VV-XIV Garage Sale Find

[antique1973]

Picked this one up for $90 at a local garage sale. At first I got a little excited since it had a "gold" tonearm.
Upon closer inspection it appears to be some kind of brass knock-off or from another maker entirely. Several issues
to deal with:

3 spring motor runs fine but needs an overhaul for sure. Lots of thumping.

All casters gone.

Wrong tone arm and pin that holds tone arm gone. I will replace with proper nickel tone arm and complete turret.

Exhibition thumb screw missing, needs new tension springs and gaskets.

All cabinet knobs are wrong as you probably noticed.

Irregular patches on the front possible due to sun bleaching. Some unknown shellac or varnish was applied
also. I am going to give the restore-a-finish a shot to see if that will even it out.


So its a bit of a project but will be fun to get it up and running again.

[Skihawx]

Looks like a Victor tone arm to me. One that has been
buffed down to the brass..

[Henry]

That's a Victor taper tube and Exhibition sound box, for sure. IMO the brass looks good, though not "authentic"; if it were mine, I'd leave as is (you can always tell visitors that it's gold . The parts you need for the cabinet and the sound box rebuild are readily available (APSCO, Vollema). Don't fret loss of the casters; I never could understand why they used those floor-gougers, they are useless for actually moving the machine. There are much better modern substitutes (sacrilege!) if you want truly functional rollers under there. Definitely CLA that nasty spring motor. You'll have a nice machine for a bit of effort and $$ when you're done. (Is that a botched refinish job on the left-hand speaker door, or is it the lighting?)

BTW, the taper tube is held in the bracket by a special threaded screw up top, and there are ball bearings in the base. No need to replace the entire bracket if it is otherwise OK, as these parts should be available from Vollema.

[Guest]

I'm curious about the taper-tube ( tone arm )....

It appears to be an earlier version where the reproducer swings back and lays on TOP of the tone-arm rather than along-side, like the later machines, and also the arm has a pin for the early-style auto-matic brake... is this tone-arm factory issue, or has it been "up-graded" at some point ?


Antique1973,

Generally looks like a decent find for the money... just going by the hardware
in my 1919 XI (large-window speed indicator,tab-brake with auto-stop) , would expect your machine to originally have had a "fat" nickel tone-arm and #2 reproducer, but a visit to Paul Edie's site & serial numdber check should reveal all those details...

Aside from the finish issues, looks like the woodwork is in good shape !

Congratulations!

[Jerry B.]

Please try something... Install the tone arm back on the Victrola along with the U tube and reproducer. With a needle in the reproducer, does the needle hit or come very close to the spindle in the center of the turntable? If so, I'd say your tone arm is the correct one for your machine. I suspect the nickel plating was removed. Jerry Blais

[antique1973]

Looks like a Victor tone arm to me. One that has been
buffed down to the brass..

Now that makes sense! I thought it may be some kind of crap-o-phone copy of a victor arm.
I knew the "gold" didn't look right, too bright and yellow in color. The crank handle was the same
way and missing the wood knob. In the picture is a spare gold one I put on it for now.

[antique1973]

That's a Victor taper tube and Exhibition sound box, for sure. IMO the brass looks good, though not "authentic"; if it were mine, I'd leave as is (you can always tell visitors that it's gold . The parts you need for the cabinet and the sound box rebuild are readily available (APSCO, Vollema). Don't fret loss of the casters; I never could understand why they used those floor-gougers, they are useless for actually moving the machine. There are much better modern substitutes (sacrilege!) if you want truly functional rollers under there. Definitely CLA that nasty spring motor. You'll have a nice machine for a bit of effort and $$ when you're done. (Is that a botched refinish job on the left-hand speaker door, or is it the lighting?)

BTW, the taper tube is held in the bracket by a special threaded screw up top, and there are ball bearings in the base. No need to replace the entire bracket if it is otherwise OK, as these parts should be available from Vollema.

I was considering keeping the tone arm, but the replacement pin and screw is probably not much cheaper than
buying a whole nickel tonearm. The nickel ones are fairly plentiful and I want to go for originality if possible.

I agree on the casters, no great loss and I don't see the need to replace them as an urgent matter.

Something did happen on the left side and the front in general looks "messed with" and possibly sanded at some point.

[De Soto Frank]

Given the "large-window" speed indicator, and tab-brake with auto-stop, I would think this machine originally had a "fat" nickel tone-arm with a #2 reproducer....

Looks like it has potential... wood looks nice, aside from the finish issues...

[antique1973]

Given the "large-window" speed indicator, and tab-brake with auto-stop, I would think this machine originally had a "fat" nickel tone-arm with a #2 reproducer....

Looks like it has potential... wood looks nice, aside from the finish issues...

1914 39000-54000 D suffix used early in year. Large glass speed indicator adopted at s/n 47601, along with change to E suffix. Cabinet design changed at E suffix, with carved side post "flare" moved downward toward mid-cabinet. Crescent moon carving eliminated.
1915 54000-79600 E suffix
1916 79601-116000 E suffix


Sorry, I was mistaken about the year. The serial number 84979 E dates it at 1916. Apparently the large window was
adopted by then and according to "Look for The Dog", it says "semi auto brake added in 1913".

I went over the cabinet with "Goop" and 0000 wool, then rubbed down with Howards RAF and a cloth. The light area
is still visible but more subtle now.

[antique1973]

Please try something... Install the tone arm back on the Victrola along with the U tube and reproducer. With a needle in the reproducer, does the needle hit or come very close to the spindle in the center of the turntable? If so, I'd say your tone arm is the correct one for your machine. I suspect the nickel plating was removed. Jerry Blais

It sure does Jerry, looks like the one from the factory minus the nickel. Its a new one for me, not often
someone goes through the trouble of buffing out the nickel on an entire tone arm.