HMV (British) v. Victor No. 4 Soundbox - Interchangeable?

[Garret]

Hello,

Does anyone know if the HMV and Victor No. 4 soundboxes are the same size? That is, for the purposes of tracking error and fit on the tone arm, are they interchangeable?

Thank you,

Garret

[12jslater]

Yes I have changed one of my victor no 4's with one of my hmv no 4's and they are the same.

Thanks, Jake

[fran604g]

A question for those "in the know" since we're discussing the topic of interchangeability:

Are the diaphragm and gaskets the same?

Best,
Fran

[12jslater]

They have the same diaphragm and gaskets it is a similar case with the hmv no 5 and the victor no 5 with the same diaphragm and body with the only difference being one is victor and another is his masters voice. Be careful as i think the victor no 4's are pot metal.

Thanks, Jake

[fran604g]

They have the same diaphragm and gaskets it is a similar case with the hmv no 5 and the victor no 5 with the same diaphragm and body with the only difference being one is victor and another is his masters voice. Be careful as i think the victor no 4's are pot metal.

Thanks, Jake

Thank you, Jake.

Best,
Fran

[Phono48]

Be careful as i think the victor no 4's are pot metal.

Thanks, Jake

So are the late HMV No.4s. They went from initially being all brass, then to a brass front and a pot-metal back, eventually to all pot-metal.

[52089]

They have the same diaphragm and gaskets it is a similar case with the hmv no 5 and the victor no 5 with the same diaphragm and body with the only difference being one is victor and another is his masters voice. Be careful as i think the victor no 4's are pot metal.

Thanks, Jake

The Victor No. 4, which is fairly uncommon, is brass. The much more common Victor No. 4A is pot metal and frequently found with significant cracks in the pot metal.

[OrthoFan]

A question for those "in the know" since we're discussing the topic of interchangeability:

Are the diaphragm and gaskets the same?

Best,
Fran

Hi Fran:

While the early Victor #4 sound-boxes were fitted with the same type of diaphragm as used on the HMV version, the later Victor #4 sound-boxes, such as those used on the VV-1-60, were different. Around the mica diaphragm, which was slightly reduced in size, was installed an aluminum "pivot ring" (for lack of a better description.) This is mentioned by "Uncle Vanya" in a previous post -- http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=7413 Apparently, this was done to increase the sound box's sensitivity to the lower frequency range.

OrthoFan

[fran604g]

A question for those "in the know" since we're discussing the topic of interchangeability:

Are the diaphragm and gaskets the same?

Best,
Fran

Hi Fran:

While the early Victor #4 sound-boxes were fitted with the same type of diaphragm as used on the HMV version, the later Victor #4 sound-boxes, such as those used on the VV-1-60, were different. Around the mica diaphragm, which was slightly reduced in size, was installed an aluminum "pivot ring" (for lack of a better description.) This is mentioned by "Uncle Vanya" in a previous post -- http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=7413 Apparently, this was done to increase the sound box's sensitivity to the lower frequency range.

OrthoFan

Thank you, OrthoFan.

My concern is for rebuilding the No.4 on my HMV-101. I need to replace the gaskets, and don't want to buy something that isn't correctly sized, etc.

It still sounds fairly decent, but loud high-frequency passages break up, due to either the old gasket material, or the mounting isolator -- or both. Do you have a recommendation for both the gaskets, and mounting isolator? I assume the original "red" gaskets in mine were rubber, in which has dried out and hardened -- same goes for the isolator.

Is Soundgen still selling these (the webpage link within the discussion you linked, no longer functions), or is there a domestic US supplier I can use? I prefer one-piece gaskets, as opposed to the white tubing. I would like to keep things looking original, if at all possible.

I've always assumed that both are original to the soundbox (and to the machine), and there's no reason to not think so -- as the entire machine definitely appears to be original.

The back of the soundbox is definitely brass, I don't know if the front piece is; however, the nickel finish on it is in great condition with no suspicious pot-metal type cracks, and I don't want to scratch it to see.

Also, do the 2 halves of the soundbox simply separate after removing the four screws on the rear? Or is there more than meets the eye?

And; what was used at the sound bar/screw where it affixes to the diaphragm? Can I use beeswax, as the Victor Exhibitions used?

Thank you for all your help, and Happy Holidays,
Fran

[Phono48]

If the back is brass, then the front will be too. After undoing the four screws, try very gently to seperate the two halves. Sometimes the old gasket sticks to either the back of the soundbox or the diaphragm, sometimes both! Rough handling will cause the mica to delaminate.