The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Is this a VV2-55?
Is it being used as a cheese tray?

What is the thing that looks like a cube of white cheese sitting on top of? I don't ask about the cube itself because I suspect that it is not a stock item.

Looks like a small block of wood serving some sort of purpose.

It is indeed a 2-55. I wonder if that block is something like foam rubber which the owner used to rest the reproducer on when the case is closed? That's just conjecture. Those reproducer rests are either missing usually or the rubber has hardened to the point of being no longer usable.

Or, is it perhaps a small container for needles? The 2-55 had no needle cups, and the only provision for storing needles was to use the Tungs-Tone styli, which that clip type holder was designed for.

CharliePhono wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 2:03 pm It is indeed a 2-55. I wonder if that block is something like foam rubber which the owner used to rest the reproducer on when the case is closed? That's just conjecture. Those reproducer rests are either missing usually or the rubber has hardened to the point of being no longer usable.

Or, is it perhaps a small container for needles? The 2-55 had no needle cups, and the only provision for storing needles was to use the Tungs-Tone styli, which that clip type holder was designed for.

The little "bowl" in the needle tin holder is the needle cup. It's covered when the tin is in place.

Steve

ChesterCheetah18 wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 4:32 pm

CharliePhono wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 2:03 pm It is indeed a 2-55. I wonder if that block is something like foam rubber which the owner used to rest the reproducer on when the case is closed? That's just conjecture. Those reproducer rests are either missing usually or the rubber has hardened to the point of being no longer usable.

Or, is it perhaps a small container for needles? The 2-55 had no needle cups, and the only provision for storing needles was to use the Tungs-Tone styli, which that clip type holder was designed for.

The little "bowl" in the needle tin holder is the needle cup. It's covered when the tin is in place.

Steve

Ah, so it is. I had forgotten about the indentation in the Tungs-Tone holder. Thanks, Steve!

CharliePhono wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 4:35 pm

ChesterCheetah18 wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 4:32 pm

CharliePhono wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 2:03 pm It is indeed a 2-55. I wonder if that block is something like foam rubber which the owner used to rest the reproducer on when the case is closed? That's just conjecture. Those reproducer rests are either missing usually or the rubber has hardened to the point of being no longer usable.

Or, is it perhaps a small container for needles? The 2-55 had no needle cups, and the only provision for storing needles was to use the Tungs-Tone styli, which that clip type holder was designed for.

The little "bowl" in the needle tin holder is the needle cup. It's covered when the tin is in place.

Steve

Ah, so it is. I had forgotten about the indentation in the Tungs-Tone holder. Thanks, Steve!

My pleasure. I'm still trying to figure out what the block of wood is for. It would be held in place with the lid closed, so maybe it's taking the place of a tin?

Steve

ChesterCheetah18 wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 4:32 pm

CharliePhono wrote: Sun Mar 30, 2025 2:03 pm It is indeed a 2-55. I wonder if that block is something like foam rubber which the owner used to rest the reproducer on when the case is closed? That's just conjecture. Those reproducer rests are either missing usually or the rubber has hardened to the point of being no longer usable.

Or, is it perhaps a small container for needles? The 2-55 had no needle cups, and the only provision for storing needles was to use the Tungs-Tone styli, which that clip type holder was designed for.

The little "bowl" in the needle tin holder is the needle cup. It's covered when the tin is in place.

Steve

Yes. And the used needle repository is built into the reproducer rest on the right.

I have one of these portable phonographs. With the Orthophonic reproducer, it sounds great. Amazingly good for a portable, where the sound is reflected off of the record holder built into the lid.

Thank you all for the replies.

Well ... the machine is mine now, despite my desperate and ultimately futile attempts to walk away from it. The seller did not want to let me leave. I paid the equivalent of about $20 US.

I also got a big bag with about two to three hundred unused looking needles, and two garbage records.

The machine all works.... sort of .... after a fashion.

The reproducer is grubby but in good working order and condition. Its set screw is missing, however. I played some challenging electrically recorded disks with a medium tone needle--no problems

The spring is good. It takes a lot of turns to wind it up anywhere near fully wound. It makes no noise winding or unwinding. I put on one of the worst records for drag that I own. It did not slow things down at all.

Speed control works.

The motor is less good. It makes a lot of noise, including some squeaking, but less so when there is some drag from a record. I hope lubrication will help this.

Everything is out of adjustment. The tone arm needs a major overhaul. The auto-brake and brake disengagement/start mechanism wasn't working--the wooden block seen in the photo way above was there to jam between the case and the start lever. I got this all working in about five min, but it needs cleaning, and I need to see some pics of how it all looks properly set up.

The carrying handle is very fragile.

The winding key/crank may not have the original handle on it.

The rexine platter mat is stiff and somewhat curled up so records won't lie flat with the result they wobble a bit.

The lid stay mechanism is all there but it needs some help.

Overall cosmetics are C- ish. And it is all very grubby.

It is not the prettiest portable ever made. Kind of dark and dour looking.

Anyway ... a project to add to the pile.

Jim_Cannon wrote: Mon Mar 31, 2025 12:18 pm
Yes. And the used needle repository is built into the reproducer rest on the right.

I have one of these portable phonographs. With the Orthophonic reproducer, it sounds great. Amazingly good for a portable, where the sound is reflected off of the record holder built into the lid.

Thank you for the information about the needle repository.

Thank you also for the inspirational picture.

Your machine looks so much nicer than mine! Sigh!

I wonder if you might kindly remove the platter and take a picture for me of the auto-brake system. I need a reference.

I disassembled my phonograph and cleaned decades of dirt and grime off of everything.

Here is a photo of the brake mechanism during clean up.
HTH.