The Last Quality Victor Portable? RCA Victor 2-12

[Oceangoer1]

Here is an RCA Victor 2-12. I believe it was made in the mid to late 1930's and possibly for the export market. I have seen a J 2-12 (J being for JVC, Japanese Victor Company, on Youtube and it is similar). I don't see a J on mine.

I expect it to be a good performer. Unfortunately it is missing the soundbox, which I believe looked like a pretty accurate knock off Orthophonic. I guess it technically would be an Orthophonic.( I saw one on eBay last year. It was probably the one that matches this machine ) An OSB does not fit this! I'm kind of upset about that.

Some say the last quality portable made by Victor (RCA Victor) was the VV 2-65, after which they started manufacturing and outsourcing to make those horrible little Birch portables with an RCA sticker on them. I think this portable was made after the 2-65, but before the Birch ones. Or maybe this is just the only model that the export markets got. It has a Victor portable motor (pre-merger looking, except for the governor) and some things in the turntable area are similar to an HMV 102. It is interesting as it has a wood horn (unlike the fabric horn of the 2-65) and a self supporting tonearm (that might be made of pot metal, but has no rivets and CAN be taken apart!) Interestingly, the tonearm has two sets of ball bearings and two races. There is an automatic brake system too.

Can anyone confirm when this portable was made? Mine is serial number 45,698 so there were a good amount of these made.

I also will be looking for the nickel plated reproducer that matches it. Here are the pictures from the eBay listing. I got really anxious and have already taken apart the whole machine