Is a 1917 and 1915 Victrola XVI platter hole the same size?

[Jonsheff]

I bought what was listed as a 1917 Victrola turn table platter (it did have gold sides, looked right and was the correct diameter) to put on a 1914 XVI i am working on and the hole was to small. Just got in one from a 1915 and it fits my perfect. Does anyone know if they changed the hole size on the XVI from 1915 to 1917? I suspect the one listed as 1917 XVI was from a different model but not sure.

[martinola]

Jon, while I can't help you on the size issue, if your plating on the existing turntable is nickel, you may want to keep it. These were hold-overs from the bullet brake days. My machine is the same vintage and has the same speed indicator and turntable. Your project is looking really good!

Martin

[MarkELynch]

Jon,

This is an interesting conundrum which I have run into before!

The Victor replacement parts listing from the beginning through 1927 shows every turntable spindle having a diameter of ⅜” yet a turntable with and 11/32” center bore is listed. The parts breakdown by model and the serial number range doesn’t indicate where this turntable with the smaller hole was used. This part number of the XVI spindle changed of course to keep up with the motor changes but the diameter remained ⅜”.

All paths in the Victor literature so far lead to a the use of ⅜” spindle on every model.

Maybe a poll is needed, perhaps the specs in the parts listing has errors, it contains many specs.

Mark

[startgroove]

After checking several machines, I found the following as measured with a dial caliper:

L Door XVI (two of them, both D Series)) have spindle size of .375" or ⅜".
Later XVI (also two of them, one an E Series, the other an H Series) have spindle size of .375" or ⅜".
XVII has a spindle size of .369" or 369/1000".

For reference I measured a couple of outside horn Victors:
V-III, spindle size is .375" or ⅜".
V-VI, spindle size is .312" or 5/16".

Hopefully this will help some.

Cheers, Russie

[MarkELynch]

Hi Russia, thanks for your input. I appreciate your empirical information, that reflects reality.
I presume you were measuring the outside of the spindle that engages the turntable and not the diameter of the tip.
There are quite a number of turntables listed in the Victor data with many part numbers superseding others. Virtually all, regardless of outer diameter, list a ⅜” bore. I did locate one more example however that describes it as having a bore 0.005” smaller than an identical turntable. Perhaps you have one of these.

Could you post the serial numbers of the machines you measured that have a spindle smaller than ⅜”?
I’d like to compare your data with the published data.

If anyone else would like to contribute please send the model, serial number and spindle diameter if different that ⅜” (0.375”)

Mark

[startgroove]

Correct, the measurement was of the part of the spindle that contacts the bore of the turntable.

[startgroove]

The two machines with a less than ⅜" diameter are:
Victor 6 Serial Number 4795, 5/32 spindle diameter.
Victrola XVII Serial Number 1500, .369 spindle diameter.

Cheers, Russie.

[Jonsheff]

The two machines with a less than ⅜" diameter are:
Victor 6 Serial Number 4795, 5/32 spindle diameter.
Victrola XVII Serial Number 1500, .369 spindle diameter.
Tter
Cheers, Russie.

g

This was a big help, thanks. my best guess is that i may have bought and recieved an XVII platter instead of XVI, the smaller size you listed seems about right. I would measure it except i drilled it out with a ⅜ bit using a hand drill, ruined it, threw it out and replaced it with another i bought. Unfortunately i had already restored the first platter so big waste of time and money. 95% of the platters are ⅜ and i just happen to get the smaller size, just my luck.
This is definately something to look out for if you are replacing a platter.