The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All,
I am new to the Victrola world. My wife brought home a VV-XI from the Salvation Army a couple weeks ago and now I'm hooked on restoring this beauty!

I have already learned a ton by lurking on this board and other places on the internwebs.

It seems that the previous owner retrofited my Victrola with an Orthophonic reproducer. It sounds pretty good, but Id like to restore the Victrola XI to near factory if possible.

Anyone interested in a working Orthophonic reproducer in trade (all or part) for a Exhibition?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15g_iv ... asqJawPy_g

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipP ... _0XUuFvZsX

From what I've already learned, rebuilding the orthophonic reproducer might not be possible, as there are already a few small cracks in the outer ring on the back, however, it is working and seems to sound pretty good. Aside from the small cracks on the back and tarnish on the front, it seems in great shape (though I am a noob, so your opinion may differ)

Quite a few Victrola XIs take a Victrola 2 reproducer. I'd suggest posting a photo of your machine. The XI was made for a long time so it went through quite a few changes. Jerry Blais

Since you're new, let me offer a tiny bit of advice. Hang on to the Orthophonic reproducer, and find an Exhibition (or Victrola #2). They are cheap and plentiful, and you may find you need the ortho later on down the line because machines tend to lose them over the years.

(You may think this is your first and only machine, but, heh heh heh, you have now had your first shot of heroin...)

The throat size of the ortho is different than the prior models, so you need to investigate whether the previous owner made changes to the tonearm/elbow to compensate for that. The intent was certainly to upgrade the sound, but reversibility was probably not a consideration.

PM Sent

thanks for the comments / advice.

No, this will be my ONLY Victrola.. I will RESIST, Im stronger than I seem...
give me strength to change those things that I can change and accept those things that I cannot change... lol..

The orthophonic reproducer was attached with the tone arm by a shim of a thin rubber. It doesn't look to have altered the tone arm in anyway.

Was the stock orthophonic better sounding than the exhibition?

Jerry B. wrote:Quite a few Victrola XIs take a Victrola 2 reproducer. I'd suggest posting a photo of your machine. The XI was made for a long time so it went through quite a few changes. Jerry Blais

(here is my Victrola's plaque with SN)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1X0kxM ... 79vPWROZCg

It appears your Victrola was made in 1915, so it should take the Exhibition reproducer.

wheatgrinder wrote:
Was the stock orthophonic better sounding than the exhibition?

Yes! Absolutely. The Orthophonic reproducer was introduced in 1925 and was designed to play the new electrically recorded records. With its aluminum diaphragm and ball bearings, it will always sound better than the Exhibition when playing electrically recorded 78 records. For the pre-electric records (1924-ish and before), the Orthophonic reproducer sometimes brings out the flaws and limitations of acoustic recording, but for any electric record produced after 1925, an Orthophonic, or same-era competing brand reproducer will always be better.

However, unless an adapter is made, the Orthophonic reproducer won't fit the tonearm of a VV-XI, and like other members have stated, the Exhibition reproducer is correct for your machine, built in 1915.

Welcome to the hobby! I also told myself I was going to limit the phonographs to just one. BUT, 2 years later, (I just turned 20 years old), I have 9 floor models, and zillions of portables (they are my favorite and can be especially addicting because they don't take up too much space, and you can have one in every color ) And I've actually bought and sold a good bit of floor models and portables along the way.

Im starting to think I should keep the orthophonic and perhaps build a more "pro" adapter. (or does someone sell one already?) Also, though the Exhibition is the "stock" part, it would not be histrionically unreasonable to have a no.2 or no.4 reproducer. Do I have it right that the no.4 would be more "modern" and allow me to play electrically recorded records?

This is getting interesting

Thanks for the patience and free education!

wheatgrinder wrote:
No, this will be my ONLY Victrola.. I will RESIST, Im stronger than I seem...

Sure...That's what some of us thought, too, in the beginning.
But you already have the bug in you.. and i'm not talking about the shingles virus.

It's called Gramophonitis and there's no cure.
Best to start making room now.