The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A chance visit to a local antique mall turned up not one, but two Victor VV-IV’s. One was $325 and sounded like a shotgun going off. Hard pass. The other was $40 and in good shape, minus a Columbia reproducer that someone tried to duct-tape onto the tonearm. I don’t quite know what happened next, I must have blacked out. When I came to, I was $40 lighter and there was a Victor VV-IV in my car. There’s worse ways to spend $40, I suppose.
Soundbox aside, it seems to be in good shape for the age. It’s an early 1917 model, according to the serial number. The oak presents very well, and the motor seems strong, if noisy. A good cleaning ought to quiet things up. I already pulled the trigger on an Exihibition soundbox, which should get here in the next week or so.

I’m already smitten with this thing. It’s downright cute, especially with the oversized door handles that look for all the world like a pair of googly-eyes.
By the way, if anyone here has a Columbia Grafonola in need of a soundbox, I’d be happy to let this go to a good home!

Congrats on a fun find! These days, $40 is one small steak a middlin' chain restaurant. Very well done! (The Victrola purchase, one hopes not the steak. )

That's a fine deal and easy to make it a functional phonograph!

James.

A VV-IV was my first windup back in the early 1950s.

The post office was kind enough to drop off a shiny new Exhibition soundbox today:
I still need to properly clean the motor, fix the warped platter, and replace the tonearm bearings, but I couldn’t resist popping a needle in and spinning a record. To my surprise, it sounds great! It definitely lacks the depth and volume of the 4-7’s folded horn, but it’s still pleasant and gets the music across without any listener fatigue. I do wish it had a few more quality-of-life features (a needle cup would be nice), but I suppose Victor had to cut a few things to push people towards their higher-end models while still offering a quality product as their bottom-line.