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Victrola Tonearm Variations
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 11:23 am
by JRPrieto
Is there a database of the different types of Victrola tone arms and what models they were in? I have recently started collecting them and am hooked! I am not very knowledgeable but working on it. I have tried to find which Victrola model has which tonearm and have so far come up empty. I have a VV-IX, VV-XI, and a lovely Granada X. I would like to replace the tone arm and reproducer with gold-plated versions but have no idea which tonearm goes with my models. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Re: Victrola Tonearm Variations
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 12:26 pm
by OrthoFan
There's no database or comprehensive Victor tonearm guide,
online, that I know of. The sizes and styles varied, even within certain models over their production runs.
Along this line, there were major style changes over the years, especially for models produced starting late in 1925 when electrical recording and the Orthophonic Victrola was introduced. For instance, your Granada --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/4-4.htm -- should be equipped with the Orthophonic style tonearm which follows the exponential taper of the tone chamber (horn). If this is replaced with an older style goose-neck tonearm, such as the type used on the VV-XI, the Granada's sound quality will be degraded.
Most collectors I know discourage swapping parts if the original is in good condition. Certain features, such as the type of plating used, were model-specific. A good online guide is the Victor Victrola page --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/index.html Here's the direct jump to all of the models profiled, with descriptions of each --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm
Hope this helps.
OrthoFan
Re: Victrola Tonearm Variations
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 1:14 pm
by Jerry B.
I don't own a Granada but the IX always had a nickel tone arm and all but the early table model XI's also had nickel plated tone arms. The very early and more unusual table model XI does have a gold tone arm.
Could you post some photos of your machines including the tone arms so we might be able to give useful suggestions?
Welcome to the hobby,
Jerry B.
Re: Victrola Tonearm Variations
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 2:40 pm
by gramophone-georg
OrthoFan wrote: Tue Aug 29, 2023 12:26 pm
There's no database or comprehensive Victor tonearm guide,
online, that I know of. The sizes and styles varied, even within certain models over their production runs.
Along this line, there were major style changes over the years, especially for models produced starting late in 1925 when electrical recording and the Orthophonic Victrola was introduced. For instance, your Granada --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/4-4.htm -- should be equipped with the Orthophonic style tonearm which follows the exponential taper of the tone chamber (horn). If this is replaced with an older style goose-neck tonearm, such as the type used on the VV-XI, the Granada's sound quality will be degraded.
Most collectors I know discourage swapping parts if the original is in good condition. Certain features, such as the type of plating used, were model-specific. A good online guide is the Victor Victrola page --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/index.html Here's the direct jump to all of the models profiled, with descriptions of each --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm
Hope this helps.
OrthoFan
My "best of both worlds" opinion: Swap the tonearm and any other parts you want so long as the swap is easily reversable. Keep the parts original to the machine with the machine.
Re: Victrola Tonearm Variations
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:13 pm
by JRPrieto
Here are the photos. The VV-XI has a gold serial plate for some reason. The Granada has an induction motor that works very well. I haven't taken apart the tone arms or reproducer to clean them yet. I have only had them for a month or so. Long story but when I went looking for them I found these 3 almost immediately so much to my wife's objection I got all three! The more I delve into these machines the more I worry I am getting addicted.