The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My wife and I bought a VV-400 over the weekend. The speed control doesn't seem to be working. Is that an easy fix? Also, what is the best way to clean old goop off the gold plated metal tonearm without damaging or removing the gold plating? Thanks!

That's really a nice looking cabinet. Nice find. The speed control is very simple. Once you remove the motor
board the problem will be easy to find.
The gold plating was protected with a clear-coat of shellac or lacquer. Soaking the tone arm in ammonia will dissolve the shellac and the black junk should go with it. If ammonia fails, it was clear-coated with lacquer which will dissolve quickly with acetone.
If you use a metal polish or scrunge pad, you will lose the gold plating pretty quickly as it is very soft.
Some of the gold is worn away from handling near the reproducer. After cleaning the tone arm you can brighten the exposed brass and clear-coat with a can of lacquer. Have fun

-Bill

Looks like the only thing you need is a gold needle cup. You might try an ad in our Trader section. Be sure to read the guidelines before posting there. Nice Victrola.

Jerry B.

Watch this video to learn about servicing your Victrola.

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

The Art Deco V pattern is so nice on this machine! Granted the original owner may have had some remorse because not too long after purchasing this machine because the Ortho machines were introducedbut but that’s all water under the bridge today. The 1921-1925 era acoustic machines were very nice because their horns were the largest for a pre-orthophonic machine! The 350 and 400 series machines are some of the nicest looking ones too!

As for the speed control this part maybe frozen and need some squirts of WD-40 to get it moving freely . When I got my VV-111 last year and the speed control wasn’t working that’s what I did.