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I have a 1913 XVI with an exhibition reproducer, will a #2 reproducer fit my arm, and if it does would it sound different? Inquisitive mind looking to be educated

mick_vt wrote:I have a 1913 XVI with an exhibition reproducer, will a #2 reproducer fit my arm, and if it does would it sound different? Inquisitive mind looking to be educated

Yes it certainly will! I don’t have a exhibition reproducer to compare but I think a #2 would have more volume.

A #2 will work, though it will no longer be "authentic" That said, I've seen a few Exhibition era machines over the years where the owners had upgraded their reproducer.

Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?

mick_vt wrote:Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?

Any tonearm that accepts an Exhibition also accepts a No. 2. The inner diameters on both flanges is identical.

mick_vt wrote:Thanks guys, I have just had the original reproducer rebuilt, it will stay with the machine so long as I have it. I was just thinking it might be nice to mess with an alternate from time to time. I didn't want to bother buying one if it would not fit, or the sound would be weirdly off with it. I beieve they fitted them on later XVIs but the tone arm on those was a different shape too I think?

In order to achieve a proper comparison, you would also have to rebuild the #2. There are always many on Ebay for sale. A couple hours ago one was a BIN for $38 with box. The reproducer was nickel and the box was for a gold finish. Still, a very good deal and sold fast.

As the other posters have said, a No. 2 will fit on the tonearm as they both have the same rear flange opening despite having the diaphragms of different sizes. However, if you have a lot of 78 rpm discs recorded in the electrical era (after 1925), I would advise getting a rebuilt Victrola #4 reproducer and using that instead of a #2 reproducer. This way, you have the Exhibition reproducer (which is original to the machine) but can swap it out for the #4 reproducer as needed, since it plays both acoustic and electric records safely and is less heavy on the records than a #2.

Cool - thanks I will keep an eye out for one

mick_vt wrote:Cool - thanks I will keep an eye out for one

Just be careful. Try to find a Victrola #4, and not a #4A. The #4A is made from pot metal, and many have swollen and cracked -- much like the pot metal Orthophonics, so they are not easily overhauled. Unfortunately, the #4As are much more common than the brass #4s.