Victrola VV IX

[muffinass]

Hello everyone,

I've postponed the search for an upright until finances permit.

However I couldn't pass up buying a VV-IX table top (SN: 456 298) with a No.2 reproducer - the price was just right.

The cabinet has been worked on: the insides shine a reddish brown while the outside has a flat light-brown stain. It looks as if the previous owners never finished the job.

Overall it will require a proper cleaning, and the motor will definitely need to worked on. On winding the platter spins but the motor kicks a rumble once in a while and the handle sometimes swings at each 'kick.'

The speed selector doesn't work (although I hope this is simply because the knob wasn't connected below). Speaking of, the small glass cover is missing the glass - are parts available for it?

I haven't looked at the motor yet, nor do I have ANY experience working on things of this kind...BUT, I've just watched from start to finish the famous YouTube video that you all know and think that I will eventually engage myself to this task.

My question is - without actually lifting up the motorboard to check, can you tell me if this model (according to its serial number) is the same 2-spring motor that gets rebuilt in the YouTube videos?

I know I asked here before (to no answer) but can someone tell me how I can clean the tonearm and bring back its shine? What products should I use? Also, is the reproducer supposed to 'play' on the tone-arm and easily come off? (if not, am I to suppose that the No.2 was put in place of an Exhibition reproducer?)

Same line of questioning would apply to the cabinet itself. I've read Tim Gracyk's tutorial on restoring cabinets, but I couldn't find on this forum a topic that provided a tutorial or guide.

Also, as a general question, can anyone tell me a bit more about this table-top model? Do any of you rank it among your favourites? I only have an HMV 101 to go by but what I've heard from the IX is quite impressive - which might also have to do with the reproducer that's in really good shape.

I will post pictures of it and its finish within the next couple of days.

[John Svensson]

HI; I have a IXa and have been well pleassed with it. It also has a No. 2 added (same as your's given the serial#) to what would have come with an Exhibition, I imagine that was a popular "upgrade". Yes, came with a 2 spring motor, but I can't say if it matches anything on a UTube video, lift up sound board to satifsy curiosity. Short of re-plating the nickel on the tonearm to "as new" various methods of polishing would be it, I'd think....a photo would help since you don't state what is the issue. The speed control cover glass should be easy to track down, try the various parts suppliers always recommendeed on here.....Wyatt's, Great Lakes, APSCO, etc. <google victrola parts and you'll find them also> I think just about everyone has started with the old standby...Eric Reiss's "The Compleat Talking Machine", you'll find many sources to get a reasonably priced copy. He covers everything from cabinet restoration to motor and reproducer repairs. John S.