The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Got this poor looking VV-XVII 2 weeks ago for $180. Decided to clean it up and make it play again. I'm using an exhibition instead of the no. 2 until I get new springs for it. It was missing the governer and still missing the back panel.
Just wanted to show it if anyone is interested in seeing the transformation

Martin

That definitely cleaned up very nicely. Congratulations to a great deal.

Andreas

$180 for that? I say you did REALLY good here. Of course it needed work but hey! That’s half the fun of it! Good to see it went to somebody who knows what to do to get it working and not somebody who would part it out and slap green and white paint over it! Enjoy your find! This is one worth keeping! (Until you find a XVIII )

Martin, I think you got your disc player worked out. I wish I had one like that and the palatial 1910s frame house to display it in...

Regarding the missing back panel, I bet George Vollema has one. He has a ton of vintage cabinet parts in his warehouses in Michigan and I think you could get a part for a reasonable price. I had to get one for my XIV in 2016--ended up getting one with a coat of oil paint and a mouse-hole, but hey, my Victrola is back together again.

It looks terrific!

Jerry B.

My XVII has an Exhibition reproducer. I think that your #2 may have been an upgrade.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I forgot to mention, the front left leg is broken and in need of repair (which is the reason they had it for a good price). I'll upload pictures of it tomorrow and see what you guys think.

Django wrote:My XVII has an Exhibition reproducer. I think that your #2 may have been an upgrade.

Are gold plated no 2 reproducers uncommon? the 2 VV XVII's I've seen had the no 2.

Martin

My mistake. Mine is a 1917, the later machines did have the No.2. Very nice find. They are a beautiful machine.

Looking really good!

Can I ask what you used to make it look so nice?