The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Happy Saturday ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks to help I received from you all I got my Victor VV-IV A back together. After winding it and releasing the brake the turn table turned freely without noise. I put a record on the turntable and it still spun just fine. Needless to say I was thrilled - until I set the reproducer needle on the record. After just three turns it stopped. I lifted the reproducer and the record again turned freely. It has a new needle so I can only assume the weight or pressure of the reproducer on the record is stopping it.

Is there an adjustment for that pressure or weight? Is there a way to relieve some of that weight?

While I'm asking, is there also a way to have move of the leather forward on the tiny brake?

Thank you very much. Sorry to be a pest.

Rene

Always place the needle on the same side of the machine as the crank. Placing it on the other side may stop the turntable.
The VV-IV is a single spring phonograph. Wind it fully until the crank stops turning.
The machine should be regulated to 78rpm. Playing a 33 or 45rpm record is going to be too slow for it.
Mainspring might be weak and need replacing. They do go bad sometimes.

These are just a few little issues. You can usually play a Victrola without modifications. Pressure/weight from reproducers was not enough to stop the motor when it was new, and the way to play it now is to get it where it will work about like it did when manufactured. It's sometimes tricky bringing one out of hibernation.

As noted, there are many possible causes.

Frozen sound box -- the sound box or reproducer should be overhauled if this has never been done -- SEE: https://www.nipperhead.com/old/reproducers.htm

Shot needle -- A fresh steel needle should be used to play one side of one record--no more than two sides.

Wrong type of record -- Shellac based 78 rpm records, preferably acoustic -- (prior to about 1925).

Motor issues -- The motor should be cleaned/re-greased/oiled for optimal performance.

If you're able, post a few photos.

OrthoFan

Better... do a video of your problem and we can see and feel what's happening...

A vinyl record will often cause a machine to stop. Are you using a shellac record?

Try a different record. I have found some records--even shellac--are so worn that they stop the record. I put on a different record, and the machine plays fine. Give that a try.

John