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I just bought a Victrola 8-9, which is a late Orthophonic phonograph. I noticed in the pics that the tonearm does not have a support at the base like others I have seen. Is this because the support is missing, or did Victor design a new tonearm that was self supporting? I can't seem to find the answer in several Victrola books I consulted or the Internet.

Are you sure someone didn't just swap the tone arm out with an earlier style? That's what it looks like to me. I used to do that back before you could get a decent reproduction support.

I'm not sure of anything, so that could be the case. Was this type of tonearm base not on the post 1925 Victrolas?

My guess:

Someone changed out a crumbling support.
Early Credenzas had the type of support you posted, but I've never seen an 8-9 with that type of support.
Here's a photo of the 8-9 I once owned.

Best to all here on the Forum,

Gene

That's the same support that the 8-9 I have has on it, and it's a low serial number, something like 589 if I remember correctly (which is doubtful) But I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it if it's working ok. I think my tone arm is painted gold as well instead of being gold plated. I need to refinish that thing this summer if I can get to it, but matching all those paint colors will be a venture. They are nice machines and quite loud with the metal horn.

marcapra wrote:I just bought a Victrola 8-9, which is a late Orthophonic phonograph. I noticed in the pics that the tonearm does not have a support at the base like others I have seen. Is this because the support is missing, or did Victor design a new tonearm that was self supporting? I can't seem to find the answer in several Victrola books I consulted or the Internet.

The 8-9 definitely left the factory with the overhang support, never with the self-supporting tone arm, a feature which Victor discontinued in 1926.

In addition, Victor had closed down their gold plating baths in 1927, subsequently shipping machines with only oxidized hardware, except for portables and for the 8-9, which were built with GOLD PAINTED hardware to hatmonizr with the colorful cabinet.

That is the earlier self supporting arm, and I think the black enamel has been stripped from the base.

I checked the Victor Data Book by Baumbach and that book clearly states that the early 1925 Orthophonic machines were the ones with no overhang supports. By 1926, it seems Victor had reversed course and gone back to having overhang supports. Was this because the tonearms without the overhang supports were failing? Also, it seems that the original turntable cover was a blue or green leatherette, as the one on my old 8-35 was. I wonder if the leatherette turntable cover is being produced now?

For what it's worth. My 8-9 has the overhanging arm style support, with gold painted tone arm. The turntable has the brown/orange felt on it, which is original. The machine did not come from a collector or dealer, so I believe it has not been "revised", (i.e. screwed with). It's s/n 700.

Marcapra,

Show more photos of your 8-9. I'm a huge fan of this model and like to see photos of them. Even though your arm may not be technically correct, I would be happy to have it versus dealing with a pot metal one.

Oh, I also have the original bill-of-sale with mine. It cost $175.00 in 1928 and was paid for in installments.