cabinet. I was half correct, they were called the NEW Style cabinets. I didn't want to be wrong two days in a row so I dashed down to check my Victor Data Book. They came standard with the Exhibition. I wouldn't be a deal breaker for me as owners were free to upgrade their machines and a Victrola 2 was an upgrade for that model. Jerry Blais

Well, it wasn't discontinued until 1924, so unless it was used persistently (as a cheaper model machine) to use up remaining stock of Exhibitions after 1918, by the end of the run I'd guess that a No. 2 might come standard. Did you happen to get the serial number? That'll be a clue.

I don't believe that it was ever officially offered with the No. 2 sound box. I have a 1924 catalog that shows the Exhibition installed. Of course a customer could request a No. 2, but remember that the No. 2 is larger in diameter and the needle would sit a different angle.

I agree with the others. The Victrola IV originally came with an Exhibition. By the time the No.2 came out, the owner could upgrade for louder tone. Along those lines, when the No.4 came out, the owner of the earlier Victrolas and outside horned machines would use that to play the latest Orthophonic records. I sometime use a No. 4 on my Victor V, and it sounds great.
Harvey Kravitz