The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In theory, how much would you pay for a VV4-40 with a good motor but the Orthophonic reproducer is missing and apparently
the wood part of the crank handle. The case is in pretty good shape however. What do you guys think?

Well, I paid $400 for my Credenza three years ago. The reproducer was wrecked, and it cost me $75 or so to have it re-built - so that makes $425 for a machine with the larger horn. I'd like to have one of these, though, for my cabin, where a small machine would fit in better. If it's an "only ortho" why not wait for the Credenza; if it's what you want - offer what you feel it's worth to you; it looks very nice!

Hard to set a price, really, since they vary from one part of the country to the other. In the Bay area, something like that would probably go for about $200-300, depending. Probably FAR less in other parts. Personally, I'd pay no more than about $100-$125 for it in the condition it's in.

The 4-40 is a very nice, albeit very common, Orthophonic model. It has the same mellow tone as the Credenza, but less bass. You do hear some bass, though, and when listening conditions are right, it comes through very strong.

The horn is about 4 ¾ feet long, based on measurements I made of my 4-40 (feeding a tape measure through the tone chamber) and unlike the other 4-series models, is basically a smaller version of the Credenza's re-entrant style horn:
One advantage the model in your photo has is that the stretcher between the legs is intact. The one I have is missing it's stretcher and I've been trying to find a replacement (from a junker cabinet) for years, with no luck. (Actually, it probably wouldn't be worth the work, since most of the original finish on my 4-40 has been replaced. Maybe someday I'll paint the cabinet a nice antique avocado green color! )

Yeah, one thing going for it is the cabinet. I just got spooked when I found out how much Ortho reproducers go
for on Ebay. Finding one in antique bronze may be difficult too. It would be nice to have one for playing those
electrical records like Victor Red Labels, etc. however.

Please Orthofan, not that awful 70s pea green color!

Maybe you can paint it all white with flowers on it and pass it off as
one of those artsy models that was used in some famous movie. $5000
easy on Ebay!

Maybe you can paint it all white with flowers on it and pass it off as
one of those artsy models that was used in some famous movie. $5000
easy on Ebay!

Has anyone done any work with glitter? Might start a whole new trend!

I was lucky enough to find a decent one last year on my way to Union missing the reproducer also, but with a NEW overhang support installed for only $40.00. I already had a nice 440, so I let someonelse take it off my hands at the show.

Downsouth

antique1973 wrote:
Please Orthofan, not that awful 70s pea green color!

Okay, I promise.

.........how 'bout something like this:



Damned if that one isn't missing its stretcher too !

If it's any help, I paid $250 for my Credenza a few months ago on ebay. I had to redo the finish, but the cabinet was in primo shape. Horn grille was missing and I had to dig one up, but it had the original soundbox with no cracks. With a perfect condition horn grille and a couple of little missing parts the total price was $450.

As for the reproducer, what I've done with a couple of the MUCH cheaper and plentiful portable version soundboxes is to sort of convert them into looking more like the expensive ones. I took off the sound baffle, then used the existing two holes near the bearing area to screw on a couple of homemade bearing covers. (Since the baffle originally had the bearing covers integral to it.) Then shortened the four baffle screws and put them back in their holes. Yeah it isn't original but looks much better to me than with the baffle on there, and also got rid of the extra weight of the baffle. Just a thought : )

I'd pay no more than $75, frankly. $50 would be about right, given the crank / repro / finish conditions.

Please Orthofan, not that awful 70s pea green color!


Okay, I promise.

.........how 'bout something like this:


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Oh nooooooooo