The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just pulled the trigger on a Serial # 2292 Victor VV-IV - it was on fleaBay, It's motorboard, motor, crank, speed control and brake are wrong, but it does have that cool perforated steel grill, the No. 15 reproducer and a nasty patina (which I actually like). Aside of the previously mentioned parts, I'll also need a crank escutcheon. The stage left side has an additional hole that I'll just plug initially. After tax and shipping it's just under $250

You have some good parts but I wouldn't think this is a worthwhile project.

It should be pretty easy to find a donor machine to restore this one. That's what I'd do. YMMV

Why do you think the motor board is not correct? It certainly appears to be a VV-IV motor board. I'm thinking it just got jockeyed around a bit to suit the crank alignment of the new motor. Once re-centered, and with the proper motor, it may end up being just fine.

the motorboard didn't look deep enough - and I didn't notice any holes where the speed control is normally found. I suppose if I flip the motorboard, it might be correct. I'll see next month when the machine arrives

It looks to me as if the motorboard is original, but has been rotated 180 degrees. The holes for the original speed control on your machine are right in front of the currently installed brake, which is also not correct. I've included a photo of one of mine for reference. I suspect that motorboard, although the original one, is going to have several extra holes in it.

Steve

Aha! That's the trick! There are screw holes on top of the doors, and this side of the motor board is the one without screws!
See this: There are three sides with screws, and the one that has no screws must go on top of the doors.

I thought I should post a correction to my previous post. According to the Victor Data Book, the VV-IV Type M (metal grille) was supplied with the round plate #1203 brake, which is what appears to be on this machine (and was moved when the motor swap was done). However, both of the Type M machines I own (Sn 6963 and Sn 9826) are equipped with the "scissor" friction brake #1918, and both are definitely original. So, it appears to me that at some point a brake change was made and that the brake currently on this machine may well be original. Removing the turntable should confirm this.

Steve

These early VV-IVs are interesting and yours has at least the majority of original parts, including the reproducer. I think it's worth restoring, since the metal grill versions are not common. I have one and would not sell it... if it was a later version, I wouldn't be interested in it.

Hello, I would add my voice that this little Victrola definitely deserves to be saved and restored. These very early examples are unique and so interesting. So a number of years ago I bought an incomplete, rough example missing some parts with the intent to find the rest of what it needed and restore it. Then I was lucky enough to find a complete example so the incomplete machine has been sitting on my shelf. I will get it down tonight and post some photos. As I recall it has a rough but intact case with no extra/incorrect holes in it and a correct motor and is about the same serial number range. I'll post photos later and you can decide if you'd want it or not.
Bob Murray