The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm selling a nice mahogany VV--IX in Washington, DC (SN 107558 E--1914). The shellac finish is presentable, with nice shine, though it's thin in parts and a bit cloudy here and there. The lid has some scratches, though I don't find them distracting. The nickel plating on the tone arm is pretty good, though it shows some very fine bubbling and small points of corrosion. The tone arm is missing the piece that caps the end of the elbow that holds the reproducer, but this never affected the function--though it may have affected the sound. (See photo--I don't know what that part is called!)

The Phonograph has a nice Exhibition reproducer that received a new diaphragm and new gaskets about 10 years ago.

It still plays through two records on one winding, but it will need some mechanical help before you want to put any prized records on it. The spring rumbles and shakes every 30 seconds or so, sometimes causing records to skip. I'm guessing the spring will need to be cleaned, newly greased and lubricated, but I'll leave that to others with more patience and expertise. The motor could probably use a general going over.

Throwing in two Pathé needle packets--only partially full--that were with the machine when I bought it 15-20 years ago.

Priced to move at $100. This is for pick up only in Washington, DC.

First person who responds with "sold" gets it. If it doesn't sell here, I'll put it on craigslist. I enjoyed this Phonograph for years before I had to put it in (warm, dry) storage. Now I have to admit to myself that I don't have room for it!

Nice machine and a fairly good price! That screwed end cap that is missing reminds me of my grand-aunt's HMV model (similar to a Victor IV or V) with an impressive mahogany horn... I used to play with it when young... It was missing the same part as yours, and they had it replaced with a short cork cap from a wine bottle... Ah.. Times...!
If not present, a great chunk of sound escapes from there, so the sound will be largely weakened. If you try the cork cap trick, you'll see then how the reproduction improves!

Thank you! That's a good strategy! I used to do something similar with a small piece of stiff plastic fitted with tabs. It plays remarkable loudly even without the piece!

The cap closes the pipe and makes all the sound pressure go to the horn. Without the cap, you listen to the sound of the soundbox that comes out partly through the horn, and mostly out of the open hole... You should compare both situations when playing a record with the lid closed, what was the intention of the makers. Later models carried a notice to play records with the lid closed, to avoid the needle talk, hearing the record only by the horn.

Thank you! I used to have a piece of stiff plastic from one of my daughter's toys that I used to plug the gap--with little tabs i could bend to make a snuff fit. It did make a difference on the sound. It's interesting that the machine is still quite loud even without the cap!

Pretty sure I have a tone arm from a VV-IX, #99186 (also 1914) parts machine. If you are interested in buying the cap, I will dig it out and see.

Dale H

Thank you, Dale! I'll send you a Private Message.

SOLD!

I'd like to buy it if it's still available. I live in Fairfax,VA close by.

PM sent.

AR