The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I’ve been tracking down all the missing bits for my project Victor VV-IX, but the bolts that hold the tone arm to the deck have been difficult.
The bolts that lock down the motor board are a perfect fit, so I took one down to the hardware store and it looked like a ¼-20 was a perfect match, but no. The threads are just the tiniest bit different and don’t work.
If anyone has any extras or a source for them, or can tell me what exactly I’m looking for, it would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Tim

Just checked my VV-IX: the heads of the tone arm bolts are slightly smaller than those on the motor board. As for the thread, I don't have a gauge to test them. A good hardware store should at least have a set of thread gauges; if not, you may have to try fitting nuts to your bolt, and see whether any of them match up correctly.

Of course, the biggest problem is that, a century or so ago, bolts came in different gauges, some of which are now obsolete. I have experienced this, when trying to match a bolt on a Graphophone motor: one was too large, or too coarse, and the next available size was too small, or too fine.

- Bill

I think these are it- can anyone verify? I have a bunch of VV-IX ardware.

Thank you so much for the input!
I did use the thread testers at the store, and was sure I had a match, but sure enough, didn’t quite match up in practice.
Turns out the modern threads are just a micrometer wider than the originals, and the original bolts used something called “rolled threads” (apologies for my general ignorance on the subject) so that they are not compatible.
Yes, the ones in the photo are it!
Fortunately, I did finally find a supplier for salvaged and refurbished Victoria bolts on eBay.
So, hopefully problem solved!

All part of the challenge that makes it an adventure!

Retroman1969 wrote:Thank you so much for the input!
I did use the thread testers at the store, and was sure I had a match, but sure enough, didn’t quite match up in practice.
Turns out the modern threads are just a micrometer wider than the originals, and the original bolts used something called “rolled threads” (apologies for my general ignorance on the subject) so that they are not compatible.
Yes, the ones in the photo are it!
Fortunately, I did finally find a supplier for salvaged and refurbished Victoria bolts on eBay.
So, hopefully problem solved!

All part of the challenge that makes it an adventure!

You can have these for cost of postage if you wind up not getting the right ones. I have a bag of hardware from that IX if you need anything else too.

gramophone-georg wrote:

Retroman1969 wrote:Thank you so much for the input!
I did use the thread testers at the store, and was sure I had a match, but sure enough, didn’t quite match up in practice.
Turns out the modern threads are just a micrometer wider than the originals, and the original bolts used something called “rolled threads” (apologies for my general ignorance on the subject) so that they are not compatible.
Yes, the ones in the photo are it!
Fortunately, I did finally find a supplier for salvaged and refurbished Victoria bolts on eBay.
So, hopefully problem solved!

All part of the challenge that makes it an adventure!

You can have these for cost of postage if you wind up not getting the right ones. I have a bag of hardware from that IX if you need anything else too.

Thank you so much!
I have those bolts coming in already, but if they don’t work, I’d love to get yours!
In the meantime I’ll wait to see, so that yours aren’t wasted and someone else could use them on their project.
The help is greatly appreciated!

Perfect fit!
Many thanks to The Rusty Dragon, and to everyone on here for their input and support!