The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone,

Which reproducer would have originally come with a VV 8-9? Also looking to acquire a working one too. Any tips appreciated!

You would need a potmetal Orthophonic reproducer (9 holes) in gold to keep it all period-correct. Well, now there's the problem. You have a couple options:

1) source a brass reproducer--harder to find, and expensive
2) source a potmetal one as a parts donor & have a new one made by Wyatt Markus, whom I believe is capable of basically constructing a new one if you send in the remains of an old one. Going to cost money but will be entirely worth it and will last forever.
3) Using a 9-hole potmetal reproducer with felt mask & screen inside of outer mask. These were found on portables such as the VV 2-55 and 2-65. They have a very good sound quality and are made of a more stable potmetal alloy. However, the drawback is that you have to sacrifice a portable.

If I were you I would go with option 2-- basically a new reproducer.

Congratulations on obtaining a Victrola 8-9, by the way. They're very pretty machines.

I have an electric 8-9 from 1929. The reproducer is superb and is the original pot metal. As Wyatt, said the later pot metal reproducers don't have the problems that the earlier ones did. Mine has zero cracks and sounds better than a brass one would.

How do I go about getting a brass one? How much do they cost? I don’t know much about VIctor machine, I;m more of an Edison guy!