The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Which Victrola IX tone arms sit on greased bearings at the bases and which do not? When did they make time arm bases like the ones in the pictures? Thanks. [attachment=0]8BFFB9B6-F434-4BCA-9708-19C5F310561E.jpeg[/attachment][attachment=1]F16C2616-90F7-4DE0-8ACA-5CC127F046EA.jpeg[/attachment]

The Victrola tone arms that sit on bearing have a slight flare at the large end. The VV-IX was made for quite a long time and went through several changes in the mechanism including the tone arm.

Jerry B.

Thanks Jerry!
I am wondering this because I am trying to secure the set screw enough so that the arm will have absolutely no play in it. I had to remove it to send the motor out to be rebuilt. When I put the arm back on—the instrumental sections of records sounded slightly seasick. The platter is level, I’ve set the speed to 78 rpm, I wind it all the way and it still sounds this way (slightly, but enough to be really bothersome). I went to eBay and bought another tone arm snug in its base and the quavering actually stopped. The arm I bought had the correct measurements to fit the machine (mine is a 1914 or 15 model (no feet. Thin arm). The arm I bought was one with a flare at the bottom set on top of ball bearings. My original one is in the pictures with no ball bearings and no flare.
I would like to somehow fix the original. The one I bought has some discoloration on the finish and, well, it is not original to the machine which is always nice.
I’ve attached more pics of the original. Maybe the problem is that the set screw is WAY recessed? Or maybe the pin it holds in place is too recessed?
What do you think? Thank you!!