The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just purchased my vvxiv victrola
1. should you let the winding motor totally wind all the way down when you are through playing it? Or should you leave alittle tension the springs by applying the brake before it totally stops?
2. From a totally unwound motor how many total turns of the crank should you wind the motor? I have heard at least 50 - is that too much?
3. As the springs are winding down during play I have heard that you can turn the crank to build up more spring power while playing a 78 - is this true?
4. My serial number is in the 255,000 range making I think a later model - I think I have a 4 spring motor -

the XIV is a really great, versatile machine, one of my favorites. and yes, all of them (including yours) but for the earliest had the large four-spring motors, the longest running that victor made. the number will vary slightly from machine to machine, but any four-spring motor, if wound down entirely, should be able to be cranked at least 90 to 100 times (crank revolutions) before fully wound. try it a couple of times after it's fully unwound, wind it about 60 or 70 times, then keep going but slower while paying attention, it will gradually become more difficult to turn and eventually you won't be able to turn it any longer - just be careful not to overwind and break a spring.

opinions vary about whether to leave it wound partially or fully unwound when not using it. it really doesn't matter, especially if you're using it regularly. although certainly, if you're going to be storing it unused for extended periods, it's best not to leave it wound much, if at all, and definitely not fully.

also, winding it while it's playing is fine.

post some photos when you get a chance. also, you should browse through the various pages and older posts on this board - your questions are pretty common and have been discussed at length before.